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“Hi.” He stepped toward her, big and stoic and solid.
They were on shaky ground. She wasn’t sure he’d forgiven her for signing the contract. Or for letting Cash move in. It still hurt her to think of him with Madison. Realistically, he’d never loved her the way she loved him. And that was okay. One thing she knew? He would be here for her if she asked. He would be steady and unwavering. She could count on him in a way she hadn’t been able to count on anyone else, even her dad the last months before his death.
At that, despite the thousand reasons she shouldn’t, she flung herself into his arms.
Without hesitation, he crushed her against him, strong and steady, wrapping his arms around her so tightly she nestled in a safe cocoon.
He’d never know how badly she’d needed him right now.
As sobs tore through her, breaking down all the composure she’d managed to scrape together, he remained unmoving and let her cry into the musky T-shirt that smelled so reassuringly like him.
Behind her, someone must have taken the bear from his hand, because suddenly both of his palms pressed against her back and he brought her even closer. She melted against him gratefully.
“I’m here for you,” he murmured.
She tried to thank him, but another sob tore free. “Zy…”
“Shh. Have you eaten something, baby?”
Tessa shook her head and pulled herself together. She couldn’t keep falling apart in front of the team. They’d endured so much since she’d gone, and they’d still come to honor her. She couldn’t show them weakness.
Somehow, she managed to sniffle and pull back. “No, but I’ll be—”
“Don’t say fine,” Zy warned. “You’ve dropped weight since you left.”
Anxiety, grief, and all-out warfare with one’s stepmother did that. “But I will be.”
“Maybe after you’ve eaten.”
“We’ll leave you to get settled at home and rest,” Hunter said.
Tessa turned. She hadn’t known her boss was capable of speaking that softly. “Thank you again. Really. I’m truly humbled.”
“And if you’re not ready for the office on Monday, just let us know,” Logan prompted. “We can call a temporary until you are.”
Josiah groaned. “Just not Inept. I mean Aspen.”
Cutter and Trees both concurred with animated nods.
“I’ll be there,” Tessa promised. She needed to be. Not only did she need the money, but she needed not to sit on her sofa while Cash was invading her space and think of all she’d lost.
“See you then.” Joaquin touched her shoulder softly. “If you need anything else, call.”
One-Mile just waved, looking exhausted, pale, and still too near death. But he’d come to see her home. Cash hadn’t.
That spoke volumes about her daughter’s father, but she couldn’t deal with him right now. One crisis at a time.
She waved back at him. “Keep getting better, Walker. I know you’ve got more hell to raise.”
He flipped her a half smile until Joaquin wheeled him around and pushed him out the door, beside his stepbrothers.
Cutter stepped up to her next. “Hang in there. And if you ever need anyone to watch your little one, my mama would be tickled to step in. She always wanted a girl. I guess neither my brother, Cage, nor I looked good in pink.”
He meant well, and Tessa tried to smile. “It may not be your best color. I appreciate the hospitality.”
“Anytime.”
“You good?” Josiah asked.
She nodded. “I really will be fine. Caleb will take me home.”
“Absolutely,” he said, now holding a smiling Hallie in one arm and the bear in the other.
“Then I’ll see you Monday. Don’t be shy if you need anything.”
Tessa would never presume to bother him on a weekend. “I won’t.”
He and Cutter were gone then, so she turned to Trees. “Thank you for coming.”
She couldn’t look at Zy right now. She’d just break down again.
“You don’t have to keep thanking everyone. We’re happy to be here. Aren’t we, Zy?” He elbowed his friend in the ribs.
“Yeah.” His smoky tone seemed to have a thousand meanings, and even the familiar timbre of his voice did something to her.
Finally, she risked a glance at him. “I’m sorry I cried all over your shirt.”
“I’m not.” Zy stepped closer. “And I can tell you need to cry again.”
Damn it, he could see through her. He’d always been able to.
And on cue, tears stung her eyes once more. Without hesitation, Zy pulled her in.
She shuddered and clung, taking the strength he selflessly offered while stroking her back with a comforting hand.
Behind her, the colonel sighed. “I think I got all her things off the baggage carousel. Why don’t you take her home, Garrett?”
“We came in my truck,” Trees said with regret. “It won’t hold three adults and a baby in a car seat.”
“I’ll take you home myself,” Caleb suggested. “So they can go on. Tessa looks like she needs to talk.”
She turned to her former boss with a grateful stare. The colonel might be a veteran and a hard-ass, but he was also very wise. “I’d appreciate that.” She spun to Trees. “If that’s okay with you?” Then she cast a shy stare Zy’s way. She hated to presume, especially since she didn’t know what else he might have planned on a Friday night. “And you?”
