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Mom let out a happy sigh and patted a hand over her heart. “It’s a good thing this is working just fine, because it’s so full to see you all sitting at my table.” She glanced around at all of us, most of us groaning at her joke. She ended with her gaze fixed on Shiloh. “I’m so happy you’re all here.”

Shiloh actually smiled at that, the expression there and gone, but I could tell he was pleased. I bumped him gently and asked if he wanted orange juice, milk, or water to drink.

Before he could answer, we all heard the alert that meant the cameras were going off at the gate, but before anyone could get up to check, Ville waved it away. Since he was in charge of security still, we all let it go. But just a few minutes later, Juanpablo started braying, alerting us all to someone coming up the drive. Molly joined him, her braying somehow even more shrill. Though the donkey and the donkra did not share a pasture—Juanpablo hated anyone or anything in his territory—she’d found a home in the one next door. She wasn’t alerting the way the jack was, only responding to his call.

“Ville?” Dad raised a brow, purposefully sweeping his gaze around the table, his meaning clear. Who was coming up the drive when we were all here?

Ville shook his head, but his lips quirked up. That fast, I put the pieces together and pushed my chair back. The front door opened as I stood, and then Wren Paxton walked into the room.

“Oh, good, I made it in time.”

The air left my lungs, because god, it was good to see him. He looked tired, but he was smiling, and I swear my heart clenched. Ever since I met him at five years old, the two of us clicking that very first day of kindergarten, he’d been my best friend. We’d been in each other’s pockets until we graduated high school, and he ran off to pursue music. I was so proud of him for that, but without my anchor right there, I’d been at loose ends. Joining the Marines wouldn’t have happened if Wren had stayed, and even though that ended because of a bad situation, I couldn’t be mad at him for that.

I believed it was my path to be a Marine and his to be an international country music superstar.

I’d kept him at arm’s length for the past couple of years. After everything that happened, the reason I left the service and came home, I couldn’t open up to him. He deserved better, to have me whole, and I couldn’t let him see how broken I’d been. Still was, to a degree. I had more work to do before I let him back in completely. But that didn’t mean laying eyes on the one person who’d always understood me best didn’t fill me with joy.

My feet moved of their own volition, and I crossed the floor fast. I hugged him hard, and he held on just as tight, but pulled away quickly. He gave me a single pat on the shoulder and left me standing there as he jogged around the massive table to first hug Mom and kiss her cheek, then falling down into Ville’s arms.

Something bubbled in my gut, and it took me a second to recognize it as jealousy. There had been a time when he’d given me those sorts of hugs, any time we’d managed to connect, while he was touring and I’d been assigned at different duty stations. But now, Ville had taken my place as his best friend.

I fucking hated it.

I couldn’t blame Wren. I knew it was my own fault. So I shoved down my roiling emotions and tried to smile as I retook my seat. Shiloh put a hand on my arm, but he couldn’t seem to take his gaze off the music legend in our midst.

To be fair, neither could I.

“See?” Payton said, doing a little butt wiggle in his seat. “I told you I knew Wren Paxton. I said he was like my dad’s brother. You didn’t believe me.”

Shiloh nodded slowly, his brown eyes practically engulfing his face. “Your dad has a lot of brothers.”

“Yeah,” Payton agreed with a happy sigh.

Wren made the rounds, hugging and kissing everyone, being introduced to the babies he hadn’t yet met and congratulating Crew and Mal on their nuptials. He ended with Dad, who was seated right next to me, and I thought he would say something else to me, but he purposefully didn’t look my way and he headed back down the length of the table and pulled up a chair between Mom and Ville. Mom helpfully shifted Violet’s highchair to the other side of her, forcing Jerrica to scoot over some.

My heart started hammering and I had the overwhelming need to spirit Wren away from the table to talk to him. But I couldn’t do that. He needed to visit with everyone and I had a little boy beside me who needed me to be present. So I did what I did best, compartmentalized everything and forced myself to eat.

But I made a vow I would get him alone at some point before he left again. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to tell him the truth. I probably wouldn’t. But I needed a little Wren time before he disappeared. Otherwise, I wasn’t sure how I’d hold myself together.

Chapter 4

Wren

Stepping through the door into the house that was more of a home to me than the hobby farm next door had ever been was bittersweet. Kamon had dropped me off and was heading to the Springs to water his cactus.

He’d coordinated with Ville on our way here, so I didn’t have to consider any of that stuff. It felt good, knowing that I was welcome here and that Ville would be around. With the security he’d added for Demi and Luke’s wedding, a year and a half ago, the whole place was now as secure as it could be all year around.

The dogs I’d seen in the yard seemed to be fine with my arrival. I wondered if they’d been conditioned to the gate somehow, like if they knew that people coming through it were friends by default or something. I knew they were well trained by the woman Ville had gotten them from so it was entirely possible.

The hug from Bodhi both put me together and tore me apart at the same time. For a split second I let myself believe something that wasn’t true, and then I did what I always did nowadays, and pulled away from him.

At least there was so damn much family to greet.

“Welcome home,” Jenn murmured into my ear as I embraced her. “Don’t pay attention to Shiloh.”

I’d known that a new stray had been taken in, of course. Ville had mentioned the little boy and then Jenn had talked about him in our latest call. She’d taken to calling me once a week or so now, and I knew she was keeping an eye on me in her own way.

I smooched Emery’s cheek as I got off Ville’s lap, and then went to bother his twin.