She rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m so sorry about Eddy.” She understood why that hurt him so much. He felt so responsible for the people in his life—stepping into the father role when Pete hadn’t done the job in thepast. “But you’re right. There are a lot of people here who care about you.”
“No one I care about as much as you and Mia,” he reminded her.
“Speaking of Mia—full disclosure—I did promise her I would try to intercede with you to consider staying here.” Her gaze tracked around the party and all the people she’d come to care about all over again.
She noticed both Zach and Sam kept an eye on her where she sat with Clay. She had the feeling those habits would be hard to break even when she told them she was ready to stand on her own two feet. But then she couldn’t imagine a day where she’d stopped looking out for Mia. She’d come to love the girl so fast and so fiercely.
“Can I ask you one question?” Clayton straightened as a victory shout went up from the lawn where the blue team pulled the red one into the mud.
A wet splash followed with a victory cry.
“What is it?” Gabriella shared a smile with him to see the blue team leaping around in the mud anyhow—twenty crazy Hasting fosters rolling around the huge puddle.
“If you didn’t have Mia to take into consideration, where would you want to be?”
“First of all, I would be truly privileged to take your family into consideration.” She liked this huge band of siblings connected by the ties of love triumphing over hardship. “I love all the Chances, but I’ve discovered how special it is to expand who we think of as family.” She’d felt connected to Mia before they’d ever met in person. “But to answer your question, I would choose to stay here in Heartache. I didn’t realize how much I left behind here by focusing only on one bad night.”
She knew that was minimizing what had happened toher. Yet, after ten years, she was more than ready to put that hellish summer in the background. It did not define her.
From all parts of the lawn, kids and adults ran to join in the muddy fun. They had to be freezing. It was warm for November, but still. A few dogs got in on the action, too, barking happily at the chaos.
“You would enjoy living here?” Clay asked, his dark eyes missing nothing.
“I’ve let myself feel like an orphan for too long. I’ve got roots here, the same as you. And I want to make more.”
Clay slid an arm around her shoulders, hauling her closer. “I had almost that exact same thought when I got to the town line today. I stared up at the Heartache sign and realized I didn’t want to leave this town any more than I wanted to leave you and Mia.”
Happiness filled her up like helium in a party balloon, making her feel so light she could float right away.
“Really?” She could imagine herself here, being a part of her brother’s life again.
Being a part of Sam and Amy’s life, too. Holding their baby. Maybe, one day, holding her own. Her belly fluttered at the idea, but in a good, happy way.
“Absolutely.” He nodded and she saw a joy in his eyes that she’d never seen before. “I hear that Crestwood will need an assistant football coach next fall, too. Maybe I’ll offer some time to the program. See those bleachers where I met the woman I would fall in love with.”
Her breath caught. Would she ever tire of hearing those words? She couldn’t imagine it.
“I think we would be happy here.”
“I already am,” he said softly, brushing a kiss along her jaw.
Her skin tingled. She closed her eyes to savor themoment. Then, as he straightened, Gabriella pointed to the mud mayhem.
“Besides, who wouldn’t love Heartache’s small-town charm?” She giggled as two men pretended to be swamp monsters, stomping and roaring through the muddy mess. “Our sophisticated parties?”
“There’s no place like it.” Clay’s eyes twinkled with mischief as his gaze shifted from the mudslinging back to her. “You know your brother’s house has a hot tub?”
“You mention this…why?” Her heart felt light. Happy. Normal.
Life with Clayton Travers was going to be filled with good times and laughter. Family and friends. Because hardheaded or not, he understood her. They were alike in so many ways—both wanting to do the right thing. Both afraid of getting hurt and guarding their hearts. But she trusted hers in his hands. And for her part? She would guard his with her last breath.
She would protect this love and this happiness with all of her newfound strength and confidence.
“Just in case you’re ready for some old-fashioned Hasting family fun.” He nipped her shoulder playfully, lighting a warmth inside her.
She wanted to take him home, straight to that hot tub. But she wouldn’t trade a part of this day with his family—with her town and her friends—for anything. Her gaze swept the party, stopping at the coffee tent where two figures had found a quiet moment alone.
“Clayton, look.” She pointed to adorable Davis Reed kissing Mia sweetly on the lips. The two sat side by side on a picnic table, hands held between them.
