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But the right words that come so easily to some people get lost in my own head. Maybe that would have always been the case, concussion or not. We’ll never know.
Bree sighs. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
“Of course you should be here. We’re your friends.”
She manages a small smile and nudges my elbow. “Is this a bad time to shamelessly request an interview before the season starts?”
“Never a bad time for that. Set it up with Angela. You have her contact info, right?”
Bree nods. Her eyes move back to Lita. She swallows hard and holds her head up before stepping into the backyard.
Lita turns this way and freezes. Then she smiles. Haven hovers behind her sister’s chair and then finally notices that there’s more than one lurker on the premises. She straightens her back and while she doesn’t break into loud cheering she doesn’t look pissed either.
I’ll take it.
Haven remains close to her sister. Dani holds out a chair, appearing to ask if she wants to sit but Haven shakes her head. Lita’s hands relax and she returns Bree’s hug. They all fuss over Dash. There’s laughter and smiles. The tension disappears from Haven’s shoulders but she still doesn’t sit or take her eyes from her twin.
Meanwhile, Gage and Micah raid the food selection and stay out of the action. They were in the middle of a murmured conversation but quit talking when I approach.
“Gossiping about me?”
“Yup.” Micah pops a tiny cheese ball in his mouth. “We were trading bets on how long you were going to hide.”
I steal a cracker from the table. “Lay off.”
He grins, unable to resist the temptation of getting on my nerves. “Instead of brooding like a lonely kid at the middle school dance, go talk to her.”
“Did you get a side job writing relationship advice?”
“I’m doing something right.” He’s smug as he shoots a look at his wife and son. “You should take notes.”
“Yeah, I know you’re the family man icon. No need to rub it in my face.”
“I’d never rub anything in your face. That’s disgusting.”
Back in the day I would have put him in a headlock until he agreed to behave. But that was before he could rival me in brute strength. Besides, we’re adults now.
Micah flicks an olive at me. It bounces off my forehead.
Adulthood or not, I’m now tempted to fire the fruit platter at his head. But Dani went to all the trouble to get this nice spread catered so I won’t.
Gage clears his throat loudly. I think that’s just his way of telling us to quit being assholes but when I look up I see another reason.
Haven is on her way over here. She crosses the yard slowly. Cautiously. Her thumbs are hooked into the belt loops of her jeans and she looks down at the sight of her shoes swishing on the carpet of grass.
Gage and Micah quickly find an excuse to move on. Haven raises her chin, sees me standing alone, and keeps walking anyway.
My heartbeat kicks up a notch. I don’t budge from this spot.
She’s the first to speak after coming to a halt a few feet away. “Hi.”
Her posture is shy. Awkward. Unlike her. She moves her hands to her back pockets and glances at her shoes again.
The first words out of my mouth end up being really fucking stupid.
“You changed your hair.”
Her eyes meet mine. “It made Lita happy. She’s had enough new things to get used to.”
