“I don’t know. There are lots of great players on the high school team. But I like the game.”

“I’d like to see you play sometime,” I say as we get into my car. “And I hope you don’t mind, but I kind of told one of the moms that I’d be at your meet next weekend.”

“That’s cool,” he replies as I pull out of the parking lot and head for the house. “Are we going home?”

I glance over at him when I hear the anxiousness in his tone. “Yeah, I figured it’d be easier, since you need to shower and I need to get ready so we can leave in time for the reservation your dad made at Flame.” I chew the inside of my cheek. “I’m sorry. If I had my stuff at my place, we could go there. It’s just… I’ve been staying at your house, so everything is there.”

“It’s okay. I just....” His words trail off as he shifts in his seat. “Hopefully she’ll just leave when we get there. If not, I’ll stay in my room until it’s time to go to dinner.”

“Your dad said he’d be home early today. When he gets there—”

“She won’t leave just because dad comes home,” he cuts me off. “And dad won’t tell her to leave. He doesn’t want Max to get upset.”

He’s right about that. Gareth puts up with a lot of crap from her because he doesn’t want Max upset, and although I understand him wanting his boys to have their mom, I also see that she takes advantage of that knowledge. I just don’t think she understands that every time she does something to push the limits of his kindness, she’s pushing him closer to his breaking point. And one day, that thread is going to snap, and I personally do not want to be around when that happens.

“What is your mom like?”

I come out of my thoughts at his question and glance at him. “My mom?”

“I just mean, is she like you?”

“No. Well… I don’t know. Maybe. She’s sweet, funny, and sometimes annoying and overbearing. She was always the parent cheering the loudest when I had a game or something in high school, and she’s still one of the first people I call when I have something happen in my life.”

“So… like you.”

“I guess,” I concede, understanding just then that I’m like my mom. “When you meet her, she’s probably going to fawn all over you like you’re five and not fifteen.” I smile when he laughs. “She’s going to love you and your brother. Both my parents will.”

I turn onto the block and when I reach the house, I see Gareth’s mom’s car parked on the street, but Beth’s car isn’t in the driveway, so I pull in, park, and shut down the engine. Mitchell gets out as I turn to grab my bag, and then I open my door, hearing my name called. I look around and smile when I see my cousin Harmony coming across the street wearing a pair of gray scrubs.

“Every time I see your car parked over here, I want to come say hi, but it’s always way too late or too early.” She gives me a hug then looks at Mitchell, smiling. “Hey, kid.”

“Hey.” He lifts his chin then looks at me. “I’m going to go shower.”

“I’ll be in, in just a minute,” I tell him, and he nods, placing the strap of his bag up onto his shoulder before he heads inside.

“Are you living with Gareth?” she asks, grabbing my attention, and I focus on her.

“Pretty much. I haven’t officially moved in, but I’m here every night.”

“That’s the way it seems to happen.” She leans back against my car. “I’m happy for you. He’s a good guy, and his boys are sweet.”

“They’re the best,” I agree. “How are you liking your new job?”

Awhile back, she had some drama happen and she quit her job at the hospital in town. None of us were sure she’d go back to nursing, but a couple months ago, she got a new job in Nashville at the children’s hospital.

“I love it. I hate that I have to drive to Nashville four days a week, but I love what I do, so it’s worth it.” She turns, and I do the same. We watch Gareth pull into the driveway, and when his eyes come to me, I remember our conversation from earlier today and wonder if he’s still mad.

Once he’s parked, he gets out and comes around the back of his SUV, lifting his chin to Harmony. I tip my head back when he stops in front of me, and my heart starts to pound from the look in his eyes.

“Did you give your landlord notice yet?”

“No.”

His lips twitch like he thinks something is funny. “Do you need me to call them for you?”

I narrow my eyes. “I think I can handle it.”

“Call. I’m gonna go get in the shower.”

“I will,” I snap, staring into his eyes.

“I think that’s my cue to go home,” Harmony says, sounding like she’s trying not to laugh, and I look at her breaking my stare down with Gareth.

“You don’t have to leave.”

“I think I do.” She grins. “Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow night. We can talk then.”

“Do you want to ride together?”

“Sure, just send me a message and let me know what time.”

“I will, and tell Harlen I said hi.”

“Will do.” She smirks then calls out later as she walks across the street.

“What’s tomorrow?” Gareth asks, and I turn to face him.

“Me and the girls are going out.” I wait for him to protest, but surprisingly he doesn’t. “Can we talk about this moving in business?”

“What do we need to talk about?”

“About the fact that I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not. About how the boys might react if we say I’m moving in.”

“I’m being very serious.” He takes a step closer, capturing my hip. “And you were there this morning when both boys agreed that it’s stupid for you to have an apartment when you’re staying here.”

They did say that. I just don’t know if they really get what that would mean. “I… I think we should still sit down and talk to them about it.”

“Then when we get home from dinner tonight, we’ll talk about it with them just to make sure they are good with it. If they are, you can give notice, and we can start moving you in.”

“Okay.” I lean into him. “Then me and you can talk about how we are going to divide up the bills and Sloth’s surgery.”

“Sure,” he says with a shrug, and I narrow my eyes, because that was way too easy.

“I’m serious, Gareth. If I’m going to be living here with you and the boys, I’m going to do my part.”

“Yeah, and we’ll discuss all that after you move in.”

“No, we’ll talk about it before I move in.”

“After,” he says, and I start to see red.

“Before, Gareth,” I snap.

“After, Ember,” he growls.

“Aww, is all not well in paradise?” Beth asks, walking up the driveway toward us, and I spin to face her, hating the smug look on her face and the fact that she saw us arguing.

“I told you we have plans with the boys and not to show tonight, Beth. So why are you here?”