Just that she wouldn’t be with me. I swallowed back my frustration, trying to remember everything that she had been through over the years. To her, nothing was worth the risk of running into her brother. “I’m not leaving you here alone. Not with everything that’s been going on.”

She opened her mouth as if to argue and then closed it again. “I’ll call Caelyn and see if I can stay with them this weekend.”

I nodded, but it was stiff. “You’ll have fun with the kids.”

Shay’s mouth curved, but it didn’t seem completely authentic. “Mia’s been asking to have a slumber party for weeks.”

“It’s perfect, then.” But it didn’t feel that way. It felt as if a giant wall had just been erected between us, and I wasn’t sure if either of us could scale it to reach the other side.

41

Shay

“Thanks again for picking me up at the docks and letting me stay—”

“Oh, stop it,” Caelyn said as we walked up to her and Griffin’s farmhouse. “You’ve thanked me enough already, and the girls are so excited about our party.”

“Sleepover!” little Mia shouted as Caelyn pushed open the door.

Caelyn turned to me. “See?”

I chuckled. It was the first time in days that I’d made the sound. Things had been painfully awkward with Brody. As if for the first time, we both knew this thing between us might not work out as we’d planned. I shook my head. I wouldn’t entertain those thoughts. This weekend was all about fun. Griffin was taking Caelyn’s brother, Will, camping, so it was just us girls.

Mia flew at me, wrapping her arms around my legs. “Are you ready for our party?”

I grinned down at the little girl. “I hope so. I brought nail polish. Think we should do manicures?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “That’s my favorite. I have extra sparkles we can use.”

“Perfect.”

“Hey, Shay,” Ava greeted from the hallway.

“Hi, Ava. Thanks for letting me sleep over.”

She ducked her head but smiled. “It’s going to be fun.”

Griffin and Will hurried into the entryway. Griffin gave Caelyn a long, slow kiss that had me averting my gaze. “You sure you guys will be okay?”

“As I’ve said time and again, we’ll be just fine. The security system is on, pizza has been ordered. We’re going to be living the dream while you two are out freezing your butts off.”

Griffin’s lips twitched. “Good thing I have you to warm me up when I get back.”

Will made a gagging noise. “Can we please get going so I don’t have to listen to this anymore?”

Caelyn gave her brother a hug and ruffled his hair even though he was almost a foot taller than she was. “Be safe.”

“Yes, Mom,” Will chided.