When he was gone, Gavin stood there for a beat in shock. But he shouldn’t have been shocked at all. He was pretty sure he was all too easy to walk away from.

He meant to go home. That would’ve been the smart thing. Something he apparently wasn’t, because he drove to CJ’s. “You’re an idiot,” he told himself as he got out and knocked.

No answer. Shock. He tried the door. Unlocked. Fair game then, and he pushed it open and stepped inside.

CJ appeared in the living room, gun in hand. “Jesus,” he breathed, then lowered his gun hand, using his other to rub his eyes. “It’s like you want me to kill you.”

Gavin slammed the door behind him. “Okay, yeah, so I used to run.” He stalked toward CJ, who was still armed and clearly still pissed off as well. Gavin didn’t care. He was over this, over paying for his sins and not getting any credit for changing. “But maybe I grew up.”

“Maybe?”

“Yeah,” Gavin said. “And maybe I also know I’ve got a lot to make up for, but I didn’t expect you of all people to not believe in me. Because in spite of how we ended, I’ve never broken my word to you.”

“Maybe there’s a first time for everything.”

This stopped Gavin in his tracks. CJ didn’t believe in him. But hell, he’d never believed in himself all that much, so why was he so surprised that CJ didn’t? Sick, he pulled off the leather bracelet, tossed it onto the coffee table, and left.

And CJ let him.

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, Cam found himself hiking up to Rainbow Peak, a popular hiking area three hundred feet above the lake on the bluffs. He was with his dad, Winnie, Gavin, and Piper, and they weren’t there for the spectacular views.

His heart beat heavy in his chest as they bypassed the trailhead for a narrow trail that Emmitt and Piper said only a very few locals knew existed. It led to an overhang where one could stand above the water and get a view of what felt like the entire world. Directly below was the gorgeous blue lake. Beyond that, a blanket of lush green hills holding ranches and wineries for as far as the eye could see.

Cam supposed it was as good a day for a funeral as it could be.

Winnie was wearing the sundress she said was the last thing Rowan had seen her in. But because it was winter, she was also wearing tights, boots, and a jacket—none of it black. She’d forbidden any of them from wearing black, saying Rowan would’ve hated that.

Emmitt wore shorts and a T-shirt that he’d worn the last time he and Rowan had gone fishing. No jacket.