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“Do you need to take a nap?” I ask.

“I’ll catch one later today.” She looks at Eli and Luke. “We’re waiting for the others?”

Eli nods and sits on the other end of the couch. “They should be here shortly. They had a pit stop.”

I cock my head. What did they have to stop for? Luke doesn’t release me, and I lean back into his warmth, taking what I need from him. Knowing he needs me just as much as I need him. In his arms, I’m safe.

“How did your house go this morning?” I ask Luke softly, trying to tip my head to analyze his expression. “Did you see your dad?”

His breath makes my hair flutter next to my ear. “Yeah. There’s stuff, but it can wait until we’re alone.”

I feel him turn his head toward the kitchen door. Robert. Jack’s dad is outside of this. At least we think he is. We don’t want to put our trust in the wrong person and have it blow up in our faces.

Jack’s house has this sense of safety. But it’s easy for somewhere that’s always felt safe to turn, like my house did. Safety can be an illusion. I blow out a breath and rest my hand on Luke’s forearm.

When I was with Lucy, everything felt easy. I didn’t have to worry about every word that came out of my mouth, because it didn’t matter. I didn’t discuss anything that couldn’t be overheard. But now we’re back in that realm, and it’s thick and suffocating.

Luke kisses me behind my ear, bringing me back to the present. My cheeks flush with heat as I realize my mother saw that. It doesn’t matter how many times she says she’s okay with all this. Knowing I’m dating five guys and seeing them being affectionate with me are two different things.

She just shakes her head with an indulgent smile. “Everyone ready for the dance tonight?”

Luke caresses my shoulder where his fingers are, easing some of the tension that thinking about tonight brings up.

“Yes,” he says.

“I have to go home to change at some point.” Eli runs a hand through his thick hair.

“I want pictures of everyone.” Mom looks pointedly at the two boys. “Don’t even think of trying to get out of it.”

“We wouldn’t.” There’s a smile in Luke’s voice, and he’s not as tense as he usually is after seeing his father.

Maybe his father wasn’t even there. Maybe that’s why he’s relaxed. But maybe it’s also my mother. She exudes a peace I didn’t realize was unique until I met Eli’s mother and Luke’s father. Even Caden’s mother is tense and has this nervous energy that makes me anxious.

The kitchen grows loud with voices again. Soon Caden comes in. He gives me a nod before settling in a chair. Jack follows after him and kneels before me, tipping my chin up and kissing me.

Yeah, this has to be weird for my mom, but those thoughts drift off with the firm touch of his lips against mine. I reach up and cup his jaw, longing to deepen the kiss and sink into oblivion with him.

When he pulls away, he smirks. “Are we ready to go?”

CHAPTER 2

The Retrieval

Harper

This trip to the quarry is different than the previous one. First off, it’s daylight, not the middle of the night. That, and my mom’s with us.

Everything looks less ominous and kind of ordinary now. When we stand inside the gate, she takes in a deep breath, like she’s bracing herself to find out something horrible.

She’s not wrong. There’s the possibility my father died here. His body was never recovered. I don’t even know if anyone looked for it, but if it was obvious, someone would have found it in the past thirteen years. I shake off the dread coating me and focus.

Caden rubs my back, and I lean into him, thankful to have my guys with us to do this.

Whatever evidence my dad thought he’d stash for my mom might be long gone. Or might never have been left in the first place. William did think something was destroyed. We don’t know if he means something out here or some other evidence we haven’t been able to unlock on my dad’s computer.

But it’s still worth a look.

“Take your time.” Eli stands next to my mom. “Whatever you can remember about this area could be helpful. We’ll keep our eyes out, but whatever sign your husband might have left was for you.”