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And again.

My jaw tightens.

The fourth time, I stab the button to accept the call and answer, voice clipped. “What the hell do you want?”

There’s silence at first.

Then—his voice. Low. Slimy. Too familiar.

“Laney,” Randy drawls. “Jesus. You don’t have to get all crazy. I just wanted to talk.”

My grip on the steering wheel goes white-knuckle. “You lost the right to talk to me a long time ago.”

“Come on. Don’t be like that. I’ve been trying to reach you. You’re ignoring me, you owe me after you mutilated me with that disgusting tattoo.”

“I don’t want to hear from you,” I snap. “Leave me the hell alone.”

He deserved what he got after the way he treated me.

He laughs. “You think you’re so above everyone now, huh? With your superstar boyfriend and your fake little charity act?You’re not special, Laney. You’re just a warm body until he finds someone new.”

I slam the brakes harder than I need to at the next stop sign.

“You know nothing about me and Eddie.”

He mimics me.“You know nothing about me and Eddie.You’re delusional, Laney. I can’t fucking wait for you to crawl back to me when he’s used you all up.”

“I’d rather die than come back to you.”

“Careful what you wish for, Laney.”

“Go to hell,” I spit, and hang up.

My hands are shaking. Merlyn whines beside me, pressing her face to my thigh like she knows something’s wrong.

I take a deep breath.

It’s fine.

It’s just words.

He’s not here. He can’t touch me.

I stroke her ears, calming myself as much as I’m calming her. “We’re okay. Right, girl?”

She lets out a huff and licks my hand.

By the time I pull into Sam and Lucas’s driveway, the sun’s pushed past the clouds, and the day has taken on that soft, golden warmth that only really shows up in spring.

Joey’s already at the front window, bouncing like he’s caffeinated, which, knowing Sam, he probably isn’t, but that kid runs on raw energy alone and I love seeing it because those short bursts of energy are getting shorter and shorter and less frequent. He needs a transplant, and soon.

I barely have the truck in park before the front door bursts open.

“Auntie Laney!” Joey yells.

“Surprise delivery!” I call back, opening the door and unclipping Merlyn’s harness. She bounds out of the truck like a tiny rocket.

Joey screams. “PUPPY!”