“I couldn’t imagine anyone better for my little sister.”
A beaming smile stretched her cheeks as she pounced, attacking him with a bear hug. Marc stayed stiff except for an awkward pat on the back. No matter. They could work on that. “I won’t ruin his life. I promise I won’t.”
“I know you won’t. I was wrong to say otherwise.”
Sadie looked up at him suspiciously. “Are you a clone? Like Marc’sgoodtwin?”
“Knock it off.” He nudged her in the direction of the living room. “Go, save the poor man from Dad’s ancient recliner.” She made it two steps before he said, “Sadie?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think you’re weak.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I think you’re incredibly brave.”
Her heart swelled to three times its normal size at the words she never thought she’d hear from her oldest brother. Not if they lived to be a hundred. The genuine, albeit tired, look in his eyes promised he meant them.
18
CONNER
“Conner.”
Conner groaned, wondering why every single muscle in his body felt as though it was stiff and on fire at the same time. But exhaustion lulled him back to sleep, promising he could solve that unpleasant mystery later.
“Conner.”
He felt his body rock from side to side until his leg suddenly dropped. He woke with a start and tumbled forward, crashing to the floor.
“Are you okay?” Sadie knelt above him, her gentle hand on his shoulder. Was he still dreaming? He’d been camped out in the Evans’ living room, hoping that eventually Boomer would coax the woman he loved from the basement. Or that he’d at least prevent her from making an escape out the back door.
“Sadie?”
“Sorry. You looked so uncomfortable. Didn’t anyone warn you not to sleep in Dad’s old recliner?”
“I didn’t listen.”
“Obviously.”
He sat up and reached for her hand, fearful that if he didn’t latch on to her, she’d disappear. He sat facing her. “I’m sorry,” he said, knowing it was the most important thing he had to say in case she told him to go home. Well,almostthe most important thing. But he was saving those three words until he knew they wouldn’t send her running.
“I was really hurt at first,” Sadie said.
“I shouldn’t have told Marc—”
“No,Ishould’ve told my brother the truth a long time ago. You were only doing what you thought was necessary. And if you hadn’t, who knows what might’ve happened—”
“Hey.” Conner cupped her cheek and tilted her face up until she looked at him. “No what ifs, okay? Not about this. What ifs should be saved for positive things.”
“Like?”
“What if I took you midnight fishing again? Do you think we’d actually catch something this time?”
Sadie let out a carefree laugh that eased away all the tension he’d been holding since she left him in the woods. “Doubtful. We seem to get . . . distracted.” The cutest blush flushed her cheeks, suggesting she was remembering their romantic evening on the dock as well.
“You’re probably right.”
