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“You’re both wet,” she observes. “Let me grab some towels.”

Neither Lachlan, nor I move as she hurries from the room. The soft shuffle of her feet echo through the silence and disappear up the stairs.

A beat of silence extends between us where I’m too exhausted and angry to think of anything. Lachlan stands still and rigid in the doorway, still dripping water. So am I, I realize dully. I should probably get off her furniture.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Lachlan interrupts my thoughts.

It takes all my patience to remember I love this man and to keep my temper.

“Stopped him from kicking down her door? Calling her names?” I throw back.

Lachlan pinches his lips. “Saying those things about Ashley. She’s still his mother.”

Part of me is relieved, and it shouldn’t be. I know he wouldn’t have stood for Bron attacking Everly anymore than I would, but I’m glad that’s the only part he had a problem with.

“I wasn’t wrong.”

“Doesn’t matter. Whatever Ashley is, I don’t want him thinking badly of her.”

I bite back my scoff. My irritation at his sanctimonious bullshit builds in my chest and I have to keep my voice level.

“He is too old to still fall for her shit, Lach. He knows what she’s done. Covering for her is stupid on your end when you want a relationship with your son.”

“That’s not your call to make.” He glances at the doorway, checking for Everly, I assume. “And he’s not wrong. I wasn’t a good father. Not like you are to Lauren. I fucked up a lot. Not just with him, but Ashley. That’s my burden to carry.”

It’s burning in my tongue. A hot chunk of embers begging to get spit out. But I don’t. I don’t because Lachlan is my best friend. My brother. If he’s not ready to face reality, I’m not going to force him to in the middle of Everly’s house.

But the venom is potent, begging to spill free. To tell him I was there every step of those years with Ashley. I know everything. He can lie to everyone else and play the villain in Ashley’s book to protect Bron’s feelings, but I know he’s wrong. Not because I’m his friend and I’d cover for him, but because I witnessed the trauma and misery Ashley put him through. The isolation, gaslighting, and manipulation. It’s where Bron learned it. It’s how he’s so good at hurting people.

But it doesn’t matter what I tell him. He’s never going to believe me.

“Think what you want, but you’re not the villain here. Just saying.”

He says nothing, nor does he get the chance to when Everly returns, fluffy, white towels clasped to her chest.

We each take one silently and try drying up the best we can when we’re both soaked through. My phone, keys and wallet are dropped on the coffee table next to the envelope Lachlan had given Everly the day before. The check covering what Bron owes her next to a mug of half-drunk coffee.

I eye it while running the towel through my hair. I partially wonder if Bron found out about the money and that’s the reason behind his unhinged behavior. Otherwise, I can’t fathom why a person would lose it like that just because Everly wouldn’t open the door — which I’m glad she didn’t. Would he have hurt her? He had no idea we were on our way to pick her up.

I shudder at the thought and straighten.

“Why was he here?” Towel rubbing the back of my neck, I turn to Everly. “Did he say?”

She shakes her head, arms folding over her chest. “He showed up and knocked. I thought it was you.” She licks her lips and hugs herself tighter. “I went to open the door and heard his voice. I panicked and locked it.” A hand lifts over her eyes like she can’t believe herself. “That set him off. He got so angry. He called me names and started punching the door. I got scared. I called Sheriff Brewer. I didn’t know what he was going to do.”

Lachlan exhales and bunches the towel between his big hands. “I’m glad you didn’t open the door. I want to think hewould never hurt you, but...” he lowers his face. “I’m not willing to take that chance.”

Everly sighs and grinds the tips of four fingers into her brow like she’s trying to battle back a migraine. “He’s going to be furious when he’s out.”

I push to my feet and drop the damp towel on my abandoned seat. I use it to soak up the water I left behind.

“Good thing you’re not going to be here when he does,” I say.

Everly blinks. “You’re still coming with me?”

Both Lach and I peer at her.

“Why wouldn’t we?” I ask. “That’s the plan, isn’t it?”