He eyed Everly carefully. “I know you’re more than capable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever have help.”
“And you’ve helped more than enough. You don’t need to be locked up in this cabin with me because my brother said something stupid. He has always had a big mouth.”
One that spewed threats I knew he’d made good on.
Everly sighed when no one said anything. “It’s important to me that I have control of my own life. I don’t want to feel like I’m being herded or cornered. And they don’t get to influence my life. Not anymore.”
“She’s right,” Shy agreed. “Ev can take care of herself. She’s not stupid. She’s letting Hayes stay here nights, even though he’s annoying as all get out. Let that be enough.”
Ev reached under the table and squeezed Shy’s knee, mouthing, “Thank you.” Shiloh moved away from the touch but nodded in acceptance of the gratitude.
“Okay. I’m gonna go meet Calder for an hour or two—”
“Two,” Everly interjected.
“All right, two.” I bent and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’m not trying to control you,” I whispered. “And I know you can take care of yourself. But anyone can be taken by surprise. It’s the same reason I take backup to question a suspect.”
She relaxed a fraction. “Have fun with Calder.”
I started for the door. “I will. I left you whoopie pies on the counter.”
“Well, why didn’t you say that sooner? I probably would’ve been a hell of a lot less cranky if I’d known.”
I chuckled as I headed out, locking the door behind me. Everly had given me an extra key, but that didn’t mean she fully trusted me—to stay, to stand
by her when her family pulled their crap. I’d seen the look of panic on her face earlier in the day. I’d seen the look of defeat. I could see the fight in her literally draining out.
Everly wanted to bolt. But I wasn’t sure I could watch her go. We weren’t even together, and I could already see myself following her wherever she went. Because, all of a sudden, I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
And I wasn’t sure my family could, either. They’d folded her into the fabric that was us. She’d become a support to Shiloh, showed my mom incredible kindness, gave Dad purpose with all of the projects they worked on, and she made Hadley feel at ease when Mom had her on edge. She was everything we hadn’t known we needed. And I was going to make sure we gave all of that back to her and more.
“I still can’t believe she kicked you out,” Calder said as he chuckled into his beer.
“Yeah, yeah, yuck it up.”
“Come on. It is pretty funny. Usually, it’s you trying to sneak away from some woman you’ve decided isn’t the right fit. And now, one’s booting you to the curb. Some of your exes would say it’s poetic justice.”
I rubbed at the back of my neck. “So I’m not great with confrontation.”
Calder blinked at me a few times. “Hayes. You’re the sheriff. Ninety percent of your job is confrontation.”
“Okay, I’m not great with confrontation when it comes to the women in my life.”
“That is more like it. You’re the peacekeeper and protector. You want everyone you care about to be safe and happy. Especially your mom and sisters.”
I picked at the label on my beer. “I’m not so sure Everly’s thrilled with that role. The protector part, anyway.”
“She’s pretty much been on her own a long time, hasn’t she?”
“She had her sister and her sister’s family, but I get the sense they aren’t especially close. I’ve never heard her on the phone with her, and she doesn’t talk about her much.”
Calder rubbed his thumb against his glass, clearing a path of condensation. “The little time I’ve spent with her, she seems to value her autonomy and her ability to take care of herself. Given the way she grew up, I’m guessing she didn’t have a lot of control there.”
“I’m not trying to control. I just want to make sure she’s safe.” I felt like a broken record.
“But you usually do that by controlling every factor you can. Let me guess, you didn’t want her to be alone tonight?”
“Wouldn’t you feel the same?”