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Sugarmama reached for my hand, her fingers warm and strong around mine.

“Listen to me, meri Jaan . You don’t need to apologize for finding your way, just because the path is a little bumpy.

I might not agree with all your choices, but I know you aren’t cruel.

You’re not some brazen harlot snatching up college boys left and right. ”

My mom nodded, her eyes going soft, that gentle mom tone slipping under my skin like a balm.

“You don’t owe us an apology. You’re young yet.

Smart and beautiful…” Her words faltered, her eyes turning a little glassy, her lips pressing into a thin line as she blinked hard.

“This is just part of your journey. Mistakes come with the territory. You’re going to stumble and learn lessons the hard way; that’s life.

Rarely does it go exactly to plan, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be beautiful. ”

Sugarmama cut in, clicking her tongue. “And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be stumbling for a long while yet.”

I nodded, blinking hard, trying to keep it together.

“This doesn’t make you a terrible person,” Mom said softly.

“Well… it sure doesn’t feel like I’m a good one.”

I couldn’t bring myself to admit to them that I wasn’t sorry for anything I’d done with Ryder. I didn’t want to hurt Brooke or Ashton, but now that my resolve to let her have him had been undone, I wouldn’t be giving him up.

Mom let out a small sigh. “I don’t agree with how you two went about this,” she admitted, her brows pinching faintly before smoothing out again.

“But in the same breath… I want to smack you both for creating unnecessary hurdles to get here. You’d be a fool to run from what you have now.

That boy… he’s grown from adoring you to loving you out loud, without even needing to say it. ”

She shook her head as if to clear it. “Yes, you will do well to end things with the Hayes boy.”

“I thought you liked Ashton?”

“I think we can both agree Ashton’s a nice boy, but he was never going to be in that wedding photo I hang on my wall.

That space has been filled with someone else since the day I brought you home.

Maybe Ryder won’t be the one standing beside you then either, but if it doesn’t work out, we won’t love you any less. We’ll be no less proud of you.”

Sugarmama clicked her tongue, leaning back with a wicked glint in her eye. “I say while you’re waiting for him to make that photo a reality, it won’t hurt none to break the celibacy oath and have a few rolls in the sheets along the way.”

“Sugarmama!”

“It’s no different than test driving a car. No one makes that big of a commitment without at least ensuring it’s a good fit.”

“Ew, stop,” I pleaded.

Mom shook her head, exasperation and affection warring on her face. “And don’t think I didn’t give that boy hell either,” she added, a sharp glint in her eyes. “You’re my daughter first and foremost, and I will always look out for your heart.”

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, cry, or be deeply concerned.

Sugarmama laughed lightly. “See. Even she gave him the old birds and bees talk.”

“What? Mom, you didn’t.”

“That was not the basis of our talk,” she retorted, sounding offended. “I only told him you two need to be safe. If you’re old enough to do it, you’re big enough to discuss the less exciting parts.”

“The sticky parts,” Sugarmama chimed in.

“Ew,” I wrinkled my nose. “For the record, I’m current on my BC. I’ve never missed a shot.”

“Good,” Mom said, nodding firmly. “Because me and Tiff plan to enjoy a few more summers outside before we get our first grandbaby.”

“Summers… outside?”

“Yes,” she said, completely serious, brows lifted like she’d just dropped profound wisdom. “Isn’t that what you kids say? We’ll be outside?”

She looked so proud, so sure of herself.

I didn’t want to laugh in her face. Then Sugarmama snickered, and that was it.

I lost it. We both broke into laughter, leaning into each other, gasping for air.

Mom just stood there, hands on her hips, demanding to know what was so funny.

When we finally calmed down, Sugarmama patted my shoulder and went back to her crossword, still giggling.

“You can be outside, Mom,” I managed, wiping tears from my eyes, “Not like that. Papà would have a stroke.”

Mom’s lips pinched together, exasperated. “Enough of all this,” she declared, smoothing her apron. “I heard The Hunt is kicking off today.”

All my laughter fled. “You keep up with that, too?”

Papà strolled in and beelined for the lemon tarts, quickly popping one into his mouth. “Of course we do,” he jumped right into the conversation. “Our principessa is right in the middle of it.”

“Those are for brunch!” Mom scolded.

He grinned, licking powdered sugar off his thumb before planting a loud kiss on her lips. I swear to God, Mom actually blushed.

I watched him debating for a split second if I should just spill everything right then and there, but then I remembered exactly why that was a terrible idea. The girls couldn’t have told their parents about being Marked, or mine would know too.

