Warner toes off his boots, hangs his jacket over a chair in the corner, then climbs onto the mattress beside me. Only he keeps his jeans on and lies on top of the covers. Before I can direct him to take his pants off and actually get in bed with me, he curves his body around mine, becoming the perfect big spoon.

“Can I ask you something?” His question brushes against my ear, bringing warmth and the smell of him.

“With all the questions I’m always throwing at you, I think you’re due.”

Warner chuckles, and I love the feel of the vibration against my back. “Abram, Byron, Carver, Donovan … Zoey? Do you have twenty-one more siblings wandering around Denver?”

A goofy smile spreads across my face. “Mom liked the ABC idea, but after five kids, she said she was officially done. Skipping to the end of the alphabet was her way of making that point. And getting her tubes tied.”

I expect Warner to snort or maybe start chuckling again. But he stays silent, and the quiet makes me curious enough to turn. When my eyes catch on Warner’s face, I read a mixture of amusement, bafflement, and an eerie level of focus.

“I want to meet your mom.”

“Really? You want to meet more of my family? Even after them?” My fingers flick toward the bedroom door.

Warner gazes at me, and again, he surprises me when he doesn’t immediately offer up a joke. Instead, he murmurs a determined, “Yes.”

The one word leaves me reeling, and I answer with the first thought that comes to my mind.

“I don’t think she’ll come to Pine Falls. She’s never been back since she left.”

His mouth struggles against a frown, and eventually, he leans in to press a gentle kiss against my forehead.

“We’ll figure it out. Time for you to sleep. I’ll ask more questions later.”

46

WARNER

I wait until she’s asleep before sliding away. Before I even leave the bedroom, I know that all of Zoey’s brothers are still awake. Discovering their sister broken and bleeding had to be a shock. It takes time for that to wear off.

When I walk down the hall into the main room, four sets of eyes focus on me.

The Gunner boys are gathered around the kitchen table, each one clutching a hand of cards, and the two I think are Byron and Carver have beers beside them.

“How’s she doing?” Abram throws out the question, sounding almost angry about having to ask it.

More like having to ask me.

“She’s sleeping.” I want to be back with her, lying close in that bed, making sure that each one of her precious breaths is still coming.

But I have questions.

I wish I didn’t. The answers probably aren’t going to help warm them to the idea of Zoey staying in Pine Falls.