But for the first time in a long time… I wanted to try.
As we pulled intoThe Book Nook’s lot, I spotted a familiar cluster of figures gathered near the entrance, their laughter drifting into the crisp evening air. Javier leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, Noah thumbed at his phone, Luke bounced on his heels like a kid on a sugar rush, and Christian stood just off to the side, grinning like he’d just landed the punchline of a joke.
I glanced over at Cavil as we climbed out of the truck. “Do they belong to you?”
“Must be early,” he said, but there was warmth beneath the gruffness.
The moment he shut the door, the group lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Cavil!” Luke shouted, throwing an arm around his shoulders in a half-hug. Cavil rolled his eyes but didn’t shrug him off.
“You’re late,” Javier called, deadpan. “We were about to send a search party.”
Cavil shot back, “Only need finding if someone knows how to read a map.”
The banter flew effortlessly—fast, familiar, full of ease. It wrapped around me like a well-worn quilt, warm and surprisingly welcome.
I hovered near the truck for a moment, just taking it in. These men had been through more than most could imagine, but somehow they’d carved out something solid here—something that looked a lot like family.
Christian caught my eye and raised an eyebrow. “You’re not sneaking off again, are you?”
I laughed and shook my head. “Not tonight. I need to feed Marmalade.”
Noah leaned in the doorway, looking relaxed in that quiet, watchful way of his. “Nice to have some new energy around here.”
Cavil glanced back at me, a smile tugging at his mouth. He looked more at ease than I’d ever seen him—like this was the version of him that came out only in good company.
Luke elbowed him with a grin. “So who’s your partner in crime tonight? You letting her do all the work?”
Something flickered across Cavil’s face at the question—quick and unreadable—but he recovered smoothly. “Just helping out.”
More laughter followed, easy and unforced.
I stepped closer, drawn into the warmth of it all. Tonight, I wasn’t just tagging along. I was part of this. And somehow, standing there among them, everything inside me felt a little less guarded… and a little more home.
I stepped aside, letting the guys spill intoThe Book Nook, their laughter rising into the chilly evening air like smoke from a warm hearth.
“All right, gentlemen,” I said with a grin. “You know where to go.”
They filed toward the back, their voices blending into a low hum—Christian’s dry wit, Noah’s quiet quips, Luke bouncing around like a pinball already. Just the thought of them settling in made the space feel even more alive.
I turned back to my little corner of the shop and busied myself with the plastic tree by the register. The ornaments hung crooked, so I began rearranging them, adding splashes of color here and there while munching on leftover Christmas cookies from Edith’s kitchen. The gingerbread crumbled just right—sweet, spiced, and nostalgic.
With each bite, warmth spread through me. But it wasn’t just the cookies. It was the sense that this place had come alive again—had become part of something bigger. I glanced at the tallies from the open house, each one a tiny testament to the people who showed up, who believed in this place. The numbers glowed softly beneath the twinkle of holiday lights. Mr. Fletcher would’ve loved this—a true celebration of the shop he’d poured his life into.
“Proud of you, kiddo,” I whispered, picturing his kind smile.
A soft meow pulled me from my thoughts. Marmalade strolled in with the confidence of someone who knew he owned the place. I laughed and bent to scoop him up. He curled against my chest with a purr that vibrated through my bones—another little piece of comfort that reminded me I belonged here too.
“Ready for dinner?” I asked, carrying him toward the stockroom. His purr didn’t falter, even as I set him down and poured his kibble into the bowl.
As he ate, my mind drifted back to Cavil—the way he moved so easily with the guys, how his shoulders had relaxed, just a little. Watching him like that had stirred something deep inside me, something I hadn’t let myself feel in a long time.
Maybe this time would be different.
I lingered a moment longer, listening to the sound of distant laughter, feeling it settle around me like a soft blanket.
And for the first time in a long time, it felt like everything might actually be okay.
