“Sure, if humans were an endangered species or something.” I immediately regretted my brash words when he looked away. “You know there’s life outside Alba, Robbie. You don’t have to date within town limits just because you’re all grown-up now.”

“True,” he admitted with a cringe. “Oh man, I bet you’re not ready yet, huh? Shit, that was a dick move.”

“What, asking me out after Art Daniels pulled a gun on me?”

He blinked. “No, I mean, maybe you’re not ready to date yet…” His eyebrows rose.

Seriously.

“Oh. I’m okay, really. Not that I don’t miss Sullivan, but it’s been six years.” Time moved slower in small towns, I supposed. I’d healed my heart in the years I’d spent at college, but everyone here acted like we’d buried him last week.

Guess I was still supposed to be traumatized.

“Right. Good for you, keeping strong,” he said with a nod and a pat on my back before answering a summons from the group at the edge of the tree line.

It was too dark to make out who they were, but my bet was the usual suspects—sans Dad. Had Dad been here, he would have gone ballistic.

Xander headed for Mr. Daniels, and I found myself drawn to Cam’s side just like a million times before.

“I still can’t believe you’re here,” I said before I thought better of it. Mouth, engage filter.

“Me either.” His eyes stayed locked on Xander and his dad. “What were you doing out here?” he snapped.

“Looking for your father.” I bristled at his tone.

“Well, you sure as hell found him.”

“I help search all the time. It’s no big deal.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked.

“And how many times has he pulled a gun on you?” His gaze swung slowly to mine, and the darkness was suddenly more of a blessing than ever. I saw enough in those eyes to know he was pissed.

“Never. And I’m sure Xander will lock up the guns and it won’t happen again.”

Cam scoffed. “Yeah, okay. He could have shot you.”

“Well, he did shoot you.” I poked his armor-plated vest.

A ghost of a smile passed over his lips, and I nearly crowed in victory.

“Looks like he’s about ready to go,” Cam noted as Mr. Daniels shook off Gideon’s offered arm to help him across the uneven terrain. “Still stubborn as ever,” he muttered as his father approached.

“Must run in the genes, or did you not remember me warning you that he wasn’t going to remember you?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. Cam had always done better if he could turn the hurt into something laughable. Not that this was.