“That’ll be four bucks even,” I said evenly as I leaned down in the window again.

  “Keep the change,” he said cockily, handing me a five.

  Whoa, big spender. Internally I rolled my eyes, but outwardly I smiled and thanked him, handing over his coffee.

  “You change your mind, you know where I’ll be,” he said, his fingers trying to brush mine as we exchanged the cup.

  I just nodded. He’d told me all about the jewelry store where he was working security.

  “Yeah,” I muttered as he drove away. “I know exactly where you won’t be—the police station, you fucking douche.”

  When the guys at the club found out he’d been harassing my best friend, they’d put an immediate end to it. A few quiet words placed in the right ears and Officer Asshole had become civilian asshole pretty damn quick. His confidence had deflated when he’d lost the badge and Kara hadn’t seen him once since then. Unfortunately for me, he must recognize my car because he’d started stopping by every day I was working, no matter which shift I was on.

  The rest of my shift was so easy, I worked it on autopilot. A few friends and family came through, mostly because they also recognized my car and wanted to chat, but other than that I didn’t do much business. That was going to have to change if I wanted to increase profits enough to open the new cart.

  At twelve forty on the dot, Mary whipped into the parking spot next to mine.

  “You’re late,” I snapped as I threw open the door.

  “Doesn’t my shift start at twelve thirty?” she asked innocently, walking toward me slowly.

  “It started at noon,” I replied flatly. “Even if it started at twelve thirty you’d still be late.”

  “Ten minutes,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “I’m here, you can go.”

  I grit my teeth and grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. It was going to be a pleasure to fire her ass when I bought the cart.

  “Bye,” she called cheerily as I walked toward my car.

  I pulled my phone out as soon as I’d closed myself inside.

  “Hey sister,” my older sister Cecilia answered.

  “What are you doing right now?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” she replied with a laugh. “Kids are at Lily’s, Mark’s working, and I don’t have any appointments today.”

  “I’m coming over,” I said, turning on the car.

  “Cool.”

  “You should make us lunch.”

  “Well, aren’t you needy today,” she said. “What if I’ve already eaten?”

  “Then make me lunch,” I said with a huff. “I need to bitch, but I’m also starving. I might be hangry and the bitching won’t be necessary after I eat.”

  “Oh fine,” she said in mock irritation. “I’ll make you lunch.”

  It only took a few minutes to get over to my sister’s. She and Mark had bought the property right next to my parents and even though I liked having some space between me and Farrah, I was a little jealous that they were so close. The kids roamed free between the two properties and sometimes it just felt like one giant compound.

  “I made you a sandwich,” Cecilia called from the porch. “And some chips. Anything more than that and you’ll have to cook it yourself. It’s my day off.”

  “That’s perfect,” I said as I climbed the steps.

  She was sitting on an Adirondack chair and waved me to the matching one.

  “Let’s hang out here,” she said with a sigh. “Listen to that silence.”

  “The construction noise carries, huh?” I asked with a laugh.

  “I cannot wait for them to finish,” she said as I grabbed my plate of food from the tiny table between us. “I don’t know how mom and dad can stand it.”

  “Are you kidding?” I asked, glancing at her. “Mom’s so stoked I’m surprised she’s not spending her days in a lawn chair watching them work.”

  Cecilia laughed. “I’m glad she’s so excited. I don’t know what I would’ve done if we’d lost this place.”

  “You guys got lucky as hell the fire didn’t come this way.”

  “I know,” she said. “Only the death house got destroyed.”

  “Don’t let mom hear you call it that,” I mumbled, taking a bite of my sandwich.

  “I won’t,” she replied. “But I’m glad they’re starting with something new. The whole back yard area is going to pretty much be a part of the house now. It won’t even be recognizable back there.”

  “Our memories of the old place are different,” I said with a shrug.

  There had been a shooting at my parents’ house the summer before I was born. My mom had actually been pregnant with me when it all went down. People had died. My older siblings had lived through it and dealt with the fallout, but I hadn’t. I’d been too small to even realize the toll it had taken on our family. When I was finally old enough to actually understand what had happened, time had softened the edges of their trauma a little.

  “I’m glad you have better memories,” she said, smiling at me.

  “You should come by our new place,” I said, switching the subject. “Tommy really came through. The house is huge and nice and there’s a big yard.”

  “You care about the yard?” she asked dryly.

  “Not even a little,” I replied, making her chuckle. “But Draco thinks it’s the best thing ever.”

  “Let me guess, he’s going to get a barbeque?”

  “A smoker.”

  “Dudes are so predictable,” she said. “You guys should do a housewarming party!”

  “We didn’t buy the place,” I replied. “We’re just renting it from our dumbass cousin.”

  “Still,” she said, leaning back to put her feet up on the porch rail as it started to rain. “You just moved in and everyone loves a party.”

  “Good point,” I conceded. “Plus, Tommy has told us like ten times not to have a party and that’s reason enough to have everyone over.”

