Page 79 of Saving Her Heart
"Like?"
I think about it. "Rule one: Trust the people who show up. Rule two: Let them help. Rule three: Love is worth the risk."
"Those are great rules."
"Better than the old ones?"
"Much better."
My phone buzzes again. This time it's a photo from Mrs. Parsons—Gertie wearing a hard hat at the construction site.
"That goat is everywhere," Jax mutters.
"She's the mascot of the rebuild. Sawyer’s talking about getting his own someday. I don’t think Charli’s onboard, though."
"Gertie’s a menace."
"She's both."
"Like someone else I know."
"Hey, I'm not a menace!"
"You took down a property owner and got an entire town to rally against a conspiracy."
"That's not being a menace. That's being effective." I sound righteous.
"And menacing."
"I'm getting a goat and getting rid of you."
"No, you're not."
"No, I'm not," I agree, snuggling closer.
Outside, I can hear construction noise from the building site down the street. Inside, we're surrounded by half-unpacked boxes, disputed decorations, and the comfortable chaos of two lives merging into one.
"Hey Kendall?"
"Yeah?"
"The neon sign would look great in the bedroom."
"I'm getting Gertie to eat it."
"She'd probably try."
"She'd definitely try."
We laugh, and it echoes through our apartment—our home—filling the spaces inside ourselves that were empty for far too long.
Tomorrow there will be construction meetings, trial prep, and the Walking Ladies to manage. But right now, we're here, arguing about furniture and planning a future that seemed impossible just weeks ago.
"I love you," I tell him.
"I love you too. Even if you have terrible taste in décor."
"Says the man with a neon beer sign."
