“I don’t have time to get dressed up.”

“Please, you act like none of us could possibly pick out an outfit for you. I could be you for Halloween and freaking kill it. Bet.” She wiggled her nose at me.

“Fine. Make it happen, Bear.” Delight reached her eyes. She was still my little sister and it was fun to make her happy.

“Send me your flights and stuff. I can’t wait to see you.” Teddi blew me a kiss.

She and Ruffian had visited a few months ago, and Mom and Dad had popped by right after the holidays.

I had run long enough. It was time. And I said goodbye to Endgame. I was trying to leave the guilt I felt where he was concerned in France as well.

My business had flourished. I had meetings set up back in the States almost immediately after returning. As I hefted my carry-on and boarded the plane, I kept thinking that I had to reset my brain without expectations as far as Taylor was concerned. She had a whole year without me.

I thought I’d be able to sleep on the plane, but I could only drift in and out. I was keyed up.

When I grabbed my suitcase from the carousel, it was seven in the morning in New York. On the sidewalk of LaGuardia Airport, Teddi flailed both her arms until I saw her. She took off running and I got ready for her. People would have thought we hadn’t seen each other in ten years.

I scooped her up as Ruffian waited in the driver’s seat of his car. “Teddi Bear.”

“Austin Bear. I love you, thank you for coming back.”

I set her on her feet and she started pulling my big suitcase. Ruffian was holding the fort, watching the policeman whose job it was to keep cars from lingering. The trunk popped open and I took my bag from Teddi and hefted it inside. She climbed in the back of the car and yanked on my arm until I sat next to her.

“We’re going to the mall a few miles away and get ready for the Bride Day there.”

She curled up against my shoulder after she buckled her seatbelt.

I held a hand over the seat to Ruffian after he was done merging back onto the highway. “My man.”

“Big A. Good on you for getting back in the good U.S. of A.” He smiled at me in the rearview mirror.

“Got to say, I loved France, though. So peaceful.”

Teddi leaned forward so she could look in my face. “Where are you staying? Have you even made a plan yet?”

“No, my Type A sister. Some people just go places and hope it works out.”

“That’s fine.” Her eyelid twitched.

“You can always stay with us. We have an extra bedroom.” She motioned to Ruffian.