“I am not. I can be ferocious.”
“I have no doubt about that. You’re probably as tough as a bobcat, but you still look like a kitten,” she says.
I start giggling. “You probably have me there. It’s the round face. It thwarts all of my attempts to look mean.”
Gia glances at her phone. “I gotta go pick up Lauren, Leah, and Finn from school. The guys went out to Holt’s parents’ house to help renovate their bedroom.”
“If you want to stay, Gwen, I’ll give you a ride back into town,” I offer.
“That would be perfect.”
Gia says a quick goodbye before heading back to her car.
Gwen turns to me, a serious expression on her face. “How are you really feeling about being back in your old house?”
I turn to take in the back of the house. “It feels like I’m finally home.”
CHAPTER 10
Knox
“Did I hear right that someone bought that old place out by your farm, Knox?” Mrs. Basil’s question feels like a punch to the stomach.
“Whoever did is an idiot. That place barely has running water.” It’s driving me crazy knowing Farrah wanted that run-down shack. It was such a waste of money. Why wouldn’t she put that cash to better use on a house that’s move-in ready? I grab another cookie from the platter in the middle of Holt’s parents’ kitchen.
I came out here to help them remodel one of their guest bedrooms on the main level of their house into the primary. As much as they don’t want to admit it, going up and down the stairs is starting to get harder, so Holt and his brothers forced the decision on them.
“Do you know who it was?” Holt asks.
I shake my head. “No idea.” Lying to my best friend makes me nauseous. I’ll probably tell him later since he’s friends with Farrah, but I just don’t want to go into a full conversation about the woman who already takes up too much time in my head, especially in front of the people I consider to be family.
Holt’s mom straightens as if she thought of something brilliant. “You should bring them a plate of your cookies. They’d probably like that.”
Holt, his twin brothers—Reese and Camden—and I look at her for a long moment before we crack up laughing.
She frowns. “What?”
“Mom, I love you, but Knox wouldn’t even share a cup of sugar if they came askin’, let alone bake them something,” Holt tells her.
“Now that’s just not true. Our Knox is the sweetest soul.”
The three brothers crack up laughing again, but I just give her a soft smile. She’s the mother I always wished I had, and is as good as one to me at this point. When things had gotten real bad with my dad, they took me in without an argument. And I mean, they wouldn’t let me say no, despite my efforts to tell them I was fine. It’s kind of hard to mean it when your stomach is so fucking bruised you can’t stand up straight.
“Holt’s right, Mrs. Basil. I’d more likely run them off if they came knocking on my door.”
“Psh. I just don’t believe you.” She humphs, partly because I won’t call her anything other than Mrs. Basil. I can’t let myself cross that line. I know the minute I do, something would happen, and I’d lose her. I’d rather be formal with her and keep her in my life than get too comfortable and deal with the fallout.
“They’re probably not even livin’ there,” I say. “It wouldn’t be safe, let alone comfortable.”
“Holty, you should try to find out who’s out there and see if they could use some help fixing up the place,” Mrs. Basil suggests.
“I’ll do some digging, but I’ll refer them to a contractor. I don’t need that kind of liability on my head,” Holt responds. I don’t blame him either. When you’re not a licensed contractor, you have to be careful who you help out. As much as Idon’t care for her, I doubt Farrah would stoop to that level, but you never know.
We talk for a few more minutes before getting back to work. Since Gia’s picking up Lauren, Leah, and Finn from school, I don’t have to worry about paying attention to the time. Usually, I have an alarm to remind me when I need to get going. I’m proud to say there’s only been a few times when I’ve been late getting Finn.
I’m outside cutting tile for the bathroom when Holt comes barreling out of the house. “Lauren and Leah weren’t at school. I gotta go.”
Before I can respond, he’s in his truck, flying down the driveway. I stand there for a second, trying to figure out what the fuck is happening. I stride into the house to find Muriel, Stan, Reese, and Cam gathered in the living room. “What the hell is going on?”
