Page 48 of Hearts on the Mend

Muffins? Brave. No wonder the back seat of her Jeep is trashed.

“Do you hear that, guys?” Ruby jumps to her feet, swiping Noodles off the table, along with her breakfast.

“Hear what?” Cassie asks, grabbing a banana from the counter for herself.

“There’s a fire. We have to go! Suit up.”

We both chuckle before I nod my goodbye over my cup of coffee. Cassie quickly does the same before popping back into the kitchen, clutching the doorway as she leans back. “Thanks, Nolan.”

I choke on my sip of coffee, pulling my attention away from her beautiful smile to the cold, gray day blowing outside. The whole house rattles and groans. “Have a good day,” I call out as she races down the hallway toward the front door. Her reply is muffled when Ruby pretends to turn on sirens.

Since then, I’ve been fighting for my life, dealing with the crumbling plaster on the first floor. It’s been five weeks since I started work in the house, and I’d say progress is slow, but it’s actually coming along faster than I expected. I work day and night, and with Cassie helping me when Ruby is in school, it’s making everything go by faster.

My dad was right. It is a good distraction, but it’s also complicated.

I shove aside every impulse I have to speak up, to touch her, to bring it up. Cassie has enough to deal with, and she’s made it clear this is all temporary for her. She’s going to land somewhere else, and I’m determined to head back to Montana for the spring. If more for us means messy, then I’ll do what I promised and fix the house.

Annie calls as I’m pouring myself my third cup of coffee. “Nollie!”

“Hi, Annie,” I chuckle.

“It’s your favorite sister calling you to say hello and make sure you’re alive.”

“You’re my only sister, and yes, I’m alive. How’s school?”

I can’t tell where she is, but it’s loud. “Oh, fine. I called for gossip. Tell me why you moved out on Mum and Dad.”

Not a chance I’m sharing the real reason. “Got a job.” I lean back against the counter, pinning my phone between my ear and shoulder so I can top off my coffee.

“That’s funny because Sloane and Jack told me you moved in with a woman and her kid.”

“They’re not wrong.”

“That’s it? You’re just going to leave me hanging?”

I scrub a hand over my jaw, already regretting picking up. “Can I call you back later?” Sure, I was about to take a break, but I don’t feel like being under a microscope either.

“I’m coming home in March. You better be there and not run off again. I miss you.”

I hear the sadness in her voice, and I hate it. It seems like Annie is always trying to catch up to me. I set the coffee pot down harder than I mean to.

“Miss you too, Annie. Call me later. I want to hear about school.”

“Sure you do,” she teases. “Glad you’re hanging in there. Be smart and don’t do dumb shit.”

I grin into the phone. I told her that once, and it stuck as our goodbye.

I stretch, sip my coffee, and then my phone buzzes again, this time with a text from Cassie.

Cassie: He didn’t show. Ruby is crushed.

The fucking asshole.

Nolan: Why?

Listen, I know Cassie and Ruby are supposed to mean nothing to me. But that line is blurring, and I’ll do anything to see the two of them happy.

Cassie: Busy. A heads-up would have been nice. Hate seeing her so sad.