Page 39 of Finding Home (Willow Valley #1)

THIRTY-NINE

EVERETT

T he next seven weeks move in a blur, but we fall into a routine.

I end up at Grandma’s when I’m not on shift and Lila’s at school.

Her and Chloe end up coming over and we all spend time together.

The girls all gang up on me when we play games, and I haven’t had as much fun as I’ve had with them in a long time.

Grandma is healing well and slowly able to do more and more herself.

She’s had two of her four chemo appointments before she takes a break and starts her next round.

She’s doing okay with the first two so far, feeling the majority of the effects in the few days after the treatment before she gets a small surge of energy.

She’s keeping a brave face, but I know how much she hates not being able to do things the same way she was able to before.

I also know that she’ll do what she can to see Lila grow up and she’s going to fight this thing so she can continue to live a healthy life.

The weekend before Christmas, she asks to take Lila for a sleepover so she can have some sense of normalcy again.

I’m hesitant, but Chloe convinces me that if anything happens, Grandma will call and nothing in this town is far and we can be here within minutes.

Chloe also manages to convince me to go to Incahoots for dinner and drinks, our first date night since I took her to dinner in West Bridgejaw.

Life’s been so crazy, we’ve only been able to spend time with Grandma and at home, so I give in easily.

She meets me in the living room dressed in a pair of jeans that hug her every curve, her cowboy boots, and a T-shirt that says blondes have more fun with the outline of a cowboy hat sitting on the bottom part of the F. It pulls tight across her chest and fits her like a fucking glove.

“You ready?” she asks as I stare at her.

I clear my throat and nod.

We make our way to Incahoots, finding a table in the corner and ordering drinks and food.

She’s all smiles and laughs tonight, and I love seeing her like this.

I kiss her cheek and excuse myself to the washroom, but when I come back, she’s not at the table.

Instead, I see her halfway across the bar in the arms of a blond man who’s spinning her and kissing her cheek.

I see red. I push my way through the group of people until I’m at Chloe’s side, my hand finding her hip and pulling her in close to my side as she turns and looks at me, brows pulled together.

I don’t give her time to say anything before my lips are on hers in a possessive kiss.

She’s rigid against me for a second, but as soon as my tongue swipes over her lips, she’s moaning and leaning into me as her hand finds my chest.

A throat clears. I ignore it, but Chloe’s hand presses against my chest and I break the kiss, my lips staying close enough that they brush hers as I whisper, “ Mine .”

“Damn, Chloe, you’ve done good,” a new female voice says as the man who had his arms wrapped around Chloe coughs and says, “Seriously, Spitfire?”

She swats at his chest and says, “Lighten up. There’s no way you thought she was a virgin.”

Chloe buries her face in my chest as the man throws up his hands and the woman laughs.

The woman offers me her hand and says, “Hi, I’m Hannah, Chloe’s sister-in-law. You must be Everett.”

I shake her hand and look over at the man beside her and actually take him in. His eyes aren’t the same colour as Chloe’s, but they’re the same shape, and they have the same complexion and nose. I hold my hand out to him. “I’m guessing that means you’re Grayson.”

He shakes it and nods. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. ”

I look down at Chloe, who rolls her eyes.

“Do you really think Ryder or Colton wouldn’t text me as soon as news got out you were dating someone?” Grayson asks.

“You left town and you’re six hours away being a big shot doctor now, didn’t really think my dating life was at the top of your priority list.”

Hannah smiles at her. “Why don’t we get some drinks and catch up?”

Chloe nods and takes Hannah’s hand as they make their way through the crowd and towards our table. I turn and follow them as a strong hand finds my shoulder.

“I trust you’re taking proper care of my little sister?” he asks.

I stop in my place and cross my arms over my chest, facing him.

I know how much Chloe loves her brother, but I also have a small bone to pick with him.

The way she talks about him, I can tell she misses him.

