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This man has been by my side through it all. Every tear. Every boxed-up raccoon. Every cheap takeout dinner because I’m too fatigued to do anything else. He holds me and wipes my tears without a single complaint.

Why am I hesitating?

Instead of the stately walk I planned on using, I hurry with a laugh. I’ll run to him any chance I get.

He starts laughing and opens his arms wide for me to leap into them.

Chapter Seventeen

Asher

“You told her six, right?”

I slide my eyes over to Max with a blank face.

“No, I told her three in the morning.”

He scowls at my frigid tone and checks his phone for the time.

“It’s six thirty,” Trevor says with a sigh.

“You’ve blown her off so long she’s not coming,” Max gives me a stern glare.

“She’s not the type,” I try to force myself not to feel guilty about it.

With South moving into town, Shade’s drama, and all the downright horror with Amanda, I’ve been trying to keep Addie at arm's length. My tendency to be overprotective of my siblings has been in full swing.

Addie is my biggest weakness when it comes to confessions. I know she’ll listen, add in her opinion, and smack me for doing things like an idiot. Her lack of sugar-coating things is what makes her the best at getting through to me.

There’s no way in hell I want my big sis involved in any of the terrifying reality hidden beneath this city’s surface. I can already see her with a baseball bat, ready to swing with Amanda and South right beside her. She already loves Tera without even seeing her. She’d go to war to keep her safe, regardless of the risks.

Hellno.

I’ll confess my sins to her tonight. She’ll understand me wanting to keep her safe. Keeping Tera out of everything as much as I can has been exhausting and pointless, as it turned out. Even taking her out of state in the disguise of a family emergency didn’t stop a damn thing. Max caught her on the phone whispering with South and confiscated it.

“Maybe she’s nervous.” Tera’s hand falls over mine with a sweet smile aimed my way. “I knowIam. She’s your confidant. I don’t want to give her a bad impression.”

God damn, I love this woman.

“She got you to open your damn mouth and talk to us,” Trevor reminds me.

“If only the rest of us could do that,” Max jabs at him with pure, malicious innocence.

“Max,” Trevor starts in his usual warning tone.

“Addie is the best of my family,” I interrupt them to reassure Tera, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “She already loves all of you, and she isn’t shy about letting people know it.”

A hopeful smile makes her eyes sparkle.

“Look,” Max rolls his eyes, drawing my attention again. “She works down the street, right? I’ll just casually walk by and see if she’s busy since your frozen solid, overprotective ass is too scared to do it.”

I glance out the window to see her shop. There’s a different sign over the door that I can’t read from this angle. And something is drawn on the windows facing the street. That’s a little surprising. I guess Addie is going with a more attention-grabbing look.

I haven’t said anything about the tattoo shops around her that look like they’re thriving, while hers stays quiet. I know she can pull it around without my griping. She’s a fighter.

“Don’t thank me or anything,” Max snarks, standing up before I can speak. I’m surprised Trevor doesn’t try to stop him when he leaves.

“You’re sure she won’t be like the other sisters?” Trevor asks warily.