“Hey, man.” Tall and gangly, Mickey Taggart had genes that let him eat whatever the hell he wanted and not put on an ounce of weight. His hair was blond and long, tied back in a tail, and he wore black-rimmed glasses. He was Dylan’s work colleague, and thinking about it now, likely the closest to an actual friend he had.

“Thanks for coming.” Dylan stepped in and hugged him. He felt the shock, but Mickey then hugged him back. He’d never got this close to him before.

Yet more proof he was changing. More proof that coming back to Ryker Falls had opened him up inside.

“You’d do it for me.”

“I would.” Dylan nodded.

He heard voices, and looking to the door, watched Charlie walk in, followed by the Trainers... all of them, including Piper. Cubby Hawker and Ted were last through the door.

“Are you okay?” Charlie came to his side.

“Yes. You?” He dragged his eyes from Piper.

“Yes.” She touched his jaw. “What happened?”

“Accident. I’m sorry I spoke to you the way I did earlier, Charlie. I didn’t mean it.”

She rose to her toes and kissed his cheek. “I know.”

He introduced everyone to Mickey. “Why are you all here?”

“Because we want to clear our cousin’s name, and to do that, we need to make sure that whoever’s after you isn’t using her for that.” Jack Trainer said the words. They were cool and calm, giving away nothing.

His eyes went to Piper again, who wouldn’t look at him.

They’d opened their arms and welcomed him into their lives and wanted nothing from him in return but friendship, and now they all stared at him like he was a stranger. Dylan would be lying to himself if he said that didn’t hurt.

“I’m sorry, I reacted without thinking.” He said the words to everyone in the room but it was Piper they were meant for.

“You reacted without thinking?” Mickey whistled. “I’ve never seen that happen in all the time I’ve worked with you. Then there’s that hug you gave me, and saying stuff like you just did out loud.” He shook his head, sending the blond tail swinging. “You should have come home years ago if this is the effect it has on you.”

“It hasn’t worked out so good, as it turns out.” Dylan still had his eyes on Piper.

“He cares for my cousin, but not enough to stop him believing she poisoned his mother.” Joe’s words had a cold edge to them, and Dylan remembered that hard, mean look in the eldest Trainer’s eyes from his youth.

“Cares?” Mickey frowned. “Poisoned?”

He didn’t care for people usually, as was evidenced by his colleague’s reaction, but he didn’t have time to dwell on that now.