He loved all three of us. I knew it was finally getting easier to think about him because now when he came to mind, the sadness was a little less sharp. I could think about my dad without remembering the way the rug had been yanked out from beneath all of us. Seeing Austin crumble. Watching Avery fall apart. Holding my mother while she became nearly unrecognizable.
All of those bad memories remained, but now I could focus on the good.
I knew what it was like to love an artist.
But it would be selfish to ask her to stay.
Over the last few days, this little seed had planted itself in my head. A dream of the three of us making this work. I’d seen it done before. Iknewit could be done. Avery, Levi, and Mateo all loved each other and lived happily together.
Why couldn't June, Madi, and I do that?
Why notlet love bloom in the desert?
Thunder shook me from my thoughts and I let my head fall back against the seat. There was really no waiting for the rain to stop. It’d be going until the morning if the weather stuck to what the forecast promised.
About an hour ago, I got a text from Avery. It’d been short and straight to the point, and basically June’s way of asking for help via my sister’s bullying.
I was thankful for it. Mum season was no joke, and with the stress of taking care of Laura and dealing with her brother, June needed to lean on her friends.
Iwantedher to lean on me.
I knew how to love an artist, but I wasn’t sure the best way to love her. June was harder. More mysterious in some ways. When I was with Madi, everything felt easy and right and good. When I was with June, it was like trying to read morse code. Did I say something wrong? Will she let me help her?Will she even let me love her?
Two different people, and yet the feelings burning in my chest were equally bright for both of them.
And I didn’t have to choose.
I didn’t want to choose.
“All right,” I whispered to myself. I eyed the rain and wrinkled my nose. I was about to get wet, and not in a way that I enjoyed.
As much as I wanted to show up, throw June over my shoulder, and make her come again—helping her out here would be far more useful. At least until later.
I was happy to help. It didn’t matter that I’d already worked a full day. Knowing how things like this usually went, I’d stopped by and picked up three pizzas, counting on the fact that Avery would send that text to everyone. We’d probably end up with our full group.
June would resist, of course. For the first hour. Then she’d give in and we’d get all the orders packed and ready for the league of Texan mothers buying giant mums for their teenagers’ homecoming.
Truthfully, all of us had gained extra skills by proxy. I knew how to roll out a damn good pie crust because I always ended up being recruited during the holidays to help Evie—as we allwere. I also knew how to run the hotel, fix random plumbing and electricity issues, put out a fire, and drive the truck.
Admittedly, driving the fire truck was one of my favorite things to do when it was for parades—and least favorite thing if it was for putting out fires.
I grabbed the pizza boxes and let out a curse as the rain started to come down harder. I kicked my door open and hopped out, rushing into the shop and bursting through the front door.
I was dripping. I ran my fingers through my hair and shook out the water.
“Helloooo?” I called.
Avery and Laura’s bright faces poked around the corner down the hall.
“It’s Dallas!” Laura called.
I grinned as I wiped my boots on the mat and then carried the pizzas straight to the back. I paused at the threshold, my eyes widening as I took in the absolute chaos of the room.
It looked like a craft store had exploded back here. Bundles of ribbons, scissors everywhere, random trinkets. The Whynot football team colors, turquoise and black, were everywhere the eye could see, although there were some other bundles too. Those must have been for the online orders.
Three folding tables were set up. One for building boxes, one for ribbons and accessories, and then one June was currently hunched over.
My sister smiled and narrowed her eyes on me.
