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What if she doesn’t want to be with us? What if Van is wrong and we commit to this and something terrible happens?

“Stop it.”

I jump at the sharp command. My head pivots to the man behind the wheel. He’s not looking at me, but his annoyance is palpable.

“I wasn’t—”

“But you were ... loudly.” He takes a breath and loosens his shoulders. “She loves you, Lach. Despite whatever you’re thinking up in your head right now, that’s the only thing that matters. Everything else, all the other noises, fuck it. Fuck Jefferson. What are you clinging to? Other people’s approval and validation? For what? So, you can be miserable for the rest of your life?” He darts me a glance. “If being with Everly makes you happy, who gives a shit about everything else?”

“They’ll hurt her,” I whisper without thinking.

“And I’ll kill them.” He moves smoothly around another transport. “I will burn the entire town to the ground. I will cut off all connecting roads so not a single soul leaves that place as it goes up in flames.”

“Jesus Christ,” I exclaim, staring at my friend like I’ve never seen him before.

“She’s mine to protect.” He gives a nonchalant bump of his shoulder. “I take my duty seriously.”

I should be horrified by his easy proclamation. Sane people don’t simply declare war on a town, but I agree. I would be next to him, holding the matches. There isn’t an atrocity I wouldn’t commit for Everly.

But I’m more nervous that he’s making sense. That he’s making me think this can happen. I’m nervous that I can see it, see us together. The three of us. I’m terrified by how badly I want it.

If she’ll have me. If she’s not absolutely disgusted by my presence.

“Besides, we have a much bigger problem.” I turn my face to him, mind scrambling to catch up. “That Teddy guy. What do you know about him? He seems shady.”

Maybe it’s because I’m already twisted up, tense with all the possibilities and variables I can’t predict, but I laugh.

“Are you seriously worried about Teddy? The kid is one breath away from sainthood. I think the most shocking thing I’ve ever seen him do was jaywalk.”

His mouth thins. “There was nothingsaintlyabout the way he was looking at Lauren. He definitely has some fucked up ideas in his head and Lauren is in a vulnerable place right now.”

I roll my eyes. “I think if Teddy’s the worst Lauren can do, you should count your blessings.”

A grunt is all I get back, but I can see him calculating all the ways he could make poor Teddy disappear.

It’s hilarious because Lauren’s had boyfriends. She’s dated. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Van worked up over a guy before. Still, I don’t push or ask questions. I’m not the father of a daughter. Maybe they come with a different set of feelers. Lord knows I ignored all mine where Bron was concerned. I clearly can’t be trusted to make the right observations.

We drive the remaining distance to the cabin in silence. It’s dark as we make the bend and locate the building.

And Everly’s car.

I exhale at the sight of it and glance to the house where only a single light glows in the top window.

Everly’s room.

“Okay, what’s the plan?” I ask once more, nervous all over.

Van unsnaps his belt and kicks open his door. “Going in.”

I hate him sometimes. I really do.

“Aren’t you supposed to be better at this tactical stuff?” I snap.

He pauses, his face awash with the dim glow of the cabin light. He looks me dead in the eye. “Want me to march up and kick the door down?”

I frown. “Not what I meant.”

“Get out of the car, Shaw. Stop being a little bitch.”