“It just started,” I said, shrugging, trying to sound casual. “Nothing major yet.”

Papà chewed thoughtfully. “You know I was a Hunt champ?” he announced.

“You?”

He straightened even more, chest out like a proud rooster. “Two years in a row.”

I crossed my arms. “Marked or Huntsman?”

Papà gave me a look, eyes twinkling. “Does your father look like he’d ever be Marked?”

I was seriously starting to think it was because of their status and now ours, that none of them ever were. We all ended up Marked instead as some sins of the fathers’ ass karma.

“You were one of those masked psychos?”

Mom frowned. “Psychos?”

Papà laughed, licking another crumb off his thumb. “We didn’t do anything extreme enough to be called that. It was harmless fun. I even got your mom to date me that way.”

I nearly choked. “Are you serious?”

He winked, completely unbothered. “Best hunt I ever won. Those were the days.”

Good for him.

I wasn’t exactly feeling all warm and fuzzy about my own Huntsmen, especially one in particular.

Ryder definitely wouldn’t appreciate me comparing notes to the one who kept texting me like we had some kind of connection.

Wait—shit. The note from my locker. Where had I put it?

I hadn’t told him about that yet. With everything that happened, I’d forgotten all about it until now.

Sugarmama clicked her tongue. “Your Nonno and I played back in our day too. Rival schools. Much different time. That’s a story for another day.”

Did that mean they knew each other before my parents did? What the actual hell? I thought I was fully in the know about my family history. Apparently not. A chime echoed through the house, alerting us that the front door was opening. Mom’s gaze slid to me. “That would be your breakfast.”

Sugarmama snickered. “In more ways than one.”

Papà grimaced, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t need that visual in my head, Anima.”

My eyes widened, realization hitting me like a truck. If Mom knew, of course Papà and Nonno knew too. Shakira would soon, no doubt, but she’d be dead to the world until at least noon.

Papà caught my look, grinning like he’d been waiting for this moment. “You didn’t think I’d be out of the loop, did you? Not for my baby girl. Had a long talk with Billy. We’re ecstatic.”

I wanted to crawl onto the floor and disappear.

Ryder came around the corner, his varsity jacket over a plain black hoodie, black sweats, his shoes laced tight. He looked like he hadn’t missed a minute of sleep. His eyes found mine instantly, a slow, knowing grin spreading across his face like wildfire.

“Morning again,” he said, greeting my family easily before locking back onto me. “I’m here for you.”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry as dust. I had to work not to think about the way he’d had me beneath him hours ago, the way his mouth had felt between my thighs. I forced a smile, leaning against the counter. “And what are your intentions?” I questioned.

“That was my line,” Papà joked, folding his arms over his wide chest to try and look stern.

Ryder’s grin widened, lazy and cocky in a way that made my heart stumble. “It’s a surprise, but it involves iced coffee.”

I was grabbing my phone and moving toward him on my next breath. “Say less.”

I could practically feel Sugarmama’s smirk drilling into the back of my head.

“Be back by one,” Dad called after us. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, young man.”

“That might be the worst advice you’ve ever given,” I heard Mom say as we rounded the corner together.

I slipped my shoes on at the door, then Ryder took my hand, his grip firm and warm, leading me out. The cool morning air bit my cheeks. His truck sat in the center of our driveway, black paint gleaming under the sun.

“Where are we going?” I asked, glancing up at him.

“You’ll see.”

He opened the door for me, hand steady at my waist as I climbed in.

The scent of fresh coffee hit me instantly, my iced heaven waiting in the cup holder.

I caught sight of a flannel blanket folded in the back and a basket tucked beside it.

The scent of something warm and buttery wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble.

Ryder jogged around the front of the truck, sliding into the driver’s seat.

He reached over, fingers brushing mine as he checked my seatbelt, his touch lingering for a second too long.

“So… where are we going?” I asked again as he pulled down the drive.

He let out a low laugh. “Do you know the meaning of a surprise, Sass?”

“I like to be prepared.”

His grin widened, that lazy tilt making my stomach flip. “Just trust me.”

He turned onto our street, the truck rolling slowly past the manicured hedges and pristine gates, the kind that looked more like museum displays than actual homes. I watched the gleaming facades disappear behind us, each one polished and perfect, hiding secrets in every marble corner.

A thousand thoughts clawed at the edge of my mind, but for now, with him beside me, I could keep holding everything together.