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At the back door, a dog started barking.

Tammy nodded toward the door. “I think one of your friends is here.”

“Zoey!” Dylan shouted. The German Shepherd puppy, now a hell of a lot bigger than she was when we first met her, started yipping and bouncing excitedly.

“We’re on babysitting duty right now,” Tammy said with a laugh. “Just the dog, though, not the actual baby. Hawk and Mia needed a date night.”

“Let’s go throw the frisbee with Zoey, shall we?” Tank said with a grin. Dylan grabbed the soda Tammy had set on the counter for him, then rushed outside with Striker right behind him. Striker went over to the pool table with the other clan members to give us some space, but his eyes were still glued to Cassidy. Tammy glanced at him, then at Cassidy, but didn’t say anything. I wondered if Tammy could pick up on Striker’s connection to her, too.

“This is my best friend, Cassidy,” I said as we slid into the seats at the bar. “You have any wine back there?”

“Love the tattoos,” Cassidy said.

“Love the hair,” Tammy said, gesturing to Cassidy’s bleached bangs. She pulled out a chilled bottle of white wine and poured us each a glass. “I’m glad you’re up here. I’m sure it isn’t easy dealing with this mess, Harley. I heard about what Sean did. He’s always been a real piece of shit, but I never thought he’d go that far.”

“I don’t think anyone did,” I said. “Cass came up here immediately. I didn’t realize how much I needed my best friend until she got here.”

“True, I’m the best,” Cassidy said, flipping her hair. “But seriously, of course I came. It was a terrifying phone call to get.”

“How are you doing now?” Tammy asked. “Sleeping all right? Feeling safe?”

“I think so.” I took a sip of my wine, then propped my chin in my hand. “It’s nerve-racking knowing Sean’s out there trying to get to me and Dylan, but this is the safest place I can be. So, I’m taking it one day at a time.”

“Smart girl,” Tammy said. “One day at a time will get you through your whole life.”

“Did you hear about the bitch Blakely?” Cassidy asked.

“Did I ever,” Tammy said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised to hear that part. Blakely’s always been delusional, especially when it comes to Ace. Even when you weren’t around, she was jealous of you.” Tammy shook her head. “I’m glad you’re back in Lakeview. Ace needed you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the glass doors to the backyard, where Dylan was wrestling with Zoey. “Both of you.”

“I think we needed him, too,” I said. “Even if I wasn’t ready to admit that.”

“Tale as old as time,” Tammy said with a laugh. “I’ve got some prep to do before these rabble-rousers start coming in. You girls just shout if you need anything, okay?”

“Thanks,” Cassidy said. “This wine is fantastic.”

“Of course it is, I’m the wine buyer.” Tammy made her way to the other end of the bar to review the prep list.

“She’s nice,” Cassidy said.

“Mm-hmm,” I agreed, taking another sip of my wine.

“You okay?”

I sighed. “Yeah. Just tired. A lot going on, you know?”

“Come on, don’t bullshit a bullshitter. Your mom called you today, didn’t she?”

“Yeah. During breakfast. How’d you know?”

“You get a very specific annoyed look on your face when she calls,” Cassidy said.

I took another sip of my wine. “It’s just not fair, you know? I haven’t even told her about the kidnapping.”

“I’d honestly be shocked if you had.”

“It’s like… When I talk to someone like that”—I nodded toward Tammy, who was engrossed in doing inventory at the other end of the bar—“I can’t help but think, what if my mother was like that? What if she was someone who actually cared about what happened to me, and my feelings, and was interested in my life? It seems like such a low bar, but…”

“But she only cares about herself.” Cassidy squeezed my arm. “I know. It’s really not fair.”