Page 144

“Doesn't he?”

She shakes her head. “He'd probably spend every Sunday with his horses if Mama let him.”

“That's not entirely fair,” Lexy says, smiling. “He likes us. In small doses.”

“And he likes Asher,” Grace adds.

Penny glances toward the pool. “I think it's lovely that you two have become friends.”

I follow her gaze and find Jude standing near his brothers, watching Ethan attempt to pull Cas back into the water. Asher is beside him, laughing at the whole thing instead of helping either of them.

“I think somehow our mutual grief bound us, and we became friends. Maybe even best friends in a way.” I shrug, smiling a little. “I'm not sure when that happened, but I'm glad it did.”

Lexy reaches over and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

“I'm glad, too. Jude's one of the gentlest souls I've ever met, even if he doesn't always make it easy for people to see that.”

“That's because he's Moody Number Two,” Grace says.

I laugh. “Grumpy.”

“Right. Grumpy.” She grins. “Still getting used to that.”

Penny smiles at me. “I love that for you, Nora. And I can't help but think Damiano would have loved knowing you two get along.”

I nod, looking toward Jude again.

“Bet he's laughing about it in heaven right now.” I shake my head, already hearing Damiano's voice in my head. “Leave it to my chatty, stubborn wife to break Jude's shell.”

I laugh.

And then, just like that, my throat closes.

The words are still hanging between us when the laughter catches in my chest, and tears fill my eyes before I can stop them. I can hear Damiano saying it so clearly, can almost picture the crooked smile he'd have on his face, and suddenly I miss him so much I can barely breathe.

Damn it.

“I'm so sorry.” I shake my head and start to get up. “I just—”

Penny's hand closes gently over mine.

I look up, and before I can say anything else, she pulls me into her arms.

Something inside me gives, and I just… cry.

“It's okay,” she whispers, holding me a little tighter.

Lexy moves closer and runs her hand over my shoulder.

“Grief is a sneaky bastard like that,” she says softly. “One minute you're laughing, and the next she's right there, reminding you of everything you're missing.”

I press my face against Penny's shoulder, trying to get myself together, but she doesn't let go or ask me to stop. Lexy's hand stays on my back, and when I finally lift my head, Summer is holding out a tissue while Grace quietly moves a glass of water within my reach.

“Thank you,” I manage, wiping my cheeks.

“Of course,” Penny says.

Nobody asks me to explain, and nobody tells me to cheer up. They simply stay with me, letting the tears come and go while the fire crackles beside us and the men continue their ridiculous argument near the pool.