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I hugged Case and welcomed Hunter before the exchange could turn into a performance. Hunter’s handshake was warm, his manner easy, and within ten minutes he was talking with Annette about a cracked crown she had been ignoring while Case stood nearby looking offensively pleased with himself.

I found him alone at the kitchen counter a little later, opening the bottle of sparkling water he had brought.

He glanced toward the dining room, where Hunter was listening to one of Earl’s trucking stories.

I nudged Case’s shoulder with mine. “So.”

“That is an extremely dangerous opening from you.”

I laughed. Case’s attention had already gone back to Hunter, and the joke drained out of the moment before I needed to ask anything.

“I haven’t asked anything yet.”

“You have an interrogative face.”

The theatrical edge faded from Case’s expression.

“He’s kind,” he said after a moment. “Actually kind, not first-three-dates kind. He listens. He remembers things I tell him. He thinks I’m funny even when I’m not performing for him.”

That was more serious than anything I had expected, so I didn’t ruin it with a joke.

“He looks at you like he likes exactly who showed up.”

Case’s eyes softened, and I let the silence sit instead of trying to rescue him from it.

“Yeah. That’s the problem.”

“That sounds terrible.”

The seriousness in his face loosened, and some of the theatricality returned.

“It’s horrifying.” He took a drink and recovered enough of himself to add, “His teeth are exceptional, though, so I’m trying to be brave.”

I laughed and left him to carry water glasses to the table.

Dinner began without a formal announcement.

Food moved out of the kitchen in warm dishes while chairs scraped over the floor and everyone found a place. Rex sat beside me, Gavin and Piper across from us, with Annette and Earl anchoring one end of the table while Case and Hunter took the other.

The windows had darkened enough to turn reflective. Candlelight from the table mixed with the warm overhead fixtures, catching on wineglasses and serving spoons. Outside, wind moved through the pines and lifted the dry leaves gathered along the porch. Inside, steam rose from the food and carried butter, roasted vegetables, herbs, and spice across a room that had once smelled mostly like Rex’s coffee and whatever takeout carton he had opened.

Conversation spread instead of traveling in a neat circle.

Earl asked Gavin about the work he planned to do once his licensing was complete. Gavin explained that he had enough saved to manage the transition and was already working through the legitimate requirements he had avoided while living under another name.

“I’m starting smaller than I could,” he said, cutting into his turkey. “That’s fine. I’d rather build the business once under my own name than spend another year taking cash jobs I can’t put on paper.”

Piper’s hand rested lightly against his forearm. He turned his palm up and threaded their fingers together without interrupting his conversation with Earl.

I watched for only a second before returning to my plate.

Across the table, Case was telling Annette how he’d met Hunter. The story apparently involved Case cracking a molar on an olive pit during a shift and announcing in the dental chair that any man who had to put his hands in Case’s mouth should at least buy him dinner first.

Hunter listened with patient amusement.

“You left out the part where you apologized to my hygienist afterward,” he said when Case finally paused.

“She had delicate sensibilities.”