I know she’s speaking from experience. I know that’s how it is for her after losing both her parents. But our stories aren’t even close to the same.

“We weren’t even a little close. To me, she was just someone I knew, who happened to be my mom. I’m just trying to come to terms with that,” I admit, feeling somewhat guilty for not being devastated by the loss of my own mother.

“Hadley, I know you and know you believed somewhere deep down that maybe she’d change one day. And now it sucks, because you’ll never get that answer. That’s the pain you’re going to have to work through,” she says firmly but quietly.

“It’s scary how well you know me.”

“We’ve been besties forever. I know you better than you know yourself.” She squeezes my fingers.

I crush hers in return, muttering, “True.”

“On the bright side, you’ve got a lot of people who are here for you while you work through that, so you’re not alone.”

I look away from her and glance around the room again. My eyes land on Cobi, who’s chatting with his cousin July’s husband, a guy named Wes, who I met this afternoon. Both men are laughing about whatever they are talking about. Feeling my eyes on him, Cobi looks at me and his face softens. At that look, my heart flips and my stomach bottoms out.

I have no doubt I’m in love with him. He’s taken care of me since the moment we met, reassured me when I’ve had doubts, and pushed through every one of my defenses. I’ve never met a man like him before, and I know that’s because men like him only exist in romance novels, fairy tales, and Disney movies. But somehow, he’s living and breathing.

“If you’re still questioning if you’re in love with that man, I swear I’ll kick your ass,” Brie cuts into my thoughts, and I pull my eyes from Cobi’s to look at her.

“As if you could.”

She could. She’s taller than me by at least four inches, has a little more weight than I do—all distributed in just the right places—and she’s avid about working out. Something I’m allergic to doing.

“I so totally could. I just wouldn’t, because I don’t feel like chipping a nail or messing up my hair,” she says, and I laugh. Brie has always been about her appearance. She’s beautiful, with dark skin, long almost black hair that ends past her shoulders, almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips. She never misses an appointment to get her hair done each month, and goes to the nail salon once more besides the time we go together.

“Keep telling yourself that, babe,” I say.

She smiles then rests her head on my shoulder. “I love you.”

I close my eyes and let those words seep in. As a constant in my life, I’ve always known I cared about Brie, but now I know that when she’s said I love you and I’ve said it back, I did actually mean it. Until recently, I wasn’t exactly sure what love was. I didn’t really understand that love is more than just a word people say to those they care about. Love is being there for someone when they need you the most. It’s worrying about someone else’s happiness and wanting that for them more than you want it for yourself. It’s showing up and fighting through the hard stuff, because you know it will be worth it in the end.

“I love you too,” I finally get out. “Thank you for always being here for me when I’ve needed you.”

“Always, Hadley, you have my word that you will always have me.”

I don’t reply; I can’t without crying, and I don’t want to cry. Instead, I tighten my hold on her fingers then tip my head to the side to kiss the top of her head. I hear her pull in a breath and pull in one of my own. When I open my eyes back up, I catch Kenyon sharing a look with Brie with a small smile on his lips before he goes back to talking to Harmony’s dad, Nico.

“Cobi’s family’s cool. I want them to adopt me,” Brie says, lifting her head off my shoulder.

“Right?”

“Though I don’t think it’s normal to think your family is hot, so maybe I won’t.” I burst out laughing, tossing my head back, and Brie laughs along with me before getting up, still smiling. “I’m going to get another plate of food. Do you want anything?”

“No, I’m good.” I grab the glass of wine I set down earlier and take a sip.

“Be back.” She heads toward the kitchen, and a second later, a large shadow looms over me.

When I look up and see Harlen, I brace myself because of the look on his face. He takes a seat where Brie was but keeps his elbows to his knees, turning only his head in my direction.

“I never got a chance to thank you for what you did,” he says, looking into my eyes, and my chest gets tight. “Thank you.”

“I…. You’re welcome. But I’m not sure I did anything,” I say quietly.

“She would have been alone. She would have gone through that alone if you hadn’t been there with her. So yeah, you did something,” he replies, his jaw getting hard.

“Okay.”

“Anything you need, I got your back.”

I take him in. He’s very good-looking, but also very scary—definitely someone people would walk the other way from in a dark alley. Still, I knew from seeing him with Harmony that he’s also soft and sweet. Well, at least with her he is.

“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever need some muscle,” I joke to ease the tension I feel coming off of him, and he grins.

“You got it if you need it.” He stands then reaches out, touching the top of my head before going across the room directly to Harmony. When he’s close, he slides his arm around her waist and kisses the side of her head. I see her face get soft and know the reason for it, because I’ve felt that exact thing when Cobi has done that to me.

I finish off the last of my wine and get up off the couch, going to the kitchen. When I get there, I see Liz starting to put things away and his aunts washing dishes. I begin to help clear one of the counters of food, but stop when a hand gently smooths down the back of my head and lips touch my cheek. I look at Liz standing at my side, and she gives me a small smile. “You doin’ okay, honey?”

She’s asked me that question a lot the last few days. She’s called just to ask me if I’m all right, and sent texts asking the same. It feels good that she cares so much, and I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her, Cobi, and Trevor, who have all held my hand every step of the way.

“I’m okay,” I reassure her.

“You don’t need to help with this. We’ve got it under control,” she says, and I look at Cobi’s aunts, who I can tell have done this before.

“I don’t mind.”

“I know you don’t, but I do. You need to relax. Really, you should probably have Cobi take you home so you can get some rest. It’s been a long day for you.”

“I—”

“Sweetheart, just give in,” Sophie says, coming toward us and cutting me off. “She’s not going to let up. Plus, she isn’t wrong. It’s been a long day, so you should go home, take a bath, and relax.”

“Mom’s not wrong, and neither is Aunt Sophie,” Cobi states, coming into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around me from behind, and resting his chin on my shoulder. “I was just coming to find you to tell you it’s time to head out.”

“I want to help clean up.” I turn my head to look at him.

“Like Liz and Sophie said, we’ve got it, honey,” his aunt November says, while his aunt Lilly nods in agreement. “Go on home and rest.”

“I—”

“Please,” Liz murmurs, resting her hand on the side of my face. “I know you want to help, but you can do that by letting us take care of you.”

“Oh, all right.” I sigh, and Cobi chuckles, moving from behind me and taking my hand.

“Say goodnight, baby.”

“You’re really annoying when you’re bossy,” I tell him, and his mom and aunts all laugh while he just kisses the side of my head. Before we go, I say goodnight to everyone, including Brie and Kenyon, and then Cobi takes me out to his truck and settles me inside.