She understands why he left town, but that doesn’t make the pain any less.

I’m not going to let anyone hurt her ever again, even if it’s her own family.

“I’m taking care of her the way she deserves to be taken care of. I’m doing a better job of it than you are.”

Grayson matches my stance and asks, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean that Chloe’s told me a lot of things, including that you don’t come home to visit a lot, and I see how it’s worn on her. I see the sadness when she talks about you.”

He runs a hand down his face and releases a breath, nodding.

“Fair. I’m trying to do better. Hannah and I are here for Christmas, I haven’t been home for as long as we will be this trip in a long time.

” He looks over at his wife, and the way he looks at her, I can tell she completely changed his world.

I clap him on the shoulder and give it a squeeze. “I get it. I’m just saying your sister misses you.”

He nods, and we join the girls at the table. I slide into my chair and wrap my arm around the back of Chloe’s, my thumb running up and down her arm as she leans into me, a soft smile on her face.

“Everett, are you joining us for Christmas cookie baking on Monday?” Hannah asks, and I shake my head .

“I’m on shift Monday, but luckily I’m off for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.”

“Lila will be joining us,” Chloe says.

“Lila?” Grayson asks.

“Everett’s daughter. She’s the most adorable little girl.

Mom’s been doing crafts with her, and I’ve been taking her out on Miley.

I think I may be losing my horse to Lila, because I swear she likes her more.

” Chloe’s words may sound like hurt ones, but the lightness and little chuckle tells me she loves how much Lila and Miley have bonded.

“You have a daughter?” Grayson asks, and I nod. “How old?”

“She’s six, turns seven in a few months.”

A look of worry passes over Grayson’s face, but Hannah kisses his cheek and whispers something to him that has him relaxing.

“I was promised a real snowman while we’re here,” Hannah says, moving the conversation along.

“We’re supposed to get a good snowfall on the twenty-third. I’m sure there will be enough to make one on Christmas Eve,” I say, and Hannah smiles widely.

“You staying at Mom and Dad’s right now? I heard Beau was back in town and I never got a chance to ask where you’re staying,” Grayson says, and I grip the back of my neck as Chloe’s cheeks heat again and she shakes her head.

“I’m living at Everett’s.”

Grayson’s beer pauses on the way to his mouth as he looks between the two of us.

“How long have you been together?” he asks, and the question grates on me for some reason.

I know we haven’t been together for a long time, but that doesn’t change anything for me.

Chloe’s things are still in her room downstairs even though she sleeps in my bed, but I have no intention of her moving out, ever.

“Oww,” Grayson says as he gives Hannah a shocked look.

“You have no room to say anything, Mr. Ninety Days,” she says, warning in her voice.

Chloe leans forward and says, “If I recall correctly, you brought home your wife who didn’t even want to be your wife when you arrived.”

Grayson matches her position. “I’m still your older brother. ”

Chloe rolls her eyes. Watching the two of them makes me half grateful I’m an only child and half wish I had a sibling to push buttons like these two do to each other.

“Doesn’t mean you get to know about my every relationship.”

Grayson raises a brow at her. “You’ve been in a lot?”

Brinley slides into a chair beside Grayson at that moment. “If it isn’t Grayson Maxwell in the flesh and our gorgeous Hannah,” she says.

Hannah stands, walks behind her husband, and hugs Brinley. “Hey, Brin, it’s so nice to see you.”

“You, too. Now Grayson was asking if Chloe’s been in a lot of what’s?”

“Relationships,” Hannah answers.

Brinley takes a sip of her drink and wiggles her head back and forth a bit. “I wouldn’t say relationships so much as situationships.”

“I don’t think we need to talk about this anymore,” I say, and Brinley looks at me as if to say more, but as soon as she opens her mouth, she shuts it and stares Chloe down.

The five of us move conversation on to something less controversial and spend the next few hours talking and laughing, and I watch how Chloe grows light as she spends more time with her brother.