“I would rather give up every dollar I’ve made than be the reason she puts that armor back on.”
Nobody speaks for a long three seconds. Then Piper swipes a hand across her cheek. “Fucking pregnancy hormones.”
“They’ll get you every time,” Molly murmurs, but the wariness in her expression has gentled to something that looks almost like approval.
Sloane catches my eye across the room, and the pride on her face threatens to undo me entirely. I stand and clear my throat.
“Are we done?”
“We’re done.” Sadie rises with a smile that’s genuinely warm. “For now. Unless you want a glass of iced tea?”
“Thanks.” I shake my head. “But I think I’ll escape while I can.”
Sloane jubilantly gives the group her oncology update, and after a round of hugs for her and awkward smiles directed at me, we walk back down the hallway and out the front door. A breeze whips up, rippling against the shirt that’s plastered to my back with nervous sweat.
Ian stands in the driveway, sanding down what looks like a set of agility ramps. He glances up as the door closes behind us.
“You survived.”
“With fewer layers of skin than I had going in.”
“Fair enough.” He grins. “If you’re sticking around, come to poker night. A bunch of the guys get together a couple times a month.”
“The Book Club Bros,” Sloane supplies.
“We don’t have a name.” Ian points the sanding block at her. “And if we did, it would be the Buff Bros.”
“Keep telling yourselves that,” my sister answers with a snort.
Ian turns back to me. “Anyway. You’re welcome anytime.”
“I appreciate the offer,” I say, grabbing the keys from my pocket. “Not sure what my plans look like long term.”
“Open invitation.” Ian picks up Beast when he trots out of the garage. The animal stares at me with those beady eyes like the book club might be done with me, but he’s just getting started. “No pressure.”
We pull out of the driveway in silence. The afternoon sun bathes the mountains that anchor this town in golden light. I should be irritated about the ambush, but instead, I keep thinking about the way the book club closed ranks around Avah. A woman who insists she doesn’t need anyone has a circle of friends who would go to war for her without hesitation.
“So,” Sloane says, turning to me with a brilliant smile. “That wasn’t so bad.”
“Being interrogated by five women and a dog? It was not awesome.”
“You did good.” She adjusts her visor against the sun. “Better than I expected, honestly.”
“My relationship with Avah is nobody’s business. You also know she’ll kill every one of you if she finds out about this little interrogation.”
Sloane considers this. “I’m not afraid of Avah.” A beat. “Okay, maybe a little. Mostly, I want her to be happy.” Her gaze is steady on me. “I hope you’re part of that.”
I don’t answer right away. I’m too busy thinking about what I said in that living room. I might have been pitting out through my shirt, but I don’t regret a word of it. Every syllable was true. Those feelings scare the shit out of me, but that doesn’t make them any less valid. And the thought of a future with Avah settles in my chest like it belongs there.
“You should give Skylark a real chance,” Sloane says as we turn onto the main road. “I’d like having you around on a more permanent basis.”
I feel my brows hit my hairline. “You would?”
“Don’t sound so shocked.”
“What happened to my mother-hen routine annoying the crap out of you?”
“I like you despite how much you annoy me.” She reaches over and dials the climate control to a warmer setting. “You’re my person. We’re family.”
