“See?” Heather grinned at me. “Buckshot would work every time.”

Goodness gracious. I didn’t need to envision Heather walking around with a shotgun slung over her shoulder, even if I knew she could handle it just fine. She grew up on a farm. Hunting was a way of life, as was shooting coyotes and other predators to keep their cattle safe.

“It’s sweet you’re all so protective.”

“Nonsense.” Tracy rubbed my shoulder before finally pulling her arm from behind me. “You’re family. It’s what we do.”

Heather smirked. “And now she’s really family.”

“And speaking of…” Tracy sipped her wine and set it on the ledge. “Be kind to him, okay? And be patient. We all know he thinks he’s still wrapped up in Ava, but as his mom, and I shouldn’t even be saying this probably—”

“When has that ever stopped you—” Chuck muttered.

Tracy rolled her eyes. “He’s over her, he’s just not over the guilt that he didn’t give her what she needed. That’s Kane’s problem. He’s a protector to his core, a problem solver, and he knows he put hockey in front of his relationship. Don’t get me wrong, we adore Ava. Absolutely still love her and we’re so thrilled for her with this new man she has, but Kane’s problem isn’t that he still loves her, it’s that he didn’t protect her.”

My gut flipped as she spoke. I wasn’t so sure she was right about that, not based on the look Kane made when her name was mentioned.

Plus, there was the ardent expression he gave when I realized he still loved her. I always will.

Yeah, didn’t sound like Mama Andrews knew what she was talking about, but considering Chuck and Heather both nodded, I didn’t argue.

“Okay,” I said instead.

“And I know this isn’t real,” she kept going. “I know you two will become great friends, though, I’m sure of that. And if it ends, or when it’s set to end, just make sure you two are truly on the same page with it. Don’t walk away if you don’t want, and without fighting for it.”

“You’re making it sound like I wouldn’t want to walk away. He’s helping me, I know the score. And I know where I’m at.”

“Do you, though?” Her brows arched in a classic Kane move.

Of course I did.

I wasn’t going to fall in love with Heather’s brother. Not when he’d so succinctly told me he’d never love me back.

But if Tracy was right…

“Room in there for me?”

I jumped at the sound of Kane’s voice. “Hey. You’re home.”

He must have seen my red and swollen eyes because he glared at his mom. “What’d you do to her? Or say?”

“Nothing.” She shrugged and grabbed her drink. “Just a girl talk. Climb on in, honey.”

Kane’s hot tub was large enough for eight at least, but he and Chuck weren’t small men and since Heather and her dad were on the opposite side of Tracy and me, Kane climbed into the hot tub and slid into the seat next to me.