My phone dings, and I peer down at the screen, sliding my hand out of West’s to unlock it.
Scar: Got a sec? Probably best to actually talk rather than text.
My brow tenses. My sister is typically level-headed and has never been a drama queen. So, whatever this is, it must be serious.
“Mind swinging by my dad’s for a bit? Scar needs to talk about something.”
West glances at me, concern in his eyes becauseheknows likeIknow that Scar isn’t one for theatrics.
“Of course. Everything okay?
“I think so, but she’s being kind of vague.”
I move my fingers across the phone screen, responding to the message.
Blue: Are you at the house? We’ll be there in a few minutes.
Scar: I’m here. See you soon.
I lower the phone and try not to worry. That’s easier said than done, though. Especially living in Cypress Pointe. God only knows what’s going on.
We make it across town quickly, and I’m even more nervous when I see Scar sitting on the porch, deep in thought, and definitely troubled about something.
I don’t wait for West to open my door. I hop out when he does, crossing the yard.
“Hey. Thanks for coming by,” Scar says, and I nod.
“No problem. What’s going on?”
Her lips part to answer, but before she can get the words out, Dad pulls into the driveway. My first thought is that he’s just getting in from work, but there’s a woman in the front seat—brunette, maybe mid-fifties, smiling from ear to ear as my father speaks.
This must be the infamous Hannah.
He opens her door, then he takes her hand as they make their way up the walkway. Dad flashes a tight smile toward me, and I imagine this isn’t the way he expected I’d be meeting his girlfriend.
Seems we’realla little caught off guard tonight.
“Evening, you two,” he says to me and West.
“Hey.” I smile, but it’s stiff and awkward.
Dad Squeezes West and I tightly, then he steps aside, gesturing beside him. “Sweetheart, I’d like you to meet Hannah.”
She grins and the creases in the corners of her eyes somehow make the expression feel a bit warmer.
“Nice to finally meet you, Blue,” she says, then grips my hand with both of hers.
“You, too.”
“Your father’s told me so much about you it feels like we met ages ago.” She squeezes my hand before turning toward West next. “And you must be Blue’s football superstar husband Mike is always going on about.”
“I’m… definitely Blue’s husband, but the verdict’s out on that other part,” West says with a humble nod. “But it’s nice to finally meet the woman who keeps Mike smiling these days.”
Hanna glances toward my dad, and her expression softens even more. “I don’t know about that, but… I like to think I’ve at least brought a little bit of light into his life.”
“You’ve done that and then some, Sweetheart,” is Dad’s reply as he kisses her cheek.
“All right, enough,” Scar intervenes. “Take it inside.”
