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“Nothing,” I shrug, knowing I can’t give it away. My safety depends on my secrecy, but I hate it all the same.

“I have obligations. Stuff I can’t walk away from, even if I wanted to.”

Penny nods, slow and patient. Avery frowns and the other ladies continue with what they are doing, but I know they’re listening, too.

It’s not unwelcome. In fact, quite the opposite.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t had girlfriends in a long time. But whatever the reason, I really feel a camaraderie with these women.

But I’m not dumb. I understand that Zeke is one of them. And I wish for a moment that I could just throw caution to the wind and say yeah, I’m in this for the long haul.

But how can I do that when I don’t even know what tomorrow will bring? If I’ll ever be free of the far-reaching grip of the D’Angelo family?

I won’t tell them about that. I can’t. And I wouldn’t want to put any of them in danger, either.

That was my burden to bear. But maybe I could ease their concerns a little bit.

“Look guys, I know you care about Zeke, and the fact is this is really new. All of this.”

“Cas, we care about you too,” Avery says and warmth spreads through me even if she doesn’t mean it the same way they all do for Zeke.

“I appreciate that. All I can say is the way he makes me feel, it’s not something I’m used to. But I also don’t want to hurt him, Penny. That’s not my intention at all.”

I finally meet her eyes. I have to admit, I don’t know her well, but she feels like the leader here. She is kind and gracious, tough as nails, too.

Sure, we’ve met a few times, but I want her to like me. I really do.

“I’ve been through enough to know life doesn’t hand out guarantees. For all I know, Zeke doesn’t see me as anything more than some weekend fun.”

I shrug, even though the idea of that being true sends a pang of hurt through me.

Penny dries her hands on a dish towel and leans against the counter. Her expression is thoughtful, not judging, not even particularly surprised.

“You might be wrong about some of that,” she says gently.

I blink. “About what?”

“The no guarantees part. And the Zeke sees you as a weekend of fun part.”

She smiles, just a little. And for some reason, I feel hope bubbling to life inside of me.

“You know, Cas, sometimes life surprises you. And other times, love does.”

Before I can answer, there’s a low whistle from outside—Dante calling for his wife.

Avery laughs and hollers back that she’s on her way.

I reach for the tea pitcher, trying not to tremble under the weight of Penny’s words.

Because maybe, just maybe, she’s right.

And maybe the thing I’ve been running from for longer than these few months, for my whole life really, isn’t danger or heartbreak.

Maybe it’s the terrifying, impossible hope that something real could last.

Something real with a man like Zeke Gordon.

Something real right here.