Jade parks and turns to face me, suddenly serious. “You call me if you need me.”
I roll my eyes, because if I don’t, I’ll cry. “I always do.”
Jade’s mouth twitches. “You don’t. But you will.”
Blakely leans over from the passenger seat and squeezes my hand. “We love you.”
My throat burns.
I nod once, sharp. “Love you too.”
Then I get out before emotion can stick to my skin.
Inside, Pops is in the recliner again, TV low, blanket over his legs. He looks up when I enter and smiles faintly.
“There’s my girl,” he says.
The words hit me like a hug.
“Hey,” I say, voice softer than I mean it to be.
Logan is in the kitchen, I realize a second later. I hear the fridge open and close, the clink of a glass. I feel my pulse jump like my body is annoying.
I set my bag down, then walk to Pops and press a kiss to his forehead.
He smells like coffee and aftershave and home.
“You have fun?” he asks.
I hesitate, then admit, “Yeah.”
Pops’s smile deepens just a little. “Good.”
From the kitchen doorway, Logan appears with a glass of water in his hand.
Not offered. Not pushed.
Just…there.
His gaze flickers to me, and it isn’t smug. It isn’t challenging.
It’s quiet.
Like he’s asking, without words, if I’m okay.
My chest tightens.
I make my voice sharp out of reflex. “What?”
Logan’s mouth twitches. “Nothing.”
I narrow my eyes. “That was a ‘something’ face.”
He lifts the glass slightly. “Your dad asked.”
Pops snorts. “I did.”
Heat crawls up my neck. “I’m fine.”
