Page 55 of Montana Silence

Hard.

By the time we came up for air, we were tangled together, and I’d completely forgotten we were in public. He held me tight, and I closed my eyes. I’d never felt safer than when I was with him. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Two taps.

“Have fun with them.”

“I’ll try.”

Liam watched me until I got inside before he started the truck and left.

“Well.” Lena’s voice came from behind me. “I guess I know what kinds of texts had you smiling the other day.”

I turned, not even trying to hide my smile. She was already moving and making me a drink. “We tried to keep it quiet. Didn’t work. I thought you might already know.”

Evie stuck her head out of the kitchen and grinned. “We kind of guessed after the wedding, but we know better than to jump to conclusions now.”

“Can I hang out for a while? Neither of us wants me to be alone.”

Lena stared at me. “Girl, you can stay as long as you want! You know that. And I think that might be the most words I’ve heard you say at one time.”

Spending time with Liam seemed to have that effect on me. My words didn’t seem nearly out of reach today.

“You guys went somewhere?” Lena asked. “I tried getting Jude to spill the details, but he wouldn’t. And made it very clear I wasn’t allowed to ask him again.”

Evie snickered, and Lena blushed. I’d heard enough about Jude and Lena’s relationship to know what it meant. The way they exchanged power made sense for them. It wasn’t something I wanted, but it made both of them happy.

“So, you and Liam…” Lena cleared her throat and handed me my drink.

“We went to Phoenix. It…didn’t go well. We might have to go back. But the two of us are very good.”

Lena looked at me carefully. “Is it something you want to talk about?”

Sighing, I shook my head. “Not today.”

“Okay.” She grinned. “I’ll only grill you about Liam, then. He dropped you off. Does that mean you stayed over?”

I backed over to the couches and chairs. “Maybe.”

“Oh my god, I need all the details.”

Evie took off her apron. “Only if Mara wants to give them.” The way she glanced at me… I recognized it. They might not know what I’d been through, but survivors of trauma could recognize each other. Everyone knewsomethinghad happened, but Evie and I always understood more.

“There’s not much to tell,” I admitted. “We’ve both…liked each other for a while. At the wedding, he helped me when I had a panic attack, and not long after, we decided to try. The texts that made me smile were him asking me on a date.”

Evie pulled me into a hug. “Girl, I love it when you talk.”

“Thank you.”

“If this is because of Liam, it’s a good thing.”

I nodded. “It is. A little. And I’m tired of letting it control me. It’s not easy.” The last words came out softer.

“No,” she agreed. “It’s not.”

The door chimed, and a woman I now recognized entered