Page 183 of Sunrise & Serenity

“About your mom. About what happened.”

I swallow and look away for a moment. Then I take a deep breath. “I never knew how to talk about it.”

She rests her fingertips against my forearm. “You don’t have to, but if you ever want to, I’m here.”

I smile down at her. She isn’t asking me to explain. She’s simply here with me.

Hefting her bag over my shoulder, I rest my hand on her lower back and guide her toward the porch. “Better get to lunch before they think I’ve run off with you.”

Inside, I drop the bag at the door. Then we head out back where the tables are loaded with everything Dad put together. My heart twists at the sight. This is his way of showing Sage he cares.

For one sharp-edged moment, guilt and regret tangle in my chest. How many meals like this have I missed over the years?

But I take a deep breath, then let it out, feeling the knot inside me loosen. I’ve spent far too long letting the pain I carry over things I can’t change steal the happiness right in front of me.

It’s about time I try something new.

Leaning back in my seat with a beer in my hand, I watch as my family and friends talk and laugh and eat together. Even Knox and Riley are here—Knox horsing around with Chance, and Riley engaged in conversation with the other women, while Quinn hovers over her like he has since they were kids.

For a while I just sit there, drinking my beer and listening to everyone around me. I never imagined it would be possible to be back here at Wild Ember and feel so at peace.

Now and then, I catch Sage looking over at me, her green-gold eyes bright, and my pulse kicks for reasons that have nothing to do with attraction. Or at least, not entirely.

Sterling drops into the seat next to me with a sigh. “Funny how things work out.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

He takes a sip of his beer. “I’m glad you came back.”

I glance at him, a little surprised.

He meets my gaze, then grimaces and looks away. “I know you left for a reason. But I’m not gonna lie. We need you here. I need you here.”

Angling forward, I brace my elbows on the table. “Finances still an issue?”

He gives a slow nod. “It’s not disastrous. There’s a lot riding on this expansion, and I’m still looking at other options. But this…” He nods at the full table. “Makes it worth it, right?”

I take it all in for a moment before answering. “Yeah. It does.”

Lunch passes in the kind of happy summertime haze of my childhood, though when Sage starts to flag, I catch Dad’s eye and tip my head at her.

He smiles and gives me a nod.

I head over to where she’s sitting and talking with Mia, who’s relaxing after chasing Ruby around. At the moment, the little girl is sitting at the table between Taryn and River with a coloring book, her tongue stuck between her teeth and her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I was hoping to steal Sage away for a little while.”

Mia arches a brow at me but gives Sage an easy smile. “You don’t have a problem being stolen, do you?”

Sage rolls her lips together, her cheeks flushing in a way that makes me wonder if the two of them were talking about me.

She shakes her head. “Nope. No problem.”

I extend my hand, and she slips hers into it so I can help her to her feet. Then, without bothering with goodbyes, I lead her back through the house.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

I open my truck door and step back. “I want to show you something.”