“I was bored the other morning and decided to walk one of the trails. She was volunteering to help the hikers in the parking lot, directing traffic and handing out maps. I could barely see her face, but I still knew.” I don’t tell him that I found her sleeping in a tent or that she’s homeless. He doesn’t need to know that. She’s mine now, and my home is her home. She’ll never sleep in a fucking tent ever again if I have anything to do with it.
“I’m happy for you, man. This town has a way of making things work out. The girls are going to make her join their little club, though, so get ready for them to take her out drinking.”
“That’s not happening,” I growl.
Huck scoffs. “Our women don’t take no for an answer.”
“She’s only twenty, and even if she was old enough, I don’t want her drinking.”
“How old are you?” Huck questions.
“Too old for her, but I don’t give a fuck.”
Chuckling, Huck nods in understanding. “Let’s go and see what Cora and the others are saying to her,” he says, heading over to where the two pregnant women and Verity have been joined by Alice and a handful of kids.
“Drinks?” Huck asks as he approaches the group.
Cora, Lulu, and Alice reel off their drink orders, then all eyes land on Verity, who looks shell-shocked and overwhelmed. “Err,” she falters.
“Could I grab a water?” I say, diverting Huck’s attention. “Amore mio, water?”
“Yes, please,” she says, flashing me a grateful look that makes me feel six inches taller.
I’m not sure if it’s deliberate or simply a coincidence, but the space beside Verity is empty, and I lower myself onto the couch, then silently reach for her hand, squeezing it lightly to reassure her.
“Are you working in town?” Lulu asks, scooping a child off the floor and into her lap.
“I’ve been volunteering for the ranger service while I look for a job, but I haven’t had much luck so far,” Verity admits.
“It’s the time of year,” Cora says. “All of the seasonal jobs have been filled, and it’ll be a few months before people quit and businesses start looking again.”
Verity deflates at Cora’s words, and the part inside of me that wants to be her savior prickles with the need to do something to make it better.
“That should work out okay. By the time you’ve taken a few weeks to relax and reenergize, I’m sure there’ll be vacancies you could apply for,” I suggest optimistically.
I’m not completely lying. She does need to spend some time recuperating from months of no food, safety, or a home. But by the time she’s back to her full strength, I plan for her to understand that she doesn’t need to work. I’m willing and more than capable of providing for her. No, more than that, I want and need to take care of her, and as far as I’m concerned, her working would be a waste of her time and energy when I can give her everything she needs.
“Reenergize?” Cora questions. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Verity says, flashing me a glare.
“She’s had a tough few months, and I’m sure you all agree that self-care is important,” I say, ignoring her annoyed expression.
“So important,” Lulu says, backing my cause with ease. “As women, we have a tendency to think we’re superheroes, but sometimes it’s important to prioritize putting yourself first.”
“I’m sure Warrick will make sure you’re taking care of yourself,” Huck says, returning to the group and handing out drinks.
“So you all live here, in this house?” Verity asks, avoiding the topic of herself and me looking after her.
“Yep.” Cora laughs. “The guys all grew up here, and their dad built this place for their mom. After they met us, we all moved in, and we’ve just been making it bigger and bigger so we all have our own spaces, as well as this communal kitchen and living space so we can all be together. It’s weird, but it works for us. I think I must have lived in a hippie commune in a past life,because being here with all of them has always just felt normal to me.”
“I found it overwhelming to begin with,” Alice confesses, her voice quiet and meek. “But now I love having so many people around who care about me. Jumper’s Row is the same because everyone is there for everyone else. Verity, once you get to know all the guys and their partners, you’ll have gained a huge new family you had no idea you needed.”
Verity’s expression softens, and she sighs wistfully, like the idea of having people who care and want to look after her is a pipe dream and not about to be her new reality. Selfishly until now, a part of me had wanted to keep her all to myself, but now I want to give her more family than she’ll know what to do with. She might not understand that she’s mine just yet, but I need to introduce her to my brothers, who are both my team and my family, so she can see that they’re hers now too.
“We should get going,” I say after an hour.
“Oh,” Verity says, the wide smile that had spread over her full lips not long after we arrived sliding off her face.
