She shoved her hair away from her face—and gross, there was mac and cheese in it—and glared at him. “This is not about me and my feelings.” Upset, she got back to her feet. “This is about you, Gavin, and your drug addiction. The one you hid from me. How is that healthy? Isn’t that against recovery advice, having secrets?”

Gavin’s face closed up, and to her shock, he stood as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he kept his mouth shut and just walked out of the room.

Winnie, after an accusatory, tear-filled glance, followed.

Piper huffed out a breath. “I’m sorry,” she murmured to Cam, and then, needing a moment, stepped out the back door. Deciding maybe she needed several moments, she walked along the hill, going just far enough to stare at the turbulent, choppy lake.

Cam followed her. She heard his footsteps, and was grateful he hadn’t spoken. She turned and looked at him and had to let out a rough laugh.

He was holding the bottle of wine she’d bought at the store earlier.

“Good call,” she said, and took a long pull. She swiped her mouth on her arm and looked him over. “How the hell did you manage to not get a single drop of food on you?”

“I wasn’t in the line of fire.” He took her hand in his. Which meant that he now knew she had sweaty palms, and he could probably hear her pounding pulse as well. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” She shook her head. “No.” She breathed for a minute. “I did warn you it was going to be a shit show. I mean, I know they’re my siblings, but sometimes it’s like we’re strangers.”

“Maybe if you guys talked some more, got everything out.”

“Gavin lost his job and went to rehab. And Winnie is completely unconcerned about missing school . . .”

“Talk to them,” he repeated softly.

“But I don’t even know where to start, at least not without sounding like a judgmental idiot.”

“Start with something easy,” he suggested. “Like . . . Gavin, Winnie . . . you’re my brother and sister, and your life choices are yours to make, and I’ll support you no matter what.”

She choked out a laugh and took another long sip of wine. The liquid courage had her whispering her fear out loud. “What if I can’t say that?”

“Well, then . . .” Cam gave her a very small smile. “Piper, you’re my neighbor, and your life choices are yours to make, and I’ll support you no matter what.”

She started to smile, but felt a sob coming on, so she turned away.

Cam slowly pulled her back around. And then into him.

“Careful,” she said. “I’m covered in—”