Page 99 of Love Me Fierce

“She’s mad,” Hudson says, sending Sepp a pointed look.

“Come on, give it a whirl,” Sepp says.

With a huff, I lower onto the couch. The cushions are dense and comfortable and it has that new smell. My last couch was a garage store find, and though it was practically new, it wasn’t as nice as this.

“It’s really comfy, guys.” I lock eyes with Sepp, then Hudson, and release a deep sigh. “Thank you.”

“I think she’s less mad now,” Hudson says under his breath.

“Mateo will love it.” I smile, picturing him curled up in the corner with his library books and a juice box while I steal a few minutes to knit.

A car door slams outside. I lean back and peer out the window just as Everett steps from my Kia. The blue letters that blared at me so boldly last night are gone.

I draw a shaky breath, but it only seems to sharpen the emotions rising up inside me.

His look from his driveway this morning has been playing in my mind all day. Then he shows up having fixed my car? What am I supposed to make of all this?

“We’ll load up your mattress in Hudson’s truck,” Sepp says, “then what?”

While I love having them here, they’ve stayed long enough. And I want to talk with Everett alone.

“You guys can take off,” I say.

Sepp cocks his head. “You sure?”

I force a smile. “Yeah. I’m about out of steam for tonight anyways.”

“All right.” Sepp draws me close for a quick hug.

I peck his cheek. “Thank you again.”

Hudson is next, then they disappear into my bedroom.

Everett steps into the trailer. He’s dressed in jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt scrunched to his elbows, his hair still wet from a shower. He looks left, where Sepp and Hudson are arguing over how to get my ruined mattress out of the room, then he turns, his serious eyes finding mine.

“Hi.” He walks toward me, his wet sneakers squeaking on the parquet floor. “Looks good in here,” he says, taking in the clean kitchen. When he spots the couch, he smiles. “Like it?”

I put my hands on my hips. “You bought it?”

“It was sort of a group project,” he says with the hint of a smile.

My battle-worn heartstrings twang inside my chest. “Everett,” I sigh.

Crashing and cursing erupts from my bedroom, and Everett trots back to help get the mattress moved.

I collapse onto the couch. Outside, the guys grunt and shuffle, and then car doors slam and Hudson’s truck engine turns over.

When Everett comes back inside, he closes the door behind him.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” he says, his eyes pained. “It’s been… kind of a big day.”

I pull my knees up to my chin. “Where’s Logan?”

“At a friend’s house.”

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

He gives the empty end of the couch a glance. “Okay if I join you?”

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