“No,” I say. “I got on two planes today. I thought about driving. I broke into a man’s apartment, and now I’m going to see him with no idea what to say because I’m pissed off that he left, I understand why he left, and I’m terrified that he’ll leave again.”
“He won’t leave again,” Roman says.
At the same time, Greyson says, “You didn’t break in. They gave you the code.”
Roman and Greyson glare at each other in the front.
“Semantics,” I say. Lowering my voice, I whisper to the girls, “What’s going on with all the testosterone in here?”
“Braxton and Grey are on your side,” Savvy says, “but worried that the Harrington boys are here to try and pressure you into forgiving Valen. The Harrington boys are on your side too, but they’re worried Braxton and Grey are here to shit-talk about Valen. So…they’re all here for you, basically fighting for the same thing, but too stubborn to get out of their own way to see the big picture.”
I roll my eyes. So communication is a family-wide problem then, not just for Valen and me. Awesome.
“Just so we’re on the same page,” I say, loudly enough that everyone gives me their attention. “I have forgiven Valen, but I’m still pissed at him, and I don’t know how we move forward, but I appreciate you all being here for both of us.”
Madi squeezes my hand. “There is a future for you two, I know it.”
“He did drive back to Happiness of his own free will,” Savvy says. “He’d already decided he’d made a mistake.”
“You know what that means?” Madi asks.
“That he’s a prick with no balls?” Greyson grumbles from the front seat.
“Or…” Grant clears his throat. “That he’s aware enough to own up to his mistakes.”
“Or,” I say, “that we have terrible communication skills and enough trauma to choke an elephant.”
“No.” Madi rolls her eyes. “It means he chose you. He chose to face his feelings even if it hurts. That means something.”
“It took him long enough,” Greyson mutters.
I lean into Madi as the RV takes a corner I know by heart just before Roman slows to a stop.
“Holy shit,” Savvy gasps, peering out the windshield. “What the hell did he do?”
Chase opens the side door, and that’s when I see it.
The inn’s porch.
The fairy lights make the whole building look like something straight out of a romance movie that makes viewers cry into their glasses of wine.
Sterling offers me his hand. I climb out of the RV and cross the yard with my mouth agape.
“Oh,” Madi breathes. “Oh, Clover.”
I reach the stairs, and Greyson pulls me to a stop with a scowl on his face as we all take in the photos that crisscross the magical scene like dancing stars.
And in the center of it all, sitting on the top step like he’s been waiting his whole life for this moment…
Is Valen.
He raises his hand in an awkward hello and stands while my family and his fill in the space on either side of me. His shoulders are stiff with tension. He probably wasn’t prepared for an audience.
“We’ll give you some space,” Madi whispers.
“Like hell we will,” Greyson spits, but Savvy is already prodding him along with one of her crutches.
Grant jogs up the steps and wraps Valen in a brief hug, whispering something that brings emotion to both their eyes, before passing him and entering the inn. His brothers follow, each offering a fist bump or a one-armed hug on the way by.
