And again, she got it. She and Tanner had hit so much white water, it was a wonder they weren’t crushed against the rocks.

They weren’t and Garrett was pleased as all hell they’d finally hit smooth.

“Have a feeling you’ll be meeting her and Ethan in a different way soon, though,” he told her.

“That’d make me happy.”

What would make his sister happy was knowing her brother was happy.

And he was happy. Cher putting on that dress for him. Cher giving him all she gave in the variety of ways she gave it the last two days. Seeing all she made in her son—funny like her, a smartass in a good way like her, a scrapper who doesn’t take shit just like Cherie, and loyal, so fucking loyal, it was beautiful.

Yeah.

Garrett was happy.

He just hoped he had it in him this time not to turn it to shit.

“Right, seein’ as I got plans tomorrow to spend time with my niece, I’m gonna spend some time with my girl while she’s at work,” he started. “Lettin’ you go so I can get at least fifteen minutes of some football in so I don’t start gettin’ the shakes before I get behind the wheel of a vehicle.”

“Best let you do that,” she muttered.

“Rocky?” he called.

“Yeah, Merry?”

“Love my little sister,” he said.

That got him silence again before she gave it back. “And love my big brother. See you tomorrow, Merry.”

“See you then, honey.”

They disconnected.

He’d thrown his phone on the bar and was heading toward his couch when a loud banging came at the door.

He hadn’t been home for ten minutes, but he knew from the insistent sound, not to mention the ’burg buzzing, who was standing outside on the landing.

He didn’t want to head that way, but he did because it had to happen eventually. He reckoned he might as well get that ball rolling now.

He checked the peephole and saw he was right because outside was a woman who was pissed for what Garrett considered no reason, which made him pissed, even though he knew he should keep a lock on it.

He didn’t.

He opened the door.

“What? Do you have cameras on me?” he asked, knowing that was not the way to lead, but he was angry Mia was not getting his message and he was not a big fan of her banging on his door.

He wasn’t surprised when she shoved in, taking two strides into the room before turning on him.

She threw out her hands, face full of rage. “Are you serious with this shit, Merry?”

He closed the door, using that time to pull himself together, and turned to her. “We gotta talk.”

“Yeah.” She took those two steps back to him and shoved his chest with one hand, doing it hard enough, his shoulder rocked back. “We fucking do.”

He wasn’t big on her shoving him either.