Page 9

Chapter 8

“We should head over there now,” Magnolia said as she secured the glass container full of lasagna she’d finished making for Mari.

“They’re still getting settled in.” Bradford kept his tone mild. Magnolia was Mari’s best friend, but it had been clear there was something going on with Mari and Colin. Soooo he wanted to see how it played out, because Mari deserved happiness. Even if she was too stubborn to admit that there was a spark between her and Colin. “And that Colin guy is clearly capable.”

Magnolia just snorted in annoyance and grumbled something under her breath.

“He saved her life.” Bradford looked up as Ezra stepped into the room.

“Babe, why don’t you relax and I’ll pack all this up?” Ezra kissed her soundly, his hand cupping her slightly protruding stomach as he pulled her close.

Bradford looked away from them, wanting to give them privacy, even though he was glad for one of his best friends. He’d never seen Ezra this happy, hadn’t even known it was possible for the guy to smile so much.

“I’ll be waiting in the car for you two,” Magnolia said as she stepped back, her words as strained as her expression .

“Everything okay?” Bradford asked once it was just him and Ezra.

His friend glanced over his shoulder, likely to make sure Magnolia was out of earshot of the kitchen. Once the front door shut and closed, he nodded. “She’s just wound up about Lucas.”

Their oldest son.

“Why?”

“Just college stuff. And I think some of it is pregnancy hormones.” He basically whispered the last part.

“Not that you’d ever say that out loud, right?” Jesus, even Bradford knew better than that.

“Hell no. She’s just worried about Lucas making the right decision about his future and now she’s really worried about Mari. Today’s been a lot.”

“Yeah, I get that. But Berlin is doing her thing. She’ll figure out what’s going on with Mari.” Their favorite hacker was digging into whoever this Jeremy Ackerman was as they spoke.

And that guy was screwed if he was behind the attack on Mari. Because all of them at Redemption Harbor Security would take him down.

Mari might not officially work with them, but she was one of them. Magnolia loved her like she was family, and Mari had dropped what she was doing more than once to fly them into places when they needed an extra pilot. Usually when Adalyn was off on a job.

“All things Magnolia’s aware of. But…” Ezra shrugged.

“Mari’s her best friend.” Bradford understood. He’d do anything for his friends. People who’d become more family than anything over the last few years.

“Exactly.” Ezra finished putting the rest of the containers into the oversized insulated bag. “And now the two of them are going to have enough food for at least a week. ”

“Did Magnolia make any extra lasagna?” He glanced in the refrigerator, making Ezra laugh.

“Yes, and we’ll eat once we drop this off. Now come on. Pretty sure Magnolia will leave us if we don’t hurry.”

***

Mari leaned her head on Magnolia’s shoulder as they kicked their feet up on the coffee table in the safe house. “I can’t wait until this little person starts kicking.” She rested her hand on her best friend’s little baby bump.

Magnolia set her hand over hers. “You just have to be around for that to happen.”

Mari’s head popped up at the sound of tears in her friend’s voice. It was just the two of them, since Magnolia had kicked out Ezra, Bradford and Colin not too long after they’d arrived at the two-story safe house she was currently relegated to. “Hey, don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it.” Magnolia wiped at her cheeks. “I’ve been a mess the last few weeks, and oh my god, you got shot at. I swear I’m not trying to make it about me.”

“Stop with that. It can be about you today and every day. I’m fine. Everything is fine. And you know Berlin will figure out what’s going on.”

“Yeah, probably.” She blinked away the last of her tears. “But Lucas is talking about moving out next year and…I’m not ready for this!”

She took Magnolia’s hand and squeezed. “I can only imagine. But…it sounds like he might be staying close to home?”

“I’m just worried that he’s staying in New Orleans because of his girlfriend.”

“I thought you liked her?” Emma was as cute as a button, and sure they were young, but so what? The girl was smart as hell, kind and had a good head on her shoulders.

“Oh, I do. She’s wonderful, but I just don’t want him to limit himself. I don’t want him to be afraid to spread his wings. I don’t…want him making any mistakes.”

Mari snorted. “He’s human so the mistake thing is happening. And you’ve raised an incredibly smart—and emotionally mature—son. That boy is way more mature than we were at his age.”

Magnolia laughed lightly. “No kidding. But we grew up pretty fast.” Her tone sobered and Mari could only imagine what she was thinking.

“You got pregnant at a young age and people said you’d made a mistake. That you’d lost out on a good future. And now look at you. You’ve got a thriving business and you’re helping all sorts of people start fresh. Not to mention you’re a kickass mom. There isn’t one right path for everyone. You’ve literally done what a good parent is supposed to do—you gave him all the tools and now he’s got to start making these big future decisions for himself. And seriously, how can you be sad he might stay local?”

Magnolia swiped at a few stray tears. “How do you always know the right thing to say?”

“It’s my best friend superpower.”

“God, I love you.” She laid her head against Mari’s and sighed. “And I know you’re right. I’m not-so-secretly glad he’s staying. I guess I just feel a little selfish being so happy and…these hormones are no joke.”

“I bet Ezra’s happy Lucas is staying too. They’ve really bonded the last few months.” And Mari loved seeing it. The two of them were so similar and both incredibly protective of Magnolia. When this new nugget arrived, watch out.

“I know. That’s been the biggest relief. They’re so much alike and I swear they gang up on me.”

“Gang up on you? Like, they both tell you to put your feet up and take it easy?”

Magnolia nudged her thigh. “Don’t you start too.”

“Well you are having a geriatric pregnancy.”

Magnolia snort-laughed. “Whoever came up with that term needs a good punch in the throat.”

Mari snickered. “Right?”

“So…you okay staying here with Colin?” Magnolia asked, glancing toward the entryway.

The guys were all in the kitchen and out of earshot.

“Yeah.” Mari didn’t want to get into anything, especially her weird feelings for him. “He saved my life.”

“I guess he’s got that going for him,” Magnolia grumbled.

“Look, what he said was years ago. I’m letting it go.” And she meant it. “Pretty sure today negates everything.”

Saving her life was definitely a big deal. Now she needed to move past her stupid feelings for him. Because it didn’t matter that she was letting the past go, she flat-out couldn’t be attracted to him.

She just couldn’t.