  “He’s such a hypocrite,” she said, shaking her head. “That manchild has thrown more parties than anyone else I know.”

  “He does like to host, doesn’t he?”

  “I think he just likes not having to drive home afterward,” she said with a snicker. “He and Heather can get toasted and then crash in their own bed.”

  “Yeah, he likes that Heather can get toasted,” I said, joining in on the laughter. “Poor thing has been the designated driver since they got married.”

  “To be fair, she was pregnant for most of their married life.”

  “Yeesh,” I muttered.

  “You think you’ll have kids?” my sister asked curiously.

  “I don’t even have a partner,” I complained, throwing a chip at her. “I am not having kids any time in the near future.”

  “You’d be a good mom,” she said with a shrug, eating the chip I’d thrown. “I want some more nieces and nephews to snuggle. All the kids are getting too big.”

  “I have a feeling you’ll have great-nieces and nephews before I have any kids,” I said, stuffing the last of my sandwich in my mouth.

  Cecilia dropped her feet from the railing and sat forward. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  I stared at her blankly for a few moments before it clicked. “No,” I blurted, my eyes widening. “Kara isn’t pregnant. She and Draco want to finish school and get married first.”

  Cecilia sighed and sat back. “She’s such a square.”

  I snorted. “Smart, square, same thing.”

  “Seriously,” she said, zipping up her sweatshirt as the wind began to blow. “I want a baby to snuggle.”

  “Then have one of your own,” I replied in exasperation.

  “That is not happening,” she replied firmly. “This baby factory is closed for business. The kids are old enough to do their own shit now, go to their friends’ houses and stay the night at their aunts and uncles. I’m not starting all over.”

  “No, you just want me to do the baby stage!” I shook my head and pointed at her. “Selfish.”

  “Yep,” she said easily. “Hurry up and find someone great, alright? Geesh.”

  “Actually,” I said, drawing the word out.

  “What?” she said in surprise. “Tell me everything. Wait! Let’s go inside, it’s cold as hell out here.” She got to her feet. “Then you can tell me everything.”

  I followed her inside and we got cozy on the couch. My sister’s house looked like a magazine with everything in its place at all times, but she always had comfortable pillows and throw blankets easily accessible.

  “You met someone?” Cecilia asked, curling up under a fuzzy blanket with the face of some crime show TV star all over it. “Boy or girl?”

  “Boy, actually.”

  “Surprising,” she said with raised eyebrows. “I always thought you leaned a little further the other way.”

  “It depends on the person,” I replied. “I’ve just been more lucky with women in the past.”

  “For obvious reasons,” Cecilia said with a laugh. “Men are a pain in the ass. So, who’s the guy?”

  “Draco’s friend Bishop,” I said, falling dramatically against the back of the couch.

  “Oh, yum,” Ceecee said, nodding. “Dreamy.”

  “Right?” I said, snapping back up. “He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”

  “Same,” she agreed. “The eyes.”

  “And the fucking cheekbones,” I added.

  “And that smile?” she fanned herself. “Goodness.”

  “You know what his full name is?” I asked, leaning forward. “Beauregard Augustus Bishop.”

  “And he goes by Bishop?” she asked in confusion.

  “That’s what I said!”

  “That’s a seriously cool name.”

  “He’s—” I shook my head and smiled. “He’s great.”

  “I’ve been around him a few times at parties and stuff and I’ve always really liked him. Mark does too.”

  “He’s genuinely likable,” I said, raising my hands palms up. “He’s just such a nice guy. Gets along with everyone.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  “But it’s not the right time—”

  “Wait,” she said. “Go back. We’re talking about why you like him.”

  I laughed. “I like him because if I’m in the room, it’s like I’m the only thing he sees. I like him because he treats Reb like spun glass but he’s never once talked to her like she’s a child. I like him because he touches me and I lose my goddamn mind. I like that he came looking for Draco the moment he got out because he wanted to make sure that his friend was okay. I like the way he fits with us.”

  “That’s a lot of things to like.”

  “But it’s not the right time,” I repeated.

  “Says who?” Ceecee asked.

  “Says me.”

  “It’s never the right time,” she replied with a wave of her hand. “You can’t plan falling in love. Look at Lily and Leo—she fell in love with him while he was still hung up on me for fuck’s sake.”

  “I’m glad you guys can joke about that now,” I said with a huff.

  “It was a million years ago,” Cecilia said easily. “I can’t even remember what he looks like naked.”

  “Jesus.”

  Cecilia laughed. “No time is a good time to have your life completely upended, that’s all I’m saying.”

  “Well, I have to finish school.”

  “People have been falling in love in college since colleges were invented,” Cecilia countered.

  “And I’m starting a business.”

  “Same applies.”

  “I can’t shift my focus right now,” I said, shaking my head.

  “Back to the business,” Cecilia said, raising her eyebrows. “What business?”

  I couldn’t have stopped the smile if I’d tried to. “So, you know the coffee cart where me and Kara work?”

