“We’re all sorry.” Steph hugged Leah.
Marly stepped in to embrace her next. “If you need anything, all you have to do is ask.”
“Thank you.” They were all so nice, Leah’s apprehension faded. “If y’all have any tips for turning off my brain at night so I can sleep, I sure could use them.”
“You know what always helps me? When Justin and I turn off all the lights, and—”
“Chloe!” Starr waved her hand. “Action-filled nights are limited for us single moms. How about sharing suggestions that don’t include a guy?”
“She can do it alone,” Chloe said.
Starr gave her a deadpan look.
Chloe’s eyes widened. “Wait, did you think I meant she should diddle her fiddle?”
Everyone laughed, and Leah felt her cheeks burn. It had been so long since she’d had girlfriends, she’d forgotten how uninhibited their conversations could be.
“I was going to say that Justin puts some of the lavender oil that Steph gave me on my feet, wrists, and temples.” Chloe’s eyes sparked with amusement. “No offense, Steph, but for the record, Justin is a much better remedy than dabs of oil. That man wears me out in the very best ways.”
“No need to brag,” Marly teased.
“Chloe, oils are a great idea,” Steph said. “Leah, I own an herbal shop, and I’ll totally hook you up. I’ll put together a basket of all-natural remedies to help you sleep at night. How about some calming teas—and maybe mood-boosting herbs, too? Are you allergic to anything?”
“That all sounds great, thank you. I don’t think I’m allergic to anything.”
“Great. Let me get your number,” Steph said.
Leah gave Steph her number, and Marly said, “I remember those sleepless nights. I lost my older brother to a motorcycle accident several years ago.”
“I’m so sorry,” Leah said.
“Me too, thanks,” Marly said. “He was being reckless. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. Now I advocate for helmet safety, and hopefully, save other people’s families from going through what we did.”
“What a great way to honor your brother’s memory.” Leah looked around them. “I can’t get over how much Tank has done to honor River. I was shocked when everyone showed up at the cemetery, but this celebration? The decorations, the food. How did he get all of this done so fast?”
“He wanted everything to be perfect for you and the girls, and when the Wickeds put their minds to something, they make it happen,” Steph said.
“Preacher and Con founded the Bayside chapter of the Dark Knights. The club is all about community and family. They know how to pull together in good times and bad,” Evie explained. “Ginger, Reba, Mads, and some of the other wives and daughters of the Dark Knights made the food, and we all helped set up.”
“Well, thank y’all for pitching in. I can’t get over Zander knowing River’s favorite songs.”
“Zan’s so talented,” Steph said. “Tank gave him a list of songs the other night, and he picked them right up.”
“I’ve never known a family like this. You can’t imagine how much all of this means to me,” Leah said. “Who made those gorgeous memory boards? I swear it feels like River’s right here with us.”
“That would be me.” Chloe waved. “Although Tank picked out all the pictures. He said he knew which ones were your favorites.”
Leah felt a tug in her chest. He must have listened to every word she said when they’d looked through the pictures. “They’re gorgeous. I can’t thank you enough. I was sure the girls were going to have a horrible time at the burial, but they were so happy when they saw the poster of River. You saved them lots of tears, although I cried enough for all of us.”
“You’re grieving. You’re supposed to cry. I’m glad you like them,” Chloe said. “Memory boards and albums are my creative outlet.”
“Making memory blankets is mine,” Leah said.
“Like the ones all over Pinterest with pieces of clothing, pacifiers, and other things sewn on?” Starr asked.
“Mm-hm. I use the girls’ old onesies, Halloween costumes, River’s old shirts, all sorts of stuff.”
“I’d love to see them,” Chloe said, and the others agreed excitedly.
“They’re not that great. I mean, they are to me. My dad taught me to make them before he passed away, so they’re really special.”
There was another round of I’m sorrys, and Leah told them about raising River, which led to explaining that River was the girls’ father and that Leah had adopted them.
“You’ve definitely had your hands full for a very long time,” Evie said. “We meant what we said about if you need anything. We can help babysit, come over to chat, whatever you need.”
“We should get the girls together sometime,” Starr suggested. “Gracie loves being around other kids.”
Leah had been so busy holding their lives together, she hadn’t even had time to think about the fact that the girls had no friends their age. They’d need friends now more than ever. “I’d like that.”
“Great. Give me your number and we’ll set something up,” Starr said.
“Look at your little Junie cuddled up with Preacher,” Marly said as Leah gave Starr her number. “I swear he and Con are everyone’s surrogate father or grandfather.”
“But check out Tank watching them—and Leah—like a hawk.” Steph nodded toward Tank, standing a few feet away from the girls while he talked with Justice, a handsome, sharply dressed Black man.
Tank looked at the girls, then glanced at Leah, sending her pulse into overdrive. He winked and looked at the girls again.
Starr nudged Leah. “So…What other secrets have you been keeping?”
Leah tore her eyes away from Tank, her cheeks warming.
“Don’t worry. We’re not here to pressure you for gossip,” Evie reassured her.
“Although I am curious about why you avoided Tank all summer,” Marly chimed in. “Was it because he was always looking at you? I know it bothered him that he couldn’t talk to you. But if you ask me, it was a great way to get his attention.”
“Oh my gosh. That’s not what it was at all,” Leah said. “He’s so broody, I just…sensed sadness in him, and I didn’t know what to make of it. But now that we’ve gotten to know each other better, I know about his sister, and I get it.”
“I am so tempted to ask how much better, but I won’t,” Marly teased. “We all know how enticing those Wicked boys are.” Marly glanced at Blaine, talking with Baz and a group of guys. Just beyond them, Gunner fake punched Maverick, who put him in a headlock, the two of them laughing. “They’re all so buff and badass.”
“Agreed,” Starr said, eyeing Blaine.
“And afraid of commitment,” Evie added.
“Hey, my Wicked isn’t,” Chloe said.
Leah wanted to say that Tank wasn’t either, but she kept that to herself, as the girls debated the virtues of the Wicked men and some of their bed-hopping ways. They filled Leah in on the players—Zander and Gunner—and the gentlemen—Zeke and Blaine, and came up with the title of gentleman player for Baz, which apparently meant that he was really good at being a gentleman but liked playing around.