“Sorry to invade without an invite. Brady told me it would be okay,” Tristan said.
“We’ve kind of got a media shitstorm issue,” I said.
Mom’s eyes squinted. “What did you do now?”
Cass laughed. “Is this about the video that went viral?”
“What video?” Mom asked.
“Can we not do this right now?” I asked, looking from my family to Hannah and then back again.
“Oh yes, of course. So, you’re staying for my world-famous veggie burgers, right?” Cass said with a smile directed at my girls. “Do you want to help me make them?” she asked Hannah.
Hannah beamed and pushed out of Tristan’s arms. “Oh yes. I like to cook. Are they like the ones in theHealthy Eatingcookbook I showed you?”
“Mine are way better,” Cass said in a conspiratorial whisper. She pulled one of the kitchen chairs over to the counter. “Come on up, and I’ll show you what I’ve already done.”
My family took in the two females with smiles and warmth, and as the day progressed and the fanatic wave of media continued to grow, they cocooned them in a pretend world where we were all just friends and family visiting each other. Outside the safe haven of the house, the press stormed into Grand Orchard as if the possibility of Brady O’Neil finding a new girlfriend was the most important topic facing our planet.
We spent the afternoon and evening playing board and card games I hadn’t realized we still owned. Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Old Maid, and more. Childish and lighthearted. Even my mom smiled more than frowned throughout the day, with her face softening when Hannah danced around the room with her top hat wobbling after she’d gotten to one hundred before anyone else in Chutes and Ladders.
The vision hit me hard. The mix of them all together with smiles on their faces. Family. Belonging. Love.
Marco let himself in the back door as the sun went down, and a rush of relief flew through me. I trusted this man with my life, and I knew he’d do everything in his power to protect Tristan’s and Hannah’s, just like he did mine and my family’s. My parents called out a warm welcome to him. He waited at the door for me, and I joined him, hugging him.
“Thanks for coming,” I said. It was my fault he’d left to begin with, and now he’d barely gone home only to have to journey back again.
He gave a curt nod. “Sorry about the video.”
“Nothing you could have done about it.”
He still felt guilty. I saw it written all over his normally stoic face.
“Waterton’s men aren’t done at Tristan’s house, and the bulk of the media is there now that you’ve left the store. I don’t think they should go home tonight,” he said.
The guilt he’d felt took its turn rushing through me. It was my fault. They couldn’t go home. Not yet. I met Tristan’s gaze through the kitchen arch to the family room. She patted the top of Hannah’s hat and then made her way over to me.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“They aren’t finished installing the security at the house, so I think you and Hannah should stay here tonight. You can take my bed at my place over the garage.”
She swallowed. “Is it that bad?”
When I didn’t respond, her eyes went to Marco’s face. He looked down at the floor. I put a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry.”
She took a deep breath, and I had to give her credit. After the momentary breakdown this morning, and the talk we’d had about us, she’d just taken everything else in stride. She wasn’t as fazed by it as much as I was when I should have been used to it. She just smiled and shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
“It is.”
“Stop. Neither of us expected this,” she said, meeting my gaze with a sure one.
“Trevor and I will take turns on watch tonight. We’ve got the security van and the extra detail up and running,” Marco said. Then he looked at Tristan. “From what I’ve experienced, you just need to give it a week, and then things will be back to normal.”
Her eyes widened, but he was right. News of celebrity relationships came and went so fast it was hard to keep up with them, even if you wanted to.
Marco left, and I turned to Tristan, pulling her into my arms, holding on tight. Afraid if I let her go, she might change her mind and back down from all the Wild West adventures she’d just been flung into.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
