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Karis poked her head out of her bedroom. She still looked tired, but not nearly as much as the night before. Even Gus slept in and was just now shoving Cheerios and bananas in his face while he watched cartoons. "Yeah. Why?"

I stood up straight. "Because I'm doing research."

"On Sammy?"

I shrugged. I'd read most of the Sammy books growing up, just like everyone in our town. But the details were fuzzy. "Marley is a writer and she's already spent a lot of time at the TBR Pile, so I messaged Willow last night to see if there was anything in particular that they talked about. Turns out Marley is a Sammy super fan."

"Interesting. Hold on." She disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a toothbrush in her mouth and three well-worn Sammy books. "Do not ruin those."

"I'm just going to scan them real quick and give them right back."

"More!" Gus yelled from the highchair.

Karis pinned me with a glare. "I'll get it. Donotbring those books near him." She quickly poured out more cereal and slices of banana. Gus promptly slammed his hands down and began mashing them together before shoving more in his face.

"Good call." I loved that kid but damn he was messy when he ate.

"He's been hungry in the mornings." She cranked the top off a pouch of yogurt and started heating up one of his oatmeal pancakes.

"I won't skimp on the food from now on."

Karis finished brushing her teeth at the kitchen sink then nodded at the books in my hands. "So you like her. A lot."

I couldn't stop thinking about Marley. It was like she had fully inserted into my life like she always belonged there. What were her favorite foods? Bands? Flowers? I wanted to knoweverything.It felt vital to learn as much as possible as fast as possible. What could I do today to make her smile and chase some of that stress away. Who had broken her? And how long would it take me to return the favor?

Because while I got the impression Marley had friends and people who cared about her, none of them fought for her.

"I like her a hell of a lot. How can you tell?"

She waved at the books in my hands. "Because you're wooing her. You care. You're invested."

Yeah, I was. "Did Julien woo you?"

She snorted. "Hell no. We met at a bar and had sex in his truck. We were all chemistry and fire. Maybe if I'd stepped back and seen that we were about as deep as a pothole I would have realized he wasn't the kind of man who stays. Or who does hard things. Or cares."

"So, you don't think I'm ridiculous?"

"Oh, you definitely are, but I like it." She waved her toothbrush at me. "But I am curious. I've never seen you like this."

Karis didn't have much time before she needed to be out the door for work, so I didn't beat around the bush. "The day we met? She was scared of her own shadow, but she still climbed back in her truck."

"You always did have a soft spot for resilient people."

"The more I get to know her, the more I know that's just who she is." And it was sexy as fuck. "But she also needs someone in her corner."

Karis hugged me tight. "We all do. Thank you for being in mine."

I kissed the top of her head. "Always."

"It probably helps that she's pretty."

I laughed. "It might be affecting me."

She shook her head. "Boy."

"Man!"

"You've got Gus?" She pulled away.