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"I’ve made peace with not getting closure. And trust me, I felt it and I still feel the sadness." He pats his chest. "I don’t think it’s ever going away. No matter how hard I try. So, ignoring it is the best I can do to keep on powering through. Hand me the garland?"

I do, and he wrestles it onto the next nail. “Anyway, how are the cats Nic and Lauren brought in doing?”

"I think they're doing okay," I say and step aside as he moves the chair again. "They haven't warmed up to Hannah or me yet, but they don't seem too stressed. For now, they're quarantined in one of the kennels in the back with a nice, fluffy blanket and food. Henry will draw some blood in the next few days, and we can make sure they don't bring any illnesses in here, and then we’ll go from there."

As if on cue, Bean and Luna trudge into the room. For a moment, they stare at Kieran, who's on the chair again to put the last piece of garland over the window. Then they jump on the counter and investigate the contents of the bags he brought.

"Hope you've got nothing fragile in there," I mumble as Luna all but climbs into the second one, rummaging around until something picks her interest.

"Please,” Kieran chuckles, and finally, it sounds genuine. "I know my audience."

Garland hanging, he brushes past me to lift Luna out of the bag and empty its contents all over the counter. There are plush ornaments. Snowflakes, little Santa’s, even felt Christmas tree balls. And the little headbands we saw at the store. I can’t believe he bought them!

Luna immediately picks one of the felt tree balls up with her teeth, jumps off the counter and flees into the back, followed closely by Bean.

“You do know your audience.” Softly, I shake my head and giggle. Then I walk over to him and snake my arms around his middle, my chin digging into his shoulder. "I'm sorry about your family."

"Don't be." He puts his arm over my shoulder. "It's probably for the better."

"It doesn't mean I can't be sorry. Your parents were such assholes.” For a moment, we stay still, only our breaths breaking the silence in the room. “What about your sister?” I whisper. “Did she ever reach out?"

He shakes his head. "To be fair, I made it kind of impossible to, though."

"What do you mean?"

"My full name is nowhere on the internet. It’s only on my property records. I have no socials under my real name and left no way to contact me." His entire body moves with the deep sigh he exhales. "The first thing I did when my socials started to pop off is lock everything remotely private about me down. People are crazy, and I didn't want to have some random person who thought we were having an elaborate love story I never knew about show up at my door."

"That's smart." I tighten my arms around him. It’s also a little sad, though, considering it hinders his sister from ever finding him.

"And you never found her?"

"I never tried. Why would I?" He shrugs. "Open myself up to another rejection? No, thank you."

I want to object, but the look he's shooting me tells me it's time to change topics.

"Okay." I let go of him and clear my throat. Then I reach for the second bag on the counter. "How about we hang the second garland?"

Chapter 30

Kieran

“I don't think I've ever seen you this nervous. How adorable.” Evan pinches my cheek, and I swat his hand away.

"Shut the fuck up, Evan. This is the equivalent of coming out to my family, and you know how it ended the last time." I rub my hands, nervously picking at the skin next to my nails.

"Bold of you to assume Nic and Lauren haven't already told the rest of your town, anyway."

"It's not the same." I push him, almost making him trip over a pile of snow on the sidewalk. Dick thinks we’re playing and tries to join the fun. I leave it to Evan to disappoint him.

The bell above Caleb's entrance door announces our arrival. Only today it sends shivers down my spine, the way a church bell in an abandoned village that sends crows flying would.

Nope. I can’t do this.

I'm about to turn around, but Evan puts his hands on my shoulders and marches me to the counter.

"Hey, Caleb," I stammer and glance around the room, trying to find a way to escape. Dick has already curled up in one of his usual places by the counter.

"Hi, Kieran." He’s cleaning invisible dirt off his countertop, sporting his usual frown, and even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to tell if he’s in a good or bad mood. “Brought a new friend?”