Page 10 of The Exit Strategy

“We haven’t been here long,” Hudson says. “You’re on speaker.”

Nolan’s silent for so long that I check Hudson’s screen to ensure we weren’t disconnected.

“Are you sure about this, Cole? She’s…emotional and…already hurting.”

Typical Nolan. He’s warning me away from his baby sister even as he throws her in my path.

“You know I’ll always take care of her, Nolan.” It comes out too harshly—overcompensating, the way I always do when the alternative is admitting how much I’ve already failed her.

Hudson makes a garbled noise in his throat but says nothing,

“I—It’s just…she’s really in it this time.” Nolan carries a weight for his sister that none of us were ever able to help shoulder. And I tried. “Fenway said theScout Reportcalled asking for an interview with her.”

That’s not what I wanted to hear. TheScout Reportis the least-reputable trashy gossip site out there. You know it’s bad when even I’m aware of its existence.

I’m also not surprised. Junie’s father squandered the fortune that her mother’s family spent generations building years ago, and now the Mercer name sings like a cautionary tale. Especially in Boston, and Grace is using it to her advantage.

“Obviously, I turned them down,” Fen says when he finds me glaring at him. “I’m damn good at my job, Cole. We’re all protective of her.”

My spine stiffens. “I know you are.”

“Just…keep me posted, okay?” Nolan says. “She threatened to put hair removal cream in my shampoo if I came home, but if she needs me?—”

“I’ve got her.” The sharp words have Fen and Hudson smirking in my direction, while Nolan goes quiet again.

“I’ve got some work to do. Anything else you want to say?” Hudson asks.

“No,” Nolan replies. “I’ll check in on Junie in the morning. Just…thank you. All of you.”

“That’s what we’re here for,” Fen says before Hudson pockets his phone.

“Nana Mae got your rooms ready.” I wave toward the stairs, and Hudson takes off with only his laptop bag in hand. The guy is a workaholic.

“You know,” Fen says, backing away from me with his drink in hand. “Whatever happened at Nolan’s graduation party to make you run…” He glances in the direction of the garage. “Well, maybe you’ll find that running was never the solution to your problems. Maybe this time, you’ll learn how to stay.”

He’s gone before I can formulate a response that isn’t telling him to go to hell. Nolan made it perfectly clear that his sister was off-limits, and then my ex weaponized her. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take—even if my heart is the price I pay.

What I need right now is a distraction. And the only thing that even comes close to matching Junie is my work, so I also head upstairs with my drink in hand.

As I stand in my home office, which unfortunately lines up with her bedroom window, our uncomfortable reunion runs through my head.

Work has gotten me through the last six years of missing Junie and my friends, and there’s only one project I want to work on tonight.

My version of Junie’s dream house.

Tomorrow I’ll get my shit together. Set the boundaries. Stop acting like a man who’s allowed to want what he can’t have.

But tonight, I’ll create her happiness the only way I can.

Perhaps someday, I’ll have the opportunity to give her the blueprints.

Or maybe not because the idea of her living in her dream home with some twinkie dick who doesn’t deserve her makes my blood burn hotter than the sun.

There’s no in-between with Junie and me. There never has been. That’s the real problem.

Hours later, I’m detailing Junie’s home theater room when something crashes in the kitchen. Either we have a rabid raccoon again or Fenway’s hungry. Honestly, neither would surprise me.

I make my way to the kitchen in the dark, then nearly shit my pants for a second time in less than a day.