Page 67 of When to Call a Blitz

“There’s no comparison, Hon. There will never be another of her. I’m not sure what’s running through that man’s head, but if it’s wishing that you were her, that’s not a relationship you need to get into anyway.”

I watch her fingers as they comfort me, and when I look up at her, I’m surprised to blink away tears.

“She seemed like a really, really cool person,” I whisper.

Isla shakes her head. “She probably was. But that doesn’t say anything at all about you. You don’t have to be better than her. You just need to be you.”

“I don’t ever expect to be better than her.” I lay back down, kicking my legs up so my toes hang off the edge.

“Good. Because she was a badass and you can be a badass. There’s room for you both in that man’s life if he ever decides to stop being an idiot and let you in.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then he’s an idiot. One day he has to wake up and realize that life is better when you let those who love you in.”

Isla lays down next to me. “You know Owen didn’t even know he had a daughter until like, last year, right?”

I nod. It’s been mentioned numerous times. Isla was flabbergasted.

“The man won’t even adopt a pet. He’s so scared of having someone or something else in his life to care about.”

“It’s hard,” Mila chimes in, standing up. “But I think we all need a little moment to scream.”

“I don’t think we should scream here,” I look around. Screaming inanycity in the middle of the night is probably a red flag.

Mila rolls her eyes. “It’s Halloween. We’ve been listening to kids screaming all night.

She’s right.

With a sigh, we all scrabble to our feet, Isla helping me along the way.

We line up, facing the aquarium across the way, and take in the view. When Amara’s fingers wrap around mine, I look down, surprised at the sudden warmth. Instead of saying anything, I grab for Isla’s hand, and I watch as she grabs for Briar’s.

And suddenly, standing there, all together, hands held, I feel free.

Without a word, Mila screams into the inner harbor first, letting go of all her anger and frustration and annoyances. Anything.

The next thing I know we’re all screaming our hearts out, tears pricking at my eyes as my throat starts to scratch in the cold.

And just when we’re done and see red and blue lights heading down the road, we all turn and run back into the building giggling, breathless, and full, our arms around each other.

It’s only now, when Isla looks me in the eyes, wiping my tears away, that I remember my whole face has been green this whole time.

“I hope this comes off,” Isla smiles, looking at her fingers.

“I fucking hope so too.”

32

EMMETT

“Get your ass over here and practice with us,” Cooper demands as I walk into one of our meeting rooms.

“I can’t even do this with you,” I roll my eyes, wanting nothing to do with his shenanigans.

Cooper stops, the other men nearly falling into him, and when his lips turn downward in a sad, pathetic pout, I can’t help but give in.

He’s never going to let me hear the end of it if I don’t.

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