“Well, you have someone looking into the business with Charlie, and your mom and dad are being cared for and will recover. I think you focus on Ava.”

“I think Zander’s involved.”

“No way. Really? I mean, he’s not my favorite person, but that’s because I can’t relate to him, but from what Ava’s tells me he genuinely cares for her.”

“He’s close to her, how could he not know, Piper?”

“I didn’t think about that, but I guess he could know. But we’ve all heard the stories about doctors, moms and dads, and everyday people who take cocaine and no one was aware of it.”

“Yeah, I guess, but I think he knows, and maybe that’s because he’s a user too.”

She stopped, then turned the stroller around.

“Right, let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To the garage. You can talk to him now.”

“I’m not taking you with me to do that,” Dylan protested.

“Sure you are. I’m a mother now and need the stimulation, because most of the time I’m conversing with a one-year-old or my cousins, and let’s face it, not a hell of a lot of difference there.”

“I’m telling them you said that.”

“You can try but I’d deny it, and they’d believe me over you.”

Dylan looked down at her. Her cheeks were pink from being outside in the cool weather.

“We can’t just say to him, ‘Hey, Zander, are you selling drugs to my sister.’”

She gave him a look that had him wanting to grab her and kiss her senseless.

“Obviously. We’re just going to see him and have a casual chat. You’re then going to ask him if Ava has been sick before, because they’ve found stuff in her blood results.”

“You’re pushy, you know that? And I’m sure this is wrong on so many levels.”

“Sure, but then you can buy me lunch at A.S. because again, I’m a poor parent, and you’re not.”

“Pushy and manipulative.”

“Dylan.” She touched his chest. He couldn’t feel her hand, but heat radiated through him.

“What?”

“I’m here, and I’m your friend.”

He placed his hand over hers and leaned in to kiss her right there on the street.

“Ditto.”

“Friends don’t kiss like that,” she muttered, taking off up the street.

He had nothing to smile about, but one found its way onto his face. Reaching her side, he adjusted his stride.

They probably looked like a family with their little girl, and wasn’t that a terrifying thought. No really, isn’t it? If felt good to be out here with her and Grace, way too good, but he didn’t fight it, not right now. He was still reeling from the news about his little sister.

Chapter 27