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Heat rushed up my cheeks.“Well, I?—”

“He’s really good.”Jeremy gestured toward me.“He’s a natural.And I can join in as well, right?I like the idea of walking dogs.”

I nearly said he’d have his hands full with Wally and me.But I resisted.He’d made the choice to welcome us in.He’d known what he was getting himself into.

Or so I hoped.

“Is everyone okay with pizza?”Colin held out his phone.“Because, despite having a big dinner, I’m starving.”

Jeremy cut me a questioning look.Whether to ask if I was too tired or whether asking if the food choice was okay, I couldn’t be certain.

I smiled.“I’d love a slice.”

A friendly discussion ensued between the four men about the best toppings.I loved pineapple and ham, which I shared with reticence because aside from anchovies and green peppers being disgusting, I had no opinion on toppings—I’d eat just about anything.Plus, peppers could be taken off.So could anchovies, but the fishy taste would linger.I eyed Wally.Yeah, he deserved another fishy treat.

In the end, I didn’t have to sneak any toppings to my pooch.Jeremy also loved Hawaiian, so we got one to share with plenty of leftovers for the morning.Arthur, James, and Colin devoured a meat lovers—unapologetically not leaving a single slice.

Wally got one cube of ham and one piece of pineapple.Smart dog loved both.

Not that I’d ever found a food he didn’t love.

Soon our guests departed.

Friends?After tonight, they sure felt as close to friends as anyone ever had in my life.Which was pathetic in one way—that I’d never had close friends.In another way, though, there was something nice about it.

In silence, Jeremy helped me sort the contents of the duffel bag, not speaking as we put away the clothes into the closet and the dresser.This…felt like permanence.Like I’d be staying for a while.I’d expected to be living out of the duffel.Instead, he’d set up an entire room just for me.

While I tucked the underwear and socks into a drawer, he laid my pajamas on the bed.“Are these going to be big?”

“Uh, yeah.Pretty much everything is big.”I grabbed my gut.“I’ve lost a bunch of weight since…you know…”

“Right.”He rubbed his forehead.“I don’t know, and you haven’t told me, and I’m totally fine with that.You had a rough go of it—whatever it is.If they don’t fit, it’s totally okay if you sleep in your underwear or whatever.You’ve got a robe and a bathroom to yourself.New toothbrush and toothpaste.If you need anything, just knock on my door, okay?”He scratched Wally between the ears.

The dog lay sprawled across the mattress, snoring softly.

“Do you need earplugs?”He smiled.

“I’m pretty used to him.I’ve even gotten used to the quiet.We lived on a busier street in LA.”Busier better than the street from my hometown, anyway.The near silence of Gaynor Beach, in that one respect, reminded me of home.

“Do you…” Jeremy cleared his throat.“Can I give you a hug?I feel like that’s overbearing, but the panic…” He swallowed.“For just that brief moment, I thought maybe you and Wally were at home.That…” He couldn’t go on.

“But we weren’t.”I rubbed Wally’s belly.“And you’ve offered us sanctuary.”

“For as long as you need, okay?Don’t even consider leaving until you’ve got something safe and solid.”He considered.“Are you…” He held my gaze.“Are you running?I found out later that Rob was on the run when he lived next door.I kept an eye out for him—like I would with any neighbor—but when I found out later…well, I would’ve been even more vigilant.”

“There’s no one.”I ran my hand through my hair.“He left me.Months ago.Trust me…he’s not going to come looking for me.”

“Okay.”He scratched his stubble-laden jaw.“If that changes?—”

“It won’t.”

“If anything changes,” he quickly corrected.“Like, anything.Just be honest with me, okay?”

“I’m being honest.”I tried to keep the defensiveness from sneaking into my voice.“He was a horrible person, and he left me in a horrible way and, trust me, he doesn’t give a shit where I wind up.What happens to me.He walked out that door and never looked back.I can guaran-fucking-tee it.”

He blinked.“Okay.I believe you.I’m sorry if I made it seem like I didn’t.If you say he’s a non-issue, then we’re good.I just try to protect wh—” He let out a breath.“—my friends.”

Protect what’s mine?Had he been about to say that?And how would I have felt if he had?I couldn’t answer that question.Instead, I offered up, “I like the idea of being your friend.Can we start over?”I wanted to put behind me the other morning where I’d walked away from him.