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I cock my head, curiosity piqued. “How do you know? Have you spoken to him?”
Her jaw tenses and I can see her thinking of what to say, when I demand, “Harper, tell me.”
She sighs. “He’s not talking to anyone. He had his court appearance the other day, I have a family friend who is a lawyer who was able to get him to pay off his fines doing community service because there was no way in hell he’d be able to pay the fine they were gonna give him.”
I run my fingers through my hair, processing this before she takes my hand in hers. “Just give him some time.”
I smile a sad smile. “I’m trying, but it’s hard when he’s the only family I have left.”
She furrows her brows, cocking her head before looking around at the men walking up and down the stairs to the apartment to retrieve more tools needed for the rebuild. “Are you sure about that? You’re not alone, Mia, but clearly Hunter needs space and time. I promise that he will talk to you again.”
I squeeze her hand, desperate to believe her as I nod, dropping her hand to allow her to return to work.
I stand there for I don’t know how long, looking around me at the family I know I have, the family that's willing to walk through fire for me, literally.
Knowing the truth in Harper’s words, I don’t even jump when a pair of big arms encircle me from behind, pulling me into a hard chest because I know it's Riley. I relax into his chest, smiling as he whispers in my ear, “At this rate, this place should be up and ready to go with us in our new apartment by next week.”
“Hopefully.”
“Hopefully?”
My smile grows. “I love the lake house, but this is home.”
He squeezes his arms around me. “You’re not wrong, but I do like the isolation at the lake house. I can make you scream, and no one can hear it.”
I laugh. “If that was said by anyone else, it would have sounded like a serial killer.”
He releases one of his arms and pinches me on the behind, making me squeal. “I can make you pay for that.”
“Why do you think I said it?” I giggle when he kisses my neck, even more excited to be home with this guy I didn’t mean to fall for but wouldn’t wish it away for anything.
He taught me how to live, how to survive, and how to love.
