I linger at the car door, Dahlia’s fingers still tangled in my coat. Her hair’s a mess, her lips are swollen, and her eyes are soft as she stares back at me.
“I want to stay with you. I want to crawl back into that bed and forget the world,” I tell her.
“I know. I want that too. But I need to get home, and your family will be wondering where you are.”
She’s not wrong. Windy Harbor wakes up early.
“Text me when you’re back in Minneapolis,” I say, my voice rough.
She nods and presses one last kiss to my mouth, slow and deliberate. “Be safe sneaking in.”
I nod and kiss her one more time, forcing myself out of the car before I can change my mind.
Dahlia has dropped me off in a wooded area of our property, a place that we’re leaving as is, so I know no one will be out here to see us. I wave until she’s disappeared.
The cold slaps me awake as I jog the back way to ourhouse, boots crunching on the snow. My breath fogs, lungs burning. I slip through the side gate and ease the mudroom door open. The kitchen light’s on—two silhouettes at the island, steam curling from mugs. Grandma Donna and Grandma Nancy. I should’ve known there was no way I could sneak in without getting caught.
“Morning, ladies,” I say, kicking off my boots like I’ve been out for a run. My pulse hammers. “Couldn’t sleep. Needed to burn off some energy.”
Grandma Donna raises an eyebrow over her coffee. “Are you okay, honey? Is something troubling you? You’re normally not up for a while yet since you’re on California time.”
Grandma Nancy looks me over as she stirs sugar into her hot tea. “He looks pretty happy to me.” Her eyes narrow. “What are you up to?”
“What are you up to?” I mimic, grinning at them. “Can’t a guy go for a morning run?”
I can’t tell if they buy it. They always see too much. I flash a grin and grab a water bottle from the fridge like I need to hydrate after exercising.
“Well, you almost missed breakfast. They’re eating in the family room today. Games have already started,” Grandma Nancy says.
Kevin comes skittering across the floor, yapping like a smoke alarm. Traitor. He leaps at my legs, tail a blur.
“Easy, Kev.” I scoop him up and let him lick my chin. The noise draws the cavalry.
“Is that you, Dylan?” Goldie calls. “We’re back here.”
I step into the family room, and every head swivels.
“Where have you been?” Dad asks, lowering his mug like it’s a courtroom prop.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I say. “Went out and got some air.” I rub my hands together, trying to warm them up.
Goldie comes over and hugs me, then sniffs. “You smell like pine and bad decisions.”
Tully snorts. “Says the woman who came back from the hardware store yesterday with caulk in her ponytail.”
Milo grins and reshuffles the Uno deck. “And she looked as beautiful as ever.”
We all groan.
“You’ve got it so fucking bad, man,” Tully says.
“Simp.” I cough in my hand.
We all give him shit for being so gone over our sister, while secretly we love it.
He rolls his eyes. “We’re mid-hand. You in, Dylan?”
“Deal me in,” I say, dropping between Camden and Noah.
