I watched as Caelyn’s head tipped back as she laughed. Everything about it was free and unencumbered. Simply letting her joy at being with the people she loved flow out of her. I knew without a doubt that she was the best thing that had happened to me after losing my family. I just hoped I brought some of that same light into her life, as well. I wasn’t so sure.

“What the hell?” Hunter muttered. “Who is that?”

I turned, following Hunter’s stare. There, at the edge of my property, stood a photographer, telephoto lens fixed firmly on our gathering.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Crosby barked. “Will, watch the steaks.”

Hunter and Crosby jogged towards the fence line. I started to follow, but Ford placed a hand firmly on my chest. “Don’t. This creep wants a shot of you. A story. Don’t give them that.”

My back molars ground together. He was right, of course. But since I was sixteen, I’d always been the one to fight my battles. No one had stood between me and whatever shitty thing was headed my way. Not until Caelyn came between that reporter and me, using her muffin basket to defend my honor. But now it seemed I had more than just her. I had what seemed like the beginnings of a community.

I gave Ford a chin jerk, and he took off to follow Hunter and Crosby. Caelyn was instantly by my side. “I’m so sorry, Griffin.”

I tipped my face down to take her in, worry lining the curves of her face. “Why are you sorry? None of this is your fault.”

She didn’t seem so sure. “If my friends hadn’t come over, they probably wouldn’t have bothered you.”

I hated the guilt that filled her tone. That these vulture reporters were trying to ruin our evening. I took Caelyn’s hand and tugged her closer to me, locking my fingers with hers. “I’m done not living my life because of these jerks. I’ll do what I can to keep them away, but I’m not hiding anymore. I’m not giving pieces of my existence away because there’s a chance it might get splashed across some headline.”

Caelyn’s hand squeezed mine. “I could always threaten them with a muffin basket.”

I let out a bark of laughter. “It seemed to work pretty well the last time.”

Mia came running up to me with Luci in her arms. “What’s going on? Who are Crosby and Hunter chasing? Is that the man who threw the brick?”

My gut clenched at the worry and fear in her expression. “No, Little Bit.” I lifted her and Luci into my arms. “Sometimes, people try and take photos of me. They go places they shouldn’t be.”

Her eyes widened. “Because you’re a magic giant?”