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“Hey, you here with me?” Patrick whispers in my ear.
I nuzzle into him, his scruff tickling my lobe. “Always.”
The two of us only seem to have gotten stronger after the truth came out about Nikolai. The Hope Crest police station is under investigation by the state, and it looks like they’ll be overhauling the chain of command, depending on who knew what other shady stuff Nikolai had been up to. The case was pretty open and shut, at least according to the officers and lawyers we’ve spoken to. It was self-defense, there’s more than enough evidence to show I’d been threatened and attacked, and there would be no charges filed.
“If it’s too much, we can go home.” The man I love speaks, so only I hear it.
“No, I like this. Being surrounded by people and warmth just might be the medicine we need.”
“I love you.”
When I turn to face him, the expression of contentment and surety makes my heart speed up. I can’t believe, in all this chaos, that I found the love I’ve always been searching for.
“Love you, more.” I smirk.
“Don’t play that game with me, beautiful. I might have been laid up the last week, but I’m getting cleared tomorrow and I’m coming for you.”
“That a promise?” I whisper, squeezing his thigh under the table.
“Can you two stop? This is a wholesome Thanksgiving dinner.” Liam rolls his eyes.
Everyone is staring at us as I blink away from Patrick. While we’ve spent most of the last week with each other, it hasn’t felt like the bonding time the two of us are used to. Between damage control, police interviews, everyone checking on us, and doctor’s visits, we haven’t had much alone time to process and comfort one another. Plus, Patrick hasn’t been cleared for anyphysicalactivity, and having that release might have been useful.
Good thing he’ll likely be cleared tomorrow.
“Sorry.” He coughs. “Thank you for delaying your holiday for us.”
Since the shooting and everything went down right around Thanksgiving, the family missed the traditional meal. So Leona decided to postpone until we could all be here and somewhat put together. I am more than grateful that she called it a no-brainer to include me in the meal since my own mother has only called to check up on me twice. I didn’t expect more and haven’t had time to reflect too greatly on it, considering everything else on my plate.
“Hush,” his mother admonishes him. “I’m so thankful you’re all here, healthy and safe. Never has it been more apparent than this week just how close our family is, just how much I love you all, and how happy I am to have these beautiful souls you’ve brought into our lives.”
Leona smiles at Warren, August, and me as she says this.
“Now let’s eat!” Nonna finishes and digs in before the rest of us.
Conversation is stilted as everyone gets their fill, shoveling food in and sighing about how good of a change it is to the food that’s usually served in this restaurant. At some point, August goes to the back for more biscuits, Warren gets up to take a phone call, and I watch Alana shoot daggers at his back with his eyes.
After all my drama is over, I’ll have to address that, for sure.
The front door opens suddenly, one that should have been locked and closed, and I watch Patrick’s father stand to tell the unwanted patron that they’re closed for a private event.
But he stops, his mouth dropping open as if he’s seen a ghost.
“It’s a holiday miracle!” Leona cries as she rushes to the young man who just walked in.
He catches the older woman around the middle as she flings herself at him and hugs her with a smile.
“Hey, Ma.” He pats her back.
Ah, I get it now. This is the baby, Evan. I don’t think anyone knew he was coming, not judging by this reaction, and Patrick probably would have told me his brother was coming home. Now everyone is rising from the table, abandoning the food they were just ravenous for to greet him.
“God, you look like such a city prick.” Alana thumbs her brother’s pea coat and then pulls him in for a hug.
I watch on as the rest of his family celebrates his homecoming, and then we’re introduced.
“I read what happened. I hope you’re okay.” Evan smiles warmly as I extend my hand to shake his.
“It’s been a hell of a week, but we’ll get there.” It’s my new tagline, not that I feel it completely.
