Page 284 of Faking the Goal

Despite everything, I can't help smiling.

Caroline has always been like this. The kind of person who loves loudly and worries just as loudly, who never hesitates to drop everything the moment someone she cares about needs her.

"I'm okay," I reassure her with a soft chuckle, pulling her into another hug because somehow she looks like she needs it almost as much as I do. "Really. The detective actually just left."

Only then does some of the tension leave her shoulders.

Everyone eventually migrates toward the living room, claiming whatever seat is closest. Caroline settles beside me while Kentaro takes his usual place at my side, his leg brushing against mine in quiet reassurance. Zach drops into the recliner across from us, and the twins sprawl over the other couch while Cody leans against the armrest, all of them waiting patiently for one of us to start talking.

So... we do.

Kentaro fills in the parts he witnessed, while I explain everything Detective Matthews and I discussed on the deck. I tell them about the memories that came flooding back after seeing the kitten. About Snowy. About Charlie. About finally remembering who had been haunting me all these months and how Detective Matthews was already working on obtaining my foster care records so they could identify the family I stayed with when I was six. By the time we're finished, the room has fallen into a thoughtful silence, everyone quietly trying to process the weight of everything they'd just heard.

It is Cody who finally breaks it.

"Well," he says, rubbing both hands over his jeans before looking directly at me, "I think we can all agree on one thing."

I raise an eyebrow.

"You're not going anywhere by yourself."

"I wasn't asking," Luke chimes in before I can even respond. "That was a statement."

Liam nods in agreement. "Classes, grocery runs, coffee, the library, wherever. If Kent can't be with you, one of us will."

I stare at the three of them, momentarily speechless.

"You guys really don't have to do that."

Three heads shake in perfect synchronization.

"Yeah," Cody says. "We kind of do."

"And before you argue," Luke adds, pointing a warning finger at me, "save your breath."

"We already know what you're gonna say," Liam continues. "'I don't want to be a burden.' 'You don't have to change your lives because of me.'"

He pitches his voice high enough that everyone immediately knows he's mocking me.

"I do not sound like that."

"You absolutely do."

A reluctant laugh escapes me, earning three satisfied grins.

"Besides," Cody says, his expression softening again, "you're Kent's girl."

Heat immediately creeps into my cheeks.

"And that automatically makes you family," Luke finishes with a shrug, like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"Our family," Liam corrects. "Which means that psycho isn't just messing with you anymore."

"He's messing with all of us."

The room grows quiet again, but this time it isn't heavy.

It's reassuring.