Page 385 of Lodestar

“Thank God. Their last BBQ ended with Savvie and Aidan getting kidnapped.”

“Yeah, well, they’ll be tucked up safe and sound in Hell’s Kitchen so that won’t happen again.”

“You know what I mean.”

She rolled her eyes. “I do.”

“When is it?”

“Couple weeks’ time. After everything’s calmed down.”

“How’s Alessa taking the move?”

“Think she’s ready for a break. She’s only a young kid herself and she has to deal with Maverick’s illness. Throw in Kat and two kittens and she needs a vacation.”

“She knows she’s welcome to visit us anytime, right?”

Her smile was sheepish. “You’re too good, you know that?”

“Makes up for how naughty you are.”

A gleam appeared in her eyes. “You like me when I’m naughty.”

“Bet your sweet ass?—”

“STAR! Suzette peed on the rug!”

She growled under her breath. “I showed you the litter box! And since when do cats pee on rugs? That’s for dogs!”

When she stormed off after her, both of their shouts breaking up the still silence of only moments before, a dopey smile quirked along my lips as I rocked back in my chair.

I wasn’t meant for silence.

I’d been the middle child in a large family—chaos was in my bloodstream.

That didn’t stop me from wincing when a loud crash sounded in the living room and Kat yelled, “Sorry, Conor!”

Despite the fact I'd curated everything in my apartment, I had to smile at the sounds of life both women brought to it.

God, it was good to have them home.

29

STAR

Troy heldout a hand for Anton to shake. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

My lips curved at her unusually polite tone. “Troy was in my unit with me, Anton. Same as Dead To Me. Before everything went to shit.”

“For both of us,” Troy retorted.

“Oh, I know,” I countered easily, tumbling back onto the couch so I was eye-level with Lyra who was hiding at Troy’s side. “Are you going to meet, Anton, Lyra?” I asked, tone kind. “He’s been waiting a long time to meet you.”

Troy patted her head. “She’s nervous.”

“I am also nervous, Lyra.” Anton heaved a heavy breath as he sank onto the couch beside me.

A couch that had taken D, Troy, and me to edge into place yesterday when we’d helped move her in.

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