Page 80 of Pretty Little Scars

I bark out a laugh, catching Sylvester’s attention. “Don’t worry so much.”

“She’s the reason Ibreathe, Darby. Of course I’m worried.”

“Okay, you can worry a little. But Millie’s as tough as it gets. She’s going to do so great. Kiss her for me, and I’ll see you soon to give you hugs.”

“Thanks for talking me off the edge.”

“It’s usually the other way around, so I’m happy I could help. You’re everyone’s rock, Holden. It’s okay to lean on us a little too. I love you.”

“Love you, too, kiddo. I’ll see you later.”

I hang up and smile up at the sunshine.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

TUCKER

It’s been a week of having Darby in my bed, my house, my kitchen. She helps with the ranch, and gets called out with Dr. Fisher fairly often, and we’ve settled into a rhythm.

Into adanceof sorts, as if it’s easy. As if we were always supposed to be here, just like this. She makes me laugh like no one else can, and she’s so fucking smart.

Way smarter than me.

The garden beds and greenhouse are fully planted and soon will be bursting at the seams with produce and flowers, and she lovingly tends to them every day, even in the rain. And Sylvester follows close to her heels, as if he also got the memo that she’s fucking special.

She fits so seamlessly, I wonder if it should alarm me. If it should put me on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But so far, I’m enjoying the fuck out of her.

And enjoying fucking her.

Xander’s plane just landed, and I pull up to the curb of the tiny airport outside Bitterroot Valley, waiting for him. It only takes minutes for him to appear at the passenger side of my truck, just a backpack on his shoulder.

Of course, he has a house here, and he’s only here for thirty-six hours.

“Hey,” he says as he sits next to me and buckles up. “Fuckingfinally.”

Xander hasn’t been home since late last year. The hockey season is long and keeps him away for months at a time.

“Welcome home,” I say as I pull away from the airport, headed toward Xander’s house. “Easy flight?”

“It’s always an easy flight from Denver,” he replies. “How’s everyone?”

“Happy to have you home,” I reply and glance over to see his lips turn up. My younger brother is fuckingexcellentat what he does, but we’re a tight family, and it’s rough for him to go long periods between seeing us. “We’re doing dinner at the ranch tonight.”

“Good. Who’s cooking?”

I laugh and give him the look that saysReally?“Obviously I am. But Darby made dessert.”

“Ah yes, tell me all about her. I get to meet her, and I’m looking forward to that. Don’t worry, I won’t steal her.”

I snort and shake my head. “You could try, but you’d get nowhere.”

“So, things are good?”

“Yeah. She’s awesome, and she enjoys the ranch. You’ll meet her later.”

She’s almost too good to be true.

“What’s going on with you? Are you okay?” I eye him again as I turn off the highway onto his long driveway. “Talk to me.”