I leaned back in one of the lounges by the pool, tugging my hoodie a little tighter. I stared up at the stars as if they might have the answers I was looking for. If they did, they weren’t speaking tonight.

A throat cleared, and I looked in the direction it had come from. Mason extended a mug. “Thought you might be able to use some hot chocolate.”

I took the mug. “If it’s that epic mix you used last time, the answer is yes.”

“I don’t mess around when it comes to hot chocolate.”

“Good to know.”

He wrapped his hands around his mug. “Can I join you?”

“Of course.” It was his house. His pool. His land. He could go wherever he wanted.

Mason eased down onto the other side of the lounge. “How do you feel?”

“Exhausted.” I was tired down to my bones. Lyla and Justin had been shaken after their time with Sadie. Not because she hadn’t tried her best to go gently, but some hard questions had to be asked, and I knew Justin had needed to lay a weight at her feet. Instead of going out for pizza afterwards, Mason had gone to get us all takeout. We’d eaten in front of a movie in the family room.

“I think she’s on our side.”

I shifted so I faced Mason, my legs tucked under me. “What makes you say that?”

He took a sip of his hot chocolate and then set it on a side table. “Just a gut feeling.”

“I hope your gut is right.” We needed Sadie on our team. To report to the court that we were the best caregivers for Justin and Lyla. Without her vote of confidence, our custody case would be even more of an uphill battle than it already was.

We were quiet for a minute, soaking in the quiet night. There was a serene beauty to Mason’s home. Everything felt calmer here. If it were mine, I’d never want to leave. I blew on my drink before taking a sip. “Does your sister visit much?” I’d seen photos around the house from various phases of life. The two of them seemed close, but he rarely talked about her.

Mason grimaced. “She’s pretty busy with law school right now.”

“What’s with the frown? You don’t want her to be a lawyer?”

“I’m not frowning.”

I tried to copy his expression. “That’s what your face looked like. Not exactly a happy reaction.”

Amusement lit his eyes. “That is pretty bad. No, I want her to do whatever makes her happy.”

“So, why the face?”

He sighed, turning so he faced me more fully. “Juliette is overprotective…”

He let the sentence hang, and I filled in the rest. “She’s not happy you married me.”