“Nice.”
“I think it would be, but he’s been managing the Knight family ranch, and he likes it.”
The threads running through the three families were plentiful. Then there was me and Clover. I brought nothing to the table, but I could help her get the house.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to go. I know we’re a lot.”
I hadn’t had a lot. “Is it like the wedding?” I had been in front of her parents and siblings, marrying their loved one, whom I barely knew, with all their wary, slightly disapproving eyes on me. It wasn’t an experience I wanted to repeat. Would every sibling want to tell me that they’re watching me, and one word from Clover, and I’d disappear?
“Oh no. It’s much more fun and laid back. Nothing formal. We just like to hang out. We were all scattered for most of our twenties.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“Elijah never talked about anyone. Didn’t you have cousins or big gatherings?”
“I was close to my grandparents, but they weren’t close to Elijah or my parents.” I paused as our food was delivered. Drawing a breath grew difficult when Clover’s face lit up.
She squeezed her hands like she was going to pump her fists in the air. She gave the server a big smile. “Thank you so much.”
This was the Clover I’d seen glimpses of when she’d been over for dinners. The radiant girl who wanted to celebrate everything. She’d hidden herself around my parents, and she’d likely tempered her personality in response to my brother’s controlling ways.
How would she be around people who loved and accepted her? I’d seen her with them in Vegas, but the circumstances hadn’t been ideal. I had witnessed their unconditional support, and it had gotten to me—so much so that I had stepped into the shoes my brother left behind. “Yeah, it’s fine.”
And that wide smile got aimed my way.
Chapter Six
Clover
* * *
I didn’t realize how little Elijah had to do with my family until we arrived at Poppy and Jensen’s place. My stomach flipped over and over. Would Van like them? He hadn’t said much at the wedding, and well, that whole situation was different.
Van was driving, but he gestured to the back where I stashed the tote with my pudding dessert, a cookie salad. “I threw some pretzels in there if your stomach is giving you trouble.”
My insides turned all gooey. I munched on pretzels when I couldn’t handle a heavier breakfast in the morning. “My stomach is calming down, but thanks.”
He parked by Alder’s pickup off the driveway, and by the time I climbed out, he was grabbing the tote. I waited for him to hand it off to me, but he gestured for me to lead the way.
When we turned, Jensen’s son, Auggie, waited for us. He dribbled a ball between each foot and studied Van. “Do you play soccer?”
“It’s been a long time, but I used to,” Van said.
Auggie’s face lit up. “You’re on my team. Poppy!” He sprinted toward the garage. “I found another player!”
“My sister used to play soccer, and now she coaches his team,” I explained.
“I played in high school until I hurt my knee.”
Concern shot through me. “You don’t have to play?—”
“It’s fine. But thanks. For thinking of me.”
I nodded, but my insides were in tangles. Whenever I did something nice, he either shut down or seemed astonished. This was another manifestation of the loneliness I had seen in Elijah. My ex might’ve gotten the most attention from their parents, but it hadn’t been enough, and he’d likely been pitted against Van from the beginning. Which must’ve left Van isolated.
I led him to the shop. Its doors were thrown open, and Jensen was stationed outside, manning the grill.
“Hey, Clover.” Jensen waved a metal spatula. “Did you bring the cookie salad?”
