“There she is,” I say, spying her and Bree crawling under the gift table. “Hey, Rosie. Come here.”
She scurries out from under the table and makes a beeline for me. The rose gold watch I got her for her birthday sits proudly on her wrist.
Jaxi nearly had a stroke when I showed it to her. But Rosie had to have it. I mean, I had to have her have it. It’s too cute.
“We got you a very special present,” I tell her. “Are you ready?”
She nods, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Attention everyone,” I say, “it’s time.”
Everyone watches as the door from the garage opens. Wade comes out carrying a little King Charles Cavalier puppy.
Rosie screams as she races to Wade. He must tell her to be gentle because she nods her head and takes the puppy with the care of a surgeon.
She whirls around on her heel.
“Is this mine?” She gasps. “He’s so cute!”
“He’s yours,” Jaxi tells him. “But you’re going to have to take care of him.”
“Bree! Look!” Rosie turns back around to Wade. “Thank you, Wade! I love you!”
Wade freezes as Rosie leans against his leg like a cat and nuzzles the puppy.
“You’re welcome,” he says and looks at me like I should come and get her.
I hold my hands out. “Excuse me? I bought you that dog, thank you very much!”
Everyone laughs, amused at Wade getting the glory. Again.
Definitely, positively at the bottom of my favorite brother list.
“I already love you, Boone,” Rosie says, a giggle kissing her words.
My heart explodes.
“What are you going to name it?” Bellamy asks from her spot under the umbrella.
“Um … I don’t know. Fluffy?” Rosie looks at me. “Do you like that name?”
I grin at her. “I love it.”
She pets the dog's head as it snaps at her playfully. “Hi, Fluffy. I love you.” She sets the dog down, and off it goes, running like a madman across the yard. She chases after it with glee.
Jaxi turns to talk to Mom, and I wander over to Hollis. I feel bad for not being a great friend to him lately. We’ve texted off and on, but I wish I had been more present.
“Hey, man,” I say, clapping his shoulder. “How are you?”
He gets to his feet and pulls me into a one-armed hug. “I’m good. Hanging in there. You know how it goes.”
I’m not sure whether to bring up his sister or not. But, like the solid guy Hollis is, he knows I’m thinking it and brings it up himself.
“I’m going to Indiana next week for a few days,” he says. “Trying to find my little sister. Hell, she’s not even that little anymore. I keep forgetting that.”
“Any leads?”
He shakes his head. “A couple but nothing I feel too good about. But those little towns up there—you have to be there, on the ground, to get anything done. I hope someone at a coffee shop where we used to live remembers her or knows her.”
“I can’t imagine, Hollis. But if you need anything, I’m there for you, man. Want me to go with you?”
It would be a logistical nightmare with everything I have to do. The Greyshell contract seems to have been handed off to me by Holt. Then Jaxi and Rosie and the house hunting we’re doing because living next to Ted will wind up with my girl in jail before it’s over. But I’ll make it work if it helps Hollis.
Libby amazed me by coming today. Just goes to show how strong she is. She’s even talking about moving back to Savannah in a few weeks. That would be great for Jaxi and Rosie.
And me. I love her cooking.
He grins. “Nah, man. I need to do this on my own. This is my story I have to finish, you know?” He laughs. “Well, you probably don’t know, but that’s how I feel.”
“I get it.”
“I mean, who knows what I’ll find …” His voice drops off. “Anyway, let’s meet up when I get back.”
“For sure.”
He sits back down, and I avoid eye contact with anyone as I slip to the side of the house.
My phone rings. I can’t see the screen because of the sun, but I answer it anyway.
“Hello?” I say.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Oliver says. The sound of a car engine roars through the line. “I got stuck in traffic and am about fifteen minutes out.”
“It’s okay. Just be careful. There’s still a ton of food left.”
“Did you give her the dog yet?”
I laugh. “Yeah. She’s calling it Fluffy, so you know, that’s going to be weird to yell across the lawn when I let it out to piss in the middle of the night.”
He laughs too. “I hate I missed seeing her get it. Little shit. I bet she loved it.”
It fills me with happiness that my family loves my girls as much as I do. It makes things … perfect.
“I bought her a—fuck!”
The sound of metal crashing together and squealing tires interrupts his words.
My blood grows cold. “Oliver?”
“What? Fuck! Hang on.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Just … Shit!”
“What happened?” I ask, my stomach twisting into a knot.
A door opens. “Nothing. I’m fine. Someone just ran into the side of my fucking car.” He groans. “I gotta go. I’m fine. Don’t panic.”
“Want me to come?”
“No.” He pauses. “Shit. I gotta go. It’s fine, Boone. I’ll be there when I can.”
With that, the fucker hangs up.
I stand, staring at my screen and wondering what to do. Should I go to him anyway? Should I tell Mom?
I look at her laughing so easily with Libby near the pool.
Definitely not telling Mom.
My phone buzzes. Oliver’s name is on the screen.
Oliver: It’s all fine. Really. Have fun at the party. I’m going to be here for a second so I’ll see you when I see you.
Me: You sure?
Oliver: Yes. Gotta go deal with this shit.
I’m sure he will. He’ll come out smelling like a rose. It’s Oliver, after all.
I shove my hands in my pockets and take in the sight before me. It’s hard to believe that this is my life.
A few months ago, I never would’ve thought this kind of life was even a possibility for me. It was something my brothers had. Other people had. I wasn’t even smart enough to know I really wanted it.
Maybe I needed it.
But then this woman drops like a gift from above who proved to be the missing link in my life. It’s as though the heavens sent her to me so the other things—the good things, the important things—could find me.
I’m so fucking lucky.
My gaze snaps to the side, and I see Jaxi walking toward me. Her hair is blowing in the breeze like an old music video. I’m grinning when she gets to me.
“What are you doing over here?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Oh, just thinking about how attractive you are.”
In so many ways.
She licks her lips. “So, I had a thought …”
“And?”