Page 18 of The Scars We Heal

“You don’t have to buy it, I⁠—”

He pressed his index finger to my lips, and my mouth clamped shut. “I want to. Is your phone number still the same?”

“Y-yes? Why?” My brows furrowed.

“In case I need to text you while I’m at the grocery store. Here, I’ll send you a text right now so you have mine.” He pulled out his phone, typing for a minute before my phone buzzed on the counter.

406-555-0192

It’s Jake.

“Thanks.” I added his number back into my contacts. There was a short time in college when we would text each other. In the beginning, it was really only to talk about house parties and if I couldn’t reach my brother and needed something, but it had turned into a lot more. He was the person I called when I was stressed about exams and Adam was being a dick. That was probably why Adam made me delete the number of any guys that weren’t him, my dad, or my brothers. And I was only able to keep my family after arguing about it for hours.

The daze I’d momentarily fell into faded when I realized Jake was looking at me like he was waiting for me to say something.

“I’ll let you know if I think of anything else I need.”

He offered me a quick nod then headed toward the door.

Before he could leave, I called out to him. “Jake!”

His brows raised as he glanced over his shoulder.

Everything I wanted to say—an apology for letting Adam get between our friendship, appreciation for being here and supporting me now, despite everything—got lodged in my throat, so I just took a deep breath and said, “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Cait. You need anything at all, just let me know.”

Whitley’s birthday party quickly got moved outside to the front lawn. Ten people was definitely too many for the little guest house. It worked out great, though, because the guys, minus Colter, who was cooking the burgers on Jake’s grill, were keeping Whitley busy while my mom, Ellison, Sierra, and I watched.

“It amazes me how much energy they all have,” Ellison sighed. “It makes me tired just watching them all run around like that.”

“That might just be the pregnancy talking,” I said with a laugh.

Whitley and the men—wearing paper crowns that Ellison and Sierra had made for the party—were currently engaged in an intense game of freeze tag. Right as I looked up, Mikey slipped and fell on his ass, giving Whit the perfect opportunity to prance up to him and smack her hand on top of his head, yelling, “Freeze!”

I ate my words real fast. “Maybe not.”

“It’s good for them.” Sierra snorted, shaking her head as Hayden barely dodged Whitley’s hand. “Someone has to keep them young, right?”

“Hopefully, they’ll all take a nice long nap after this.” Mom added to the jokes with a yawn. “I haven’t even done anything, and I could use one.”

“You were watching Whitley this morning, though,” I pointed out. “How was she, by the way?”

“Oh, she’s just a little angel,” Mom gushed, stars practically shining in her eyes. I was starting to think that was her default answer.

“Funny how that changes the moment she comes home,” I grumbled, earning a laugh from the other women. “Did I have an attitude when I was a kid? Is she getting her sass from me?”

Mom wrapped her arm around my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “Your grandmother always told me you were a perfect angel, too, my dear.”

I rolled my eyes. So, that’s a yes.

“Burgers are done!” Colter spun around from his spot at the grill, his Smokin’ Hot Dad apron his friends bought him practically plastered against his T-shirt. “Hot dogs will be done soon, but come eat, y’all.”

“That’s our cue.” Mom got up from her lawn chair, offering Ellison a hand up as well. “I’m starving.”

“I think the little one is hungry, too.” Ellison rubbed her stomach when it growled in perfect timing.

The guys had run over to get in line with Whit, but Jake urged Ellison ahead of them, despite her protests.