I raise a brow. “When did you get so bossy?”
She grabs my hand and flips it palm-up. I smirk and close my eyes.
“Good man,” she teases.
She drops something cold into my hand. I feel a chain and something solid at the center. I open my eyes as she says, “Aaaand… open.”
I unwrap my fingers to two dog tags.
They are engraved.
Brother.
Sister.
My throat tightens as I flip them over and stare at the words. Kiera leans in and giggles before I pull her into a tight hug.
“I love it, Kiera. Thank you,” I murmur into her hair, kissing her forehead. Then I slide the chain over my head, the tags clinking against my chest, right above the tattoo of her name.
“It’s nothing, but I thought you could take it with you on tour. Something to remind you of me. Or, you know, some sappy shit like that.”
I smile. “I don’t need reminding, I think about you every day. But I’llnevertake this off.”
“It’s true,” Effa chimes in. “He hardly shuts up about you.”
Kiera squints at me. “Seriously? You talk about me?”
Effa laughs. “Let’s be real, Kiera. You’re the cool one. Right?”
“Absolutely,” Kiera says with a dramatic nod. “I mean, obviously.”
I scoff. “I thought we agreed, no ganging up.”
Effa leans in. “Pfft. It’s not ganging up if it’s true. Right, Kiera?”
“Truth has never been truer,” she says, nudging me.
I glance around and spot Gran browsing a pumpkin stall. I wander over to her, giving Kiera and Effa a moment. I like them bonding. It’s good for the both of them.
“Hey, Gran,” I say, stepping beside her. “You gonna make that famous pumpkin pie?”
She chuckles. “I was thinking about it. You think a rock star like Effa would like it?”
“Gran, there isn’t a sane person alive who wouldn’t love your pumpkin pie.”
She pinches my cheek. “Suck up.”
I laugh and pay for the pumpkin, grabbing it as we trail behind Kiera and Effa. They’re looking at dream catchers now—Effa’s definitely in her element.
“You hold on tight to that girl,” Gran says. “She’s a keeper.”
“I know.” I nod. “I plan to.”
“I see a light in you, Kaden. A light I haven’t seen in a long time. She brings you back to life. And after everything you’ve been through, you don’t need more heartbreak. So whatever it takes to keep her, you do it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply, and she winks.
Suddenly, Kiera stumbles.
