Page 128 of Small Town, Big Storm

His mouth hitches up.“You’re a psychic now?”

“No.”I touch his cheek.“But I did overhear you guys arguing this morning.”My heart pulses, because the pain in both of their voices, the anger and hurt and frustration…

I decide I hate Norm Harrison even more than I previously had.

“I’m fine,” he says.“We’refine,” he adds when I start to protest.“Probably better than fine.I feel like we’re finally getting somewhere.It’s just…” A sigh.“We’ve lost a lot of time.”Regret ripples through his expression.“I’vemissed out on a lot of time with you and Holly.”

Guilt sits heavy on my lungs.

Because he’s right.

“I’m not going to waste any more of it.”He cups my face in his hands.“I swear it, Poppyseed.”

“I know you do.”I cover his hands.“I believe you.”

His eyes go gentle.

“I’m just sorry you missed so much,” I whisper.“I wish I’d—” Losing Storm hurt.Add in losing Sully and my parents…

It was easier to focus on what Ididhave.

And to keep it close and safe.

But Holly deserved better.

And maybe so did I.

“None of this is your fault,” he says fiercely.“Noneof it.”

“None of this is your fault either,” I tell him just as fiercely.

“Right,” he murmurs.

But I can tell he doesn’t believe it, not really.

“Storm,” I begin.

“Bed.”He brushes his lips over my forehead.“Shep and I will finish this and lock up.”

“And when are you going to stop beating yourself up?”

“When areyou?” he counters.

Annoyingly.

Because the regrets are swirling around my mind too.

I wrinkle my nose.

He grins, kissing the tip of it.“Not that easy, is it?”

“Fuck, you two are adorable.”

We turn as one, see that Shep is watching us—no, he’s more than watching us.He’s got his phone up and he’s snapping pictures.

“Yup,” he says, flashing us the screen.“That’ssogoing to make the cover of the Cedar Hollow Gazette.”

Storm jerks, like he’s going to throttle his teammate.