AUGUST ARRIVED WITH sweltering heat and too many tourists, but as Tobias put the last of his tools away and wiped the sweat from his brow, he knew better than to bitch about the little shit. He was with a woman he adored, and he loved being able to treat her to dinners and kiss her whenever he felt like it. He had a job he enjoyed, and he had his freedom. Life was pretty damn good. He grabbed his water bottle from the grass and guzzled it down just as Zander ran out the front door of the carriage house they were renovating, laughing his ass off. Zeke was on his heels and swatted the back of his head. Tobias chuckled.

It was hard to believe that nearly two weeks ago he’d been nervous about taking a job with Madigan’s father and brothers. He hadn’t wanted to accept a handout, but he’d needed the work and wasn’t about to let his pride stand in his way. He’d always miss fighting, but it felt great to be doing something physical again, and Preacher was tough but fair. He expected them to work hard and treat each other, and their clients, with respect. Tobias had been pleasantly surprised when they’d put him to work without any animosity. He’d known things were going to be okay halfway through his first day, when Zander started singing “Like a Virgin” and had turned it into a song about Zeke. They’d quickly roped him into the banter, and that amicable friendship had continued ever since.

He was glad, because there was nothing better than being with Madigan, free to openly adore her, treat her to dinners, and kiss her whenever he felt like it. They’d gotten lucky during their visit after breakfast with her family, and his grandfather had experienced a brief period of lucidity. He’d told embarrassing stories about when Tobias, aka Toby, was young, charming his way into Madigan’s heart so deeply, they were having dinner with him tomorrow night. But Tobias felt lucky on many fronts. With the exception of Blaine, who was keeping his distance and staring him down, Tobias was enjoying the friendships he was building with her brothers and cousins. They’d had dinner with Maverick and Chloe last week, and he’d learned more about their families. Maverick had lost his mother to suicide when he was young, and Chloe’s mother sounded worthless. The three of them had bonded over their losses and heartaches. It was a strange thing, connecting over bad situations, but he was realizing that everyone had things to overcome and baggage to carry. And it wasn’t so much about how much baggage a person had, but how it was carried, and while he’d thought he needed to carry his alone, he was realizing that having others to lean on was a hell of a lot healthier and more enjoyable.