Page 187 of Scatter the Bones

Lilly walks down the long hallway from the dining room, spots me, and waves.

“There you are.” She crosses the room with a warm smile, pausing just long enough to hold out her arms in silent question. When I step forward, she wraps me in a soft, full-body squeeze.

Overwhelmed by all the affection. I pull back and yank my face into a smile.

“We’ve got more food set up in the dining room if you’re hungry.” Lilly leans in slightly, lowering her voice. “A lot of us are hanging out down there with the kids. This,” she waves a hand toward the screen, “is a little much for them.”

“Yeah, I can, uh, see why.” The guys on the screen are now wrestling on the floor of the cage. The two men are tangled in a violent knot on the mat. Their bodies so tightly pressed together it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Hope turns, her gaze scanning everyone in the living room. “Oh, Teller’s placing bets if that’s something you’re interested in.”

My gaze lands on Teller’s long frame, folded into one corner of the couch, a laptop balanced on the armrest. Charlotte’s curled up next to him, legs tucked beneath her, calmly watching the chaos unfold on-screen while talking to her husband. Rock’s settled in the chair beside them, eyes fixed on Teller’s screen. Every so often, he nods or shakes his head, quiet approval or a subtle veto, I can’t tell.

“Margot!” someone calls from the far corner of the living room. A hand shoots up, waving wildly.

Lilly laughs and rests her hand on my shoulder. “Serena’s been looking for you since she and Grinder got here.”

“Really?” My voice comes out higher than I intended, threaded with a pinch of desperation I hate that I revealed.

“Of course.” A slight frown pinches between Hope’s eyebrows. “We were all so happy you could join us.”

Now that Serena’s called attention to me, the room shifts. Every face turns my way and offers a greeting. I wiggle my fingers in response, my skin heating.

Charlotte pats her husband’s leg and rises, weaving through the guys with an unapologetic grace. A few groan that she’s blocking the TV, but no one stops her.

“Hi, Margot.” She pulls me into a hug. The scent of baby powder and something tart, but pleasant—like grapefruit—fills the air between us.

I don’t think I’ve been hugged this much since my grandmother’s funeral.

My eyes sting.

Get it together, Margot.

I’m not used to this many people caring about my presence. Not even my own family. It’s nice…in an overwhelming sort of way. Jigsaw’s not even here, so they’re not just being nice for his benefit.

“Hi.” I smile at Charlotte. “I hear your husband’s the one I should take my bets to?”

Charlotte’s mouth turns up in an affectionate grin. “Oh yeah. He’s in full bookie mode today—placing parlays, over-unders, knockouts by round... I think someone even asked if there was a line on how many times some guy bleeds.” She waves a hand toward Teller. “Honestly, I think he enjoys the bets more than the fights. So far, he’s won more than he’s lost, so it’s all good.”

“But the big one’s tonight!” Murphy calls out as he strolls over and joins us. “No pressure or anything, Teller!”

Without missing a beat—or lifting his eyes from his laptop—Teller flips him off.

Charlotte snorts.

“Hey, ginger twinny.” She taps her knuckles against Murphy’s shoulder. “Where’ve you been hiding?”

He tilts his head toward the dining room. “Playland. Hoping if we wear ’em out enough, they’ll all crash before Griff’s fight starts.”

Lilly gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I need to check on Chance. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Hope offers me another reassuring smile before following her down the hall.

I trail after Charlotte, weaving around the recliners and stepping over a couple of blankets.

From the far side of the couch, Serena waves again. She nudges a stuffed-to-bursting diaper bag off the seat and pats the cushion beside her.

“Come sit,” she whispers.

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