“I lived at the homeless shelter,” Anna said. Her voice was soft, but it was in no way timid. “I lived there for six years before I started working there full time and took an employee apartment in the building. I lived there because when my boyfriend framed me for selling his drugs, my parents decided I wasn’t worth their time and cut off all contact with me. I had no one. But Hope House gave me a safe place to rebuild. That’s where I’ve been.”
There was shock on Juliette’s face for a moment. It gave me hope that maybe she would finally hear the truth. That hope fled as anger filled Juliette’s expression. “If you think some sob story you’ve invented to snare my brother will convince me, you’re crazier than I thought.”
“Jules,” I barked.
The kids had stopped playing and were watching the exchange with worried expressions. That only made me more furious. “Leave.”
“You’d pick her, someone you barely know, over me? Your sister? The person who has been with you through everything?”
“You’re the one making that choice,” I said quietly. “By being so hateful to my wife, in front of two kids who have been through hell. And now you’re scaring them.”
Juliette glanced over to the pool quickly, a hint of regret passing over her features. “I don’t want to scare them, but I’m terrified foryou. Get that through your thick skull.”
“No, you’re not scared, you’re angry. And you need to figure out why me being happy makes you that way. When you’ve done that, we can talk. But for now, you need to leave.”
Tears filled Juliette’s eyes, and they twisted something deep inside my chest. But I didn’t let them break my resolve. She turned her furious gaze on Anna. “I hope you’re happy.” She grabbed her bag and stormed off to the side of the house where her rental car was parked.
“Mason, I don’t want—”
“No,” I cut Anna off. “She doesn’t get to come in here and spew that shit, ruining our day. It’s been a good one, and I’m not going to let her change that.” We needed all of the good days we could get right now. Yet it seemed as if we kept getting knocked down.
“How about we talk later?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“I’ll take that deal.” I pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, slowly deepening it. “You’re important to me. Don’t ever forget that.”
A hint of fear cascaded through her eyes. “You’re important to me, too.”
“I hope I still am after I do this…”
“What—?”
Her question cut off as I swept Anna up and threw her into the pool. She made a massive splash and spluttered as she kicked to the surface. “I was still wearing my cover-up you—you—you caveman.”
I chuckled and catapulted into the water after her, splashing Anna, Justin, and Lyla.
Lyla clapped as I surfaced. “When you threw Anna? That was so totally a ten.”
I grinned at Anna. “See? I’ve got style and form.”
“What you’ve got is a target on your back, Decker. I’m coming for you.”
“I can’t wait.”
24
Anna
“I’m staaaaaarving,”Justin moaned.
I looked up at Mason from where I was curled into his side on the lounge on the back patio and smiled. “I’m so shocked he’s hungry only an hour after he had a snack.”
“It’s probably a world record for how long he’s gone without food,” Mason said.
Justin rolled his eyes. “I’m growing, you guys.”
I pushed off Mason’s chest, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. “How about veggies and hummus, and cheese and crackers?”
Justin scrunched up his nose. “How about pizza?”
