Hayes barked out a laugh. “You’ll have to organize your own boxers.”
“If you were anyone but my brother, I’d kiss you. Where?”
“My place.”
I stilled, my smile slipping a bit. “Isn’t Addie still living there?” Addie with the haunted hazel eyes and long, golden hair. Addie with a pain living inside her that poured off her in waves. Addie that could steal a man’s breath and knock him sideways with a single look.
“It’s a big house. Plenty of room for two people.”
I stared at my brother. “You sure she’s okay with that? She doesn’t seem overly fond of me.” More like she’d been avoiding me like the plague.
Hayes waved me off. “She’s shy. Once she gets to know you, I’m sure you’ll be thick as thieves.” He paused for a moment. “Just go easy with her, okay?”
I knew her family situation hadn’t been the greatest, but something in my brother’s words had me sitting up straighter. “What do you mean?”
He was quiet, seeming to choose his words carefully. “She’s been through hell and back. But I think she could use a friend.”
I knew something about taking a trek through hell. And the last thing I wanted was for the woman with the haunting eyes and the gentlest spirit I’d ever seen to have visited that demon-filled desert.
3
ADDIE
“Thanks again for giving me a ride,” I said as I buckled my seat belt.
Hadley put her SUV in reverse and began backing out of the parking spot. “Anytime. And this was easy-peasy; you’re on my way from the station.”
That was mostly true, but I was sure after working her long EMT shift and hurrying to shower and change, the last thing she wanted to do was stop to pick me up. I needed to get my driver’s license. But it would probably help to learn how to drive first.
For a split second, I thought about asking Hadley to teach me. She would say yes. But she and Calder already did too much for me. I knew they didn’t need help with Birdie and Sage much anymore, but they still gave me the babysitting hours because they knew I needed the money.
I looked down at my lap, twisting my fingers into intricate knots. The embarrassment and shame slid through me like hot lava.
“Everything okay?”
My head jerked up. “Sorry, just thinking.”
Hadley pulled onto Aspen Street and headed out of town. “Never have to apologize for that.”
We were quiet for a bit as she drove. Hadley didn’t seem bothered by the silence, but I fought the urge to squirm in my seat. I felt awkward, unpracticed in all small talk niceties. I couldn’t find the rhythm of it or come up with the right things to ask.
“Sage found a new flower she’s dying to show you. She hasn’t been able to find it in the book you gave her and thought you might know what it is.”
That had my mouth curving into a genuine smile. I’d saved up to get Sage the book on wildflowers when she showed an interest during one of our afternoon explorations. “Must be a rare one, then. Hopefully, I can help.”
“We can always look it up online if you don’t know it.”
I nodded, my gaze drifting out the window. The landscape blurred by, a mixture of forests and fields, protected wilderness and ranch lands, all with the breathtaking backdrop of the mountains. My lungs burned as we approached a familiar road, but Hadley didn’t make the turn that would’ve taken me to my father’s ranch. She kept on driving towards the Easton spread.
It took me a moment to realize that I was holding my breath, afraid that even breathing the air my father might have tainted would take me out. We were far past my old home by the time I finally made myself slowly exhale, trying not to sound like I was wheezing. I wiped my hands on my skirt as Hadley made the turn for her family’s ranch.
Her SUV jostled a bit as we made our way down the dirt road. The gate was already open, and as we rounded the bend, I saw plenty of vehicles in front of the house.
“Looks like the gang’s all here.”
I glanced at the clock on the dash. “We’re not late, are we? If we are, tell your mom it’s my fault.”
Hadley grinned at me. “We’re not late, but I appreciate you being willing to take the fall.”