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Addy walked to the coffee maker and poured herself the remains of the coffee Hayes had brewed. Might as well get caffeinated ahead of the drive to Dublin.

She thought she’d imagined Oliver’s approaching footsteps, but then he was in the kitchen, Hayes just behind him.

“Oliver.” Addison set down her cup. “Listen—”

But he closed the distance first, pulling her into his chest and pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

Her throat constricted. “I know.” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held on, breathing him in as he stroked down her spine. “I know. I’m sorry, too.”

The plea in his voice burred through her. “Don’t go.”

“I’ll stay.”

From across the room, Hayes cleared his throat. Addison had forgotten he was there.

She couldn’t let Oliver blame his sibling. Not when this was all her idea. “But know that your brother isn’t to blame. I started it all.”

Oliver’s arms around her tightened, and she felt his amusement before she saw it. “I believe that.”

“I was desperate.” She stepped away from him so she could focus. “Netta was crying every day. I was worried my parents would grow tired of the caterwauling and go off to Ibiza or something, and leave Netta behind. Then we heard about the custody hearing. I had to find Kyle. But I kept running into walls, so I figured I’d ask your family. When Evie agreed to meet me, I flew to San Diego. Joy and Francesca were with her. I explained everything. They conferred and asked me to come back a few hours later to meet your brothers.”

“Nate and Francesca happened to be in town. We were planning our intervention, since we couldn’t let you go on as is,” Hayes supplied. “Evie, Francesca, and my wife decided that sending Addison over to you in Ireland might shake up your days a bit, and help her and Netta in the process.”

Addy laid her hand on his arm. “Your family asked me for one thing. That I wouldn’t let you celebrate your birthday alone.”

Oliver skimmed a finger down her cheek. “She followed through.”

Heat flooded her face, but Hayes didn’t appear to pick up on the undercurrents. “Good. Now imagine how panicked everyone got when we couldn’t get a hold of either one of you. We figured our plan backfired and one of you probably killed the other—and none of us knew which.”

“Gee. Thanks,” said Oliver.

Addy gave Hayes a contrite look. “The past few days got away from me. I’ve ignored most of my messages, too, only scanning through them for news about Kyle and updates on Netta. I didn’t mean to ignore you guys. Let me make you more coffee.”

“I got it.” Hayes moved to the coffee maker and started a fresh pot.

“How’s Joy feeling?” Oliver pulled Addison back against his side.

“Ready to not be pregnant.”

From what Addy remembered, Hayes and Joy had been married for four years, and this was their first kid.

When the coffee brewed, Hayes knocked back a cup in two swallows. “Gotta go. Don’t want to chance missing my return flight.”

“Do you want anything to eat before you head back?” Addison offered. “It’s a long drive to the airport.”

“No, but call me if you need anything.” He paused, considered them both. “Oliver, I know you don’t want me involved in this, but I looked into Yarrow. No card transactions, no digital footprint at all the last three months, but about four months ago, he’d been on a dating app under his initials. Had set up a date in Dublin but never showed.”

Addison flipped through the possibilities. “So, feasibly, he’s in Dublin?”

Hayes shrugged. “If I were your brother, I’d be far away from Ireland by now. But maybe something is keeping him here.”

“Or someone,” Addison said almost to herself.

Hayes and Oliver exchanged a look. They weren’t telling her something.

Addison’s head swiveled between them. “What?”