Wraith snorted. “It’s a good fucking heart.”
The corner of Cross’s mouth spiked slightly. “Yeah.”
“Find anything that could be a problem?”
Cross slowly shook his head.
“Hey.”
He glanced over to the back door and watched Cleo walk across the dirt path to the fire. In the spring, he’d plant seed, but for now it was a dustbowl of dirt.
Cleo sidled up next to him. “Did you guys get enough to eat? I was gonna put the food away but wanted to make sure you two were good.”
Wraith watched Cross finally look up. His gaze shifted between him and Cleo and a small smile emerged. Genuine. It was as if Cross was seeing her for the first time but not as Knox’s sister. As just family. He chugged his beer and tossed the bottle in the garbage by the fire. He rounded Wraith, slapping him on the back.
“I’m heading out.”
Cross stopped next to Cleo, grasped her jaw, and leaned in, kissing her cheek. “I like your house.”
Her eyes widened, and she seemed completely caught off guard. It made sense. Cross had never been close with her, always keeping a distance. Cleo quickly recovered, smiling.
“Thanks for coming over.”
Cross lowered his chin and started to the front of the house. “I’ll leave them on the kitchen table.”
He disappeared around the corner, and Cleo turned to Wraith. “Leave what?”
“The letters.”
She raised her brows, and a glimmer of hope shined in her eyes. “Did he read them?”
Yeah, he read them.
“He didn’t say.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she lost a bit of her spark. Wraith cupped her jaw, forcing her to look at him.
“Doesn’t matter. You keep writing to her if you want. Change the address to here.”
Her cheeks pinkened. “I already did.”
Wraith snorted, shaking his head. “Of course you fucking did.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I loved having everyone here. And I love you.”
He pulled her against his chest.
“Love you, too.”
Epilogue
A few years later…
Cleo stood in the small hallway, leaning against the wall with her hands tucked behind her back.
Two minutes.
“Why is it taking so long?” she muttered and ducked her head inside the bathroom, laser focused on the plastic stick on the edge of the sink counter.
