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“She left,” he said again.

Because it was as simple as that to him.

He stayed, and she left.

“If she’s your mate, how did she leave?”

He knew this had to seem foreign to him. Julie was mated, so she understood the depth of the bond.

“It’s kind of a long story. Her mom died in the accident that killed our parents. Her dad didn’t handle it well and then after he died . . . she left.”

As she patted his hand, she scrunched her brows. “I’m so sorry. That must have been hard.”

He shrugged off her touch and glared at her, not wanting her pity.

“Get that look off your face when you’re looking at my mate,” his brother growled from the front door.

“It’s fine,” Julie said, going over to Abe and hugging him. “He was just telling me about Sunny.”

Abe closed his eyes and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m sorry, Julie. She’s a bit of a sore spot. Let’s eat.”

“Biscuits have a few more minutes, then it will be ready.”

After their dinner, Asher helped Julie clear the table and was settling in to help her with dishes.

“Can we talk?” Abe asked.

Asher nodded and followed him out onto the porch.

“I know what this is about?—”

“I went to Sunny’s today.”

All of the air left Asher’s body. Maybe he didn’t know what this was about.

“What?”

“I ran into her at the hardware store. Her roof was leaking, and she was going to go up on the roof and try and tarp it herself.”

Asher shook his head. “What was she thinking? She can trip over a crack in the sidewalk. She should not be on her roof.”

“I know. That’s why I went and got it fixed for her.”

Asher nodded.

He wanted to thank him for looking out for her, but the words were stuck in his throat.

“Have you talked to her?”

Asher shook his head.

“Why not?”

“She left,” he said, glaring at Abe.

Why was he even asking that? He knew better than anyone how her leaving had broken him.

“She’s back.”