“You knew about this!” I shoved him. “Oh, my God!”

He nodded. “He came by the fire station earlier and told me. I didn’t know Halley was coming, but we decided to kill two birds with one stone. Or three, in this case. I already ordered pizza for us all.”

I pursed my lips. “You’re so sly.”

Halley helped herself to my glass of wine. “You’re welcome, asshole.”

“Oh, shut up.” I took the new glass Noah handed me. I won. It had more wine in it than my old one. “I can’t believe you were all scheming behind my back.”

“Scheming is a strong word,” Noah said slowly. “I prefer to think of it more as planning.”

Preston handed Noah a beer and they clinked bottles. “Amen to that.” They both walked through to the living room, leaving me alone with Halley for a minute.

“You’re really going to live with my brother?”

She laughed, adjusting her glasses. “Yep. He was right. He’s always at my house, and you need somewhere comfortable to call home. You’re not ready to move in with Noah, and your parents’ house isn’t it. Plus, he’s your brother, so you can do what the hell you like to the place and he won’t be mad. Win, win.”

“Thank God,” I said, getting up. “Because his kitchen is old.”

“Yeah, I already told him that. There are links saved on my laptop for you.” She grinned. “Let’s go get the remote, or we’ll end up watching some kind of sports again.”

I shuddered. “I’ll be there in a second. I’m just going to let Poosh out.”

“’Kay.”

I put down my glass and patted my leg for Poosh to follow me. I opened the back door to Noah’s spacious yard, and she darted out between my legs. It was a warm evening, so I stepped out after her.

The sun was fading, painting the sky in beautiful shades of blue and orange, and the fresh, clear air wrapped around me like a blanket.

It’d been the craziest several weeks. From the moment Noah texted me that dick pic to right now. I’d lost almost everything in the fire, but ever since then, I’d gained so much more.

I couldn’t help but think back to lying in the hospital bed. I was lucky to escape the way I had with no injuries. The only loss was financial and material, and both of those things could be replaced.

Back then, I’d had no idea that the tattooed, handsome guy who’d saved my life was the guy I’d been talking to for a week. I’d scoffed at Ava for saying it was all fate and destiny or whatever else it was she’d said, but if my apartment building hadn’t gone up in flames, I may never have met Noah.

I’d never have had a reason to.

I lost my home, sure. But in losing it, I’d gained so, so much more.

Noah stepped up behind me and wrapped me in his arms. “Thinking?”