Page 32 of The Stone Family Warrior

“I’m going to let you make fun of me, because it’s clearly giving you a lot of pleasure right now.”

She put a hand over her mouth and giggled. “I’m sorry.” She did another sword-swiping motion. “It’s just funny, thinking of you using a sword to take down all the women coming at you.”

“Is it?” The topic was becoming less and less funny.

Abruptly, she reached out and poked his shoulder. “C’mon, Stone, give me this. I mean, my life is pretty pathetic, right? You can’t argue with that. I lost my husband and my son. I have a brother whose life is in shambles.” She appeared to be rambling again, and he thought of what Hunter had said about listening to rambling women when you liked them. “Not to mention my mom’s passed and my dad … who knows where he is.”

He shook his head, trying to ignore that sentiment, but he found himself asking, “Want to talk about it?”

She scrunched her nose, then pulled herself completely back from the hot tub, crossing her legs on the cement. “Nah, sailor, it’s past both of our bedtimes.”

Trent looked at his phone and was stunned to see that it was almost midnight. “I can’t believe it’s actually that late.”

She stood as they stood. “I know. You were just riveted by my pathetic life.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Why?” She walked over to the hot tub light and turned it off. There was still light from the inside, but he had to reorient himself. “It’s true,” she said, moving to the door and opening it. “C’mon, I’ll give you a ride home.”

“You will? So easily?” He wandered over and gently tugged at a strand of her hair. “No more stranger danger.” He really liked talking with her, hearing her little witty comments.

“Keep your hands to yourself, babe slayer,” she said, shoving his shoulder as she moved past him. “I’ll just throw on some clothes and we’ll go.”

He waited in the kitchen for her, staring at the picture of the beach crew. There were lots of pictures on the big board, and he rearranged some of them, looking at people he didn’t know. Then he jolted in shock. There, in the midst of everything, was a photo of his family. He peered closer, seeing that it had been taken when he was around ten. His siblings were gathered there for the shot, along with his parents. They were all dressed up in fancy clothes for Christmas, standing in front of her grandmother’s house.

“Hey,” she said, coming back into the kitchen.

Caught off guard, he jumped a bit.

She laughed. “Pretty jumpy for a SEAL.”

He undid the pile of pinned pictures and tugged out the one with his family. “I can’t believe this.” He showed it to her.

She took the picture, a huge smile on her face. “That’s your whole family at the New Year’s party that year.”

He leaned closer, breathing in the vanilla fragrance coming off her. “Right?” But his attention was back on the picture. His heart suddenly hurt as he thought of his parents. His family. How long had it been since they’d last come together?

She turned to look at him. “You okay?”

“I miss them. My parents.”

She held the picture out to him. “Here, you take it.”

Trent poked at it warily. It was like he was touching gold. “No, I couldn’t.”

“Yes, you can.” She took his hand and pressed the picture into his palm. “It’s your family.”

He paused, then gave her a goofy grin. “I think you’re giving me this because you kinda still like me.”

“Cocky as ever, I see.”

“Kidding.” He stared down at the picture again. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Over the years, I would look at that picture and my grandmother would always say that the Stone family made everything fun in the summers. She adored your mother and father.” Her voice hitched. “I still remember when she told me about your mother passing away and how it was like a part of South Port was gone.”

Trent’s heart raced. So many people had come out for his mother’s funeral, and Liberty’s grandmother had held him so tight that day when she’d seen him. “Your grandmother was pretty amazing.” He would snap a picture of this photo and send it to the family group chat later. “Thank you.”

She smiled at him. “You’re welcome, slayer.”

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