  We spent the next two hours talking about my plans for the coffee carts and spitballing ideas about promotion and marketing. My sister was a barber and a damn good one but she’d left her old shop years ago to stay home with the kids. Mark made serious money with his security business stuff but when she’d decided that she wanted to add some extra fun money into their accounts she’d had to get creative drawing in clients. She knew her shit, and some of the ideas she had blew my mind.

  “I’m home,” Mark called eventually, coming in the door from the garage. “Where you at?”

  “Living room,” Ceecee called cheerfully. “Just in here discussing my baby sister’s new business.”

  “I don’t own it yet,” I told Mark as he came into view. “Soon though.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Coffee carts,” Cecilia said proudly.

  “One cart,” I corrected. “Hopefully more in the future.”

  “Very cool,” he told me as he leaned down to give my sister a kiss. He looked at me as he stood back up. “Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll install some security. The shit they have at the place you work is a joke.”

  “Noted,” I said with a nod. I looked at Ceecee. “I’m gonna head out.”

  “Tell me when you guys are having the housewarming party,” she said. “We’ll come.”

  “You bought a house?” Mark asked in surprise.

  “Just renting,” I replied.

  “She should have a party anyway,” Cecilia told him. “She did move.”

  “Never said otherwise,” he replied, raising his hands in surrender as he left the room. “See ya later, Charlie!”

  I waved and went to the door to put my shoes on while Ceecee watched me over the back of the couch. “I think you should give him a chance,” she said, laying her cheek on her hand. “Bishop’s a good guy and I haven’t seen you this googly eyed before.”

  “Maybe,” I said with a shrug. “I need to overthink it some more.”

  “Us Butler girls are good at that,” she said with a smile.

  I opened the door. “Love you! Thanks for lunch.”

  “Love you, too,” she said. “Next time you’re bringing me lunch.”

  When I got home, the house was surprisingly empty. I didn’t like it. Dropping my bag by the door, I slipped off my shoes and jogged up the stairs. Now that Ceecee had planted the idea, I was beginning to think having everyone over to show off the new place might be fun. If we were going to do that, though, I wanted to have my room completely finished.

  As soon as I walked inside, I knew something was different, but it took me a second to realize that it was dark. In the middle of the afternoon. I looked wide eyed at the freshly installed wooden blinds that covered all four windows. Holy shit.

  I stood frozen until I heard the front door open.

  “Who’s home?” I called as I walked to the top of the stairs.

  “Me,” Bishop called back, looking up at me. He lifted a keychain and swung it from side to side. “Draco made me a key.”

  “Beauregard Augustus Bishop,” I said, putting my hands on my hips as he started up the stairs. “Did you put blinds on my windows?”

  “You like ’em?” he asked, stopping two stairs down from me. “I wasn’t sure what color you’d want—black or brown woulda kept the room darker but white matches the trim so I went with that.”

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I replied.

  “Do you like ’em?” he asked again.

  “I love them.”

  “Good,” he said, starting toward me again. He gripped my hips and pushed backward until we were both on the landing. “I put mine up, too,” he said, walking toward his room.

  I followed him, completely flabbergasted that he’d done something so sweet without even asking and stopped in his doorway.

  “You’ve been busy,” I said, looking around the room. What had once been an empty space was now filled with a bed, dresser, and two nightstands.

  “When I got over to Dragon’s place, Brenna decided that I should take the whole set,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  “Well, right,” I said, my lips twitching. “What would she do with a random dresser and nightstands?”

  “I tried to pay her—”

  “Uh oh,” I murmured.

  “Yeah,” he said in exasperation.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t noticed this already,” I said softly, watching his face as he looked over his new furniture. “But we take care of our own.”

  “This shit must’ve cost thousands of dollars,” he replied, just as quietly. “I don’t think the bed’s ever been slept on.”

  “Probably just hundreds,” I said, smiling. “Brenna’s good at making inexpensive stuff look really good.”

  “That’s still way too much,” he replied.

  “You said thank you?” I asked, knowing the answer.

  “Of course,” he replied instantly.

  “That’s all she expected.”

  “I also offered to remodel her craft room for her,” he said ruefully, rubbing the back of her neck.

  “I bet she’d love that,” I replied. “Just as long as you know that she’s not gonna let you pay her back in goods either. Dragon will buy and pick up all of the supplies.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

  “Just accept and enjoy the bounty,” I said, waving my hand at his bed. “Now you just need some bedding.”

  “I know,” he said, turning toward me. “I dropped all the bedding I had at the old place into a donation box.”

  “That’s just cruel,” I said, laughing. “Now some person is going to be all stoked about their new sheets until they realize they can’t get the scent of cabbage to go away.”

  “Better them than me,” he said, smiling. “Plus it was twin sized so it wouldn’t have fit anyway.”

  “I cannot imagine you in a twin bed,” I said, turning away. He followed me down the hall to my room.