Page 28 of Hidden Harbor (Evergreen Rescue #1)

V iolet and Drew’s gentle bickering was the shot of normalcy I needed.

Between my anxiety over talking about Owen, and Drew sending me over the edge earlier, my nervous system was fried.

The lights were too bright. Music too loud.

Every move felt jerky. Unnatural. I tried to cover the pressure buildup by finishing dinner, going through the motions and letting my activity relieve some of the kinetic energy that wanted to lock me in place.

Drew had accepted my past with grace. But my friends had wildly different personalities. It was difficult to predict how they’d react.

Lucy and Rae arrived first, Clay and Zach stomping in a few minutes behind them. Violet poured everyone drinks, all of them chatting like it was a regular Saturday night. Vi returned with Lee in tow. Our tiny living room was full to bursting, and I felt ready to pop.

Hovering at the threshold between the kitchen and living room, I felt like a runner at the starting line, one foot poised for escape.

Except I wasn’t sure if I should bolt for the finish or back out entirely.

Drew settled his hands on my shoulders, kneading the tense muscles there.

His touch helped ground me. Telling my friends the truth was the price of belonging, the only way to turn the life I’d fabricated for myself into something lasting. I had to prove I deserved it.

“It’s okay, honey. Everything will be fine.”

I soaked up his confidence, absorbing it into every pore as if it could paper over the anxious poison that wanted to seep from beneath my skin.

The sinister voices whispering they’d turn away.

The whispers that I was disposable, the throwaway child my parents had been willing to sacrifice for their ambition.

“I don’t think I can wait,” I admitted softly, watching our friends talk and laugh. “I hate to ruin this, but I’m going to explode.”

Drew wrapped around me, settling his hands on my hips. “Hey, everyone. Before dinner, we want to talk.”

“Is it about Jordan?” Lucy asked, her expression suspicious.

“No, it’s about me,” I admitted, pausing to work past the lump obstructing my throat. “I’m not who you think I am.”

Drew squeezed me in a silent show of support, his hands on my hips all that kept me tethered.

“I came to the island looking for a new life because I was escaping a bad situation at home.”

Lucy and Rae exchanged knowing glances. Zach, Clay, and Lee sobered, as if bracing for whatever came next.

“My family can be dangerous, and my ex has come to Friday Harbor to see me.”

“How dangerous are we talking about?” Clay asked.

“What does your ex want?” Vi asked.

There was nothing to do but say it as plainly as possible. I took a deep breath.

“My family was involved in organized crime. Smuggling, mostly. My ex works for them.” My lip trembled. “He wants me to help him set up shop in Friday Harbor.”

“Why would he think you’d ever agree to that?” Rae asked, brow wrinkled.

“Because I know what he’s capable of if I cross him.”

“Do you think he could be involved in Jordan’s death?” Clay asked.

“What makes you ask that?” Drew asked.

Clay’s brow furrowed. “The DEA has been nosing around. There are rumors of a new group smuggling out of Canada. The DEA have hit up the park rangers and local law enforcement. We’re supposed to report any unusual boat traffic or goings-on.

Jordan’s death was unexpected, and as far as I know, the sheriff still hasn’t established how he got out to the cliffs. ”

“Car is the easiest answer,” Drew said.

Clay’s gaze met his. “But a boat isn’t off the table.”

“I don’t think Owen has any local connections yet,” I said. “That’s why he says he needs me.”

“Or he murdered his minion and needs to replace him,” Lee pointed out.

“That’s my cousin you’re talking about,” Rae chided. “I find it hard to believe Jordan would be involved in smuggling.”

“But you wondered where he got the money for his new truck. The whale watching business is good, but it’s not that good,” Zach said.

“He probably got a loan.”

“Then why has his second mate been MIA? The whole thing is weird if you ask me,” Zach said.

“My cousin’s wife said his co-captain, Brandon, reached out not long after Jordan’s accident with condolences. He’s been in Bellingham taking care of his mom. Apparently, he’s been off- island since before the accident. He didn’t hear about it until the memorial post on WNFH.”

“We’re straying from the point,” Drew chided. “Anya’s ex is hanging around, stirring up trouble.”

Violet rolled her eyes. “Let me guess: you’d like him on the next ferry out of town. Ideally, with a passenger seat full of manure as a souvenir of his trip.”

“That or feeding the fish at the bottom of North Bay,” Zach offered.

Drew grinned at his siblings. “You know me well. But I’d settle for off the island and away from Anya forever.”

Vi’s gaze met mine across the room. “How can we help?”

I melted against Drew, drooping like overcooked spaghetti. As easy as that. No recriminations. No blame. Just “how can we help?” If I didn’t love my friends before, I was ride or die now.

“Thank you.” I sniffed, tearful. Drew ran his hands along my forearms, his touch gentle. “I never imagined you’d accept this so easily. Accept me.”

Lucy snorted, shaking her head. “If we judged each other based on our exes, Zach would be banished to Turn Island to live with the other trash pandas.”

“Hey,” Zach protested, rubbing his chest. “I thought you were more feminist than that.”

Lucy reached across Rae, patting his cheek. “Oh, honey, I am. I’m not judging them. I’m judging you . Sex is fine. Sex with you is probably fine. I have no interest in finding out. But the way you hit it and quit it is gross. You have the staying power of a popsicle under a heat lamp.”

Clay looked at her as if seeing Lucy for the first time. “You’re mean, and I like it.”

She pressed her lips into a thin line. “I don’t need another man in my life with a shame kink.”

“We’ve veered offtrack,” Drew said.

“It’s not always about you, pretty boy,” Lucy said with gentle scorn.

Clay clutched his heart, turning fully to face Lucy. “Marry me.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. Vi shook her head. “You’ll never get her that way, Clay. Drew’s right. Focus, people.”

“We need a plan,” Lee pronounced.

“What the quiet one said,” Lucy agreed.

Slowly, all gazes turned toward me.

“What are you guys thinking?” Zach asked. “Can’t you file a restraining order?”

“I wish. No, I think Owen will take more convincing than that,” I said.

“He’s threatened to implicate me to the sheriff if I don’t cooperate.

” I bit my lip. “Once upon a time, I trusted him. He’s smart enough to have prepared for this, kept something from my former life as insurance. A restraining order isn’t good enough.”

“I’m happy to introduce him to ‘convincing’ and ‘argument,’” Drew offered, clenching each of his fists in turn.

His offer was tempting. In a fair fight, Drew would win. But Owen didn’t play fair. And I wouldn’t risk Drew for anything.

“She wants less drama, not more,” Lucy chided.

“Has she met us?” Zach joked, glancing around our assembled group.

Each of my friends had a big heart and a big mouth. Even Lee, once you got him going. Three out of eight were related to Grandma Fenwick, which should be indictment enough all on its own. The woman was a local legend for a reason.

“What, exactly, did Owen say he wanted?” Rae asked.

“Introduction to a boat captain. I assume he’ll use my introduction to weasel his way into making that person work for him. He’s a master at finding weak spots.”

Clay tugged on his lip, expression thoughtful. “What if we give him exactly what he wants?”

“How?” I asked.

“I mentioned my contact in the DEA. He’d kill for a lead like this. Let me call him. If they don’t already have someone with boots on the ground in Friday Harbor, they can probably get someone in place quickly with a boat.”

“I take it back. I’ll marry you,” Lucy said matter-of-factly.

“What changed your mind?” Clay asked.

“Your devious side. It’s sexy.”

“Too bad. I’ve reconsidered.”

Lucy threw her hands up. “Typical man. Always changing their minds. If it weren’t for bad ideas, you’d have no ideas at all.”

“But this is a good one,” Rae protested, eyes lit. “If your DEA friend can’t get a boat here in time, they can pretend Sailor Swift is theirs. I’m happy to offer her up, if it gets this jerk off the streets and out of Anya’s hair.”

“Thank you all,” I said, unable to hide the tremble that made my voice shake. I leaned into Drew’s side. “I couldn’t ask for better friends.” I sniffed.

“You could, but they probably already have people. We’re okay,” Lucy said.

Clay stepped outside to make his phone call, returning a few minutes later. “We’re a go. They’ll have an agent here in the morning to meet with you, Anya.”

“Easy as that?” I asked, overwhelmed by their support.

Drew gripped my hand, squeezing tight. “You’re one of us now.”

My battle against letting the tears flow freely failed, liquid leaking from my eyes and snot dripping from my nose as I turned into Drew’s chest with a sob.

I felt weak for crying, but the relief was overwhelming.

The weight of my secret had been slowly growing, every half-truth about my life before Friday Harbor making me feel heavier with shame.

Knowing I didn’t have to hide anymore left me feeling like I could float away.

Only Drew’s touch kept me tethered to the ground. His hands stroked my arms. He murmured comforting nonsense in my ear. No discernable words made it past my tears, but even his tone helped soothe me. His solid support was just another reason I was falling for him.

Even in my head, I couldn’t quite say “love.” Last time I’d thought I was in love, I’d learned that word could be a trap. Family love. Romantic love. Loving and trusting the wrong people had gotten me into this mess.

“I brought cookies home from the shop. Who wants dessert before dinner?” Vi announced brightly, giving me a moment to collect myself.

I swiped at my eyes, removing the offending moisture. I slowly brought my breathing back under control as Drew rubbed my back.

“Don’t worry, I’ll stop soon,” I promised, rubbing at another tear.

“You do what you need to, honey. No one’s judging.”

“I’m judging,” Lucy piped up. “But only because you’re missing out on Vi’s sea salt cookies. Wrap it up, Rose. You’ve got dessert to demolish.”

Her no-nonsense pep talk made me chuckle, and I borrowed Drew’s signature salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

Vi handed me a cookie, eyes soft. “It’ll be okay, you know.”

My smile wavered around the corners. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her.

It was that I was so grateful for all I had.

A few days ago, I’d thought my life in Friday Harbor was over.

That I’d have to abandon all I’d built and flee, leaving my friends behind.

It never occurred to me that they’d stand by me.

Why would they? My own family hadn’t. But Violet, Lucy, and Rae had become the sisters I never had, bound to me by something deeper than blood.

And while my feelings for Drew were anything but brotherly, Zach, Clay, and Lee stepped in without hesitation, content to be the brothers I always needed.

Maybe the family I’d been born into hadn’t had my best interests at heart, but my chosen family did. I wasn’t an afterthought or an obligation. Not a pawn. I was theirs to love and protect. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t hiding. Wasn’t just surviving – I was home.