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“Does that explain why you walk into my home looking like you just lostSurvivor?” Stone questions Vander.

“Seriously, brother,” Mason chimes in. “If I hadn’t recognized your voice, I’d never have known it was you. I can see that grizzly beard twitching from here. If you pull a rat out of there and pet him like he’s yours, I’m gonna toss you right out. My wife’s pregnant, and rodents aren’t safe for that.”

Sorel snorts and simply tosses up her hands at Vander as she fights not to laugh. “I’m saying nothing.”

“I showered,” he protests.

“Yeah?” Owen questions. “When?”

Vander shrugs as he picks up an empty glass off the table and fills it almost to the brim with tequila. No chaser. No hint of lime. Just fucking tequila. He gulps half of it and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Okay. Enough of this.” Keegan walks over to me and places her hands on my shoulders, staring down at me. “Are we going to talk about you coming to Florida with me?”

“What?” I exclaim, my eyebrows forming a frown on my forehead.

“Jesus, Keegs,” Kenna protests. “Are you kidding me? We talked about this.”

“Yes, we did.” Wren looks upset. “And this isn’t how you said you’d do this.”

“For real.” That’s Sorel.

“What happened to not mentioning it and letting him decide if it comes up?” Katy agrees.

Keegan waves all that away. “Please. We all know why Tinsley called us here. It’s the elephant in the room, and I’m tired of him sitting his fat, heavy butt on my chest. It was going to come up, and I’m not one for suspense.” Her green eyes meet mine. “So are we?”

10

Iwasn’t going to say anything. I was going to stick to the plan Kenna, Katy, Wren, Sorel, and I had come up with. When I got here, Katy was immediately all over me, asking a dozen questions at light speed. I told her the truth, and I could see the relief in her eyes. Katy and I have been best friends since we were small kids. Since my aunt Layla married her uncle Callan, who was her guardian, and we all sort of became one big family.

She was worried about me. She knows I used to have a crush on Loomis. A crush that led to nothing fun on my end, and she didn’t want me to get hurt.

“I know what Tinsley wants too, and I get it. Loomis is a great guy, and I don’t want to see him or his son hurt. But I don’t want to seeyouget hurt either,” she had said, almost identical to Kenna’s speech.

“You just got out of a relationship with Alden, and you need time for yourself. Time to heal.” That was Wren.

Sorel’s eyes were on my wrist as she said, “Figuratively and literally. You have enough on your plate. You don’t have to bring them with you.”

“Yes.” Kenna was practically dancing naked in the rain with all the support. “We’re just worried about you.”

“I know that,” I told all of them.

Katy studied me because Katy knows me almost as well as Kenna does. “Do you, though? Because your expression is telling me otherwise, and I know how your brain and heart work. You’re loyal and loving to a fault.”

I snorted. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not unless you put your health and well-being last,” Wren said adamantly.

I got their point.

Tinsley didn’t say much and didn’t try to persuade me one way or the other. I give her credit for that even when it was obvious what she wanted me to do in this situation. And before he got here, I was determined not to invite him again unless he asked.

But then I saw him arrive with four security guards and a look of pure relief on his face when he entered the room. Plus there’s Fen. The cute tiny thing who gave me a toothy smile when he saw me and was holding his Curious George that I gave him. He’s now playing with Willow and Rory, which is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

I could tell him to find his own place to hide out. I likely should, if we’re being honest.

But anywhere he goes, anything that’s booked for him, he’ll be followed. Plus, I haven’t felt that thing. That swooshy, gooey,oh my god, I want him so badlything. Okay, I’ve feltsomeof that. But nothing crazy. Nothing insurmountable. Maybe it’s the breakup and the feelings I had for Alden, or maybe it’s my mind shutting my heart down and finally getting the picture that we deserve better than settling for men who don’t want us. Or maybe I’m totally and completely over him. It was a crush, not love.

Whatever it is, I think I’ll be fine.