His chest hurt with loss, and regret bubbled up like acid in his throat, and he didn’t know what to do with any of it. Didn’t know how to fix it.

What he did know was that he couldn’t take another minute of his empty apartment, couldn’t stand to spend another second alone with himself.

He grabbed his keys and wallet off the counter, shoved them in his jeans pockets, and headed downstairs to Sunshine’s, slamming the door on the way.

Chapter Thirty-One

Today was about gratitude.

Sierra had reminded herself of that when she’d woken up that morning with an ache of loneliness in her chest.

She’d reminded herself of it numerous times since arriving at Kennedy and Hunter’s house for Thanksgiving dinner—every time she found herself envying her siblings’ relationships with their significant others and every time she noticed Hunter’s dad’s devotion to Loretta, his wife who’d suffered from a stroke a couple of years ago and recovered nearly fully, though she still sometimes got dizzy. Sierra’s parents, though far away in Arizona, had called earlier on video chat to say they missed them all and would see them for Christmas.

She had so much to be grateful for—a family who loved her, a successful, in-demand business, a kick-ass apartment on Hale Street, and some wonderful people for friends. There was Hayden, of course, who was spending the day with her own family, and also Asia, Jackson’s fiancée, who was here for the holiday, along with her sister, Vegas. Sierra had gotten to know Vegas through the Hale Street book club that Vegas started a few months ago, along with a multitude of women who worked or lived in the neighborhood, all of whom had also become Sierra’s friends.

Today, Vegas and Asia had brought their mother along, a quiet, kind woman who had recently completed rehab for alcoholism. Because of that, Kennedy and Hunter had decided not to serve alcohol today, and Sierra fully understood and definitely supported that—except she could really use a drink. It was getting harder to keep her smile pasted on, her upbeat attitude in place.

They’d finished the midafternoon meal a couple of hours ago, and now Hunter, his dad, and Vegas were in the family room watching football. Asia, Jackson, Hunter’s mom, and Hunter’s brother, Miles, were at the dining table playing a game of Scattergories, and Sierra was helping Kennedy cut the pies—pumpkin, cherry, and chocolate pecan—and serve them.

The whole main floor of the house was a big, open area, so the noise level was high, between the sports fans yelling and cheering and the jibes that went along with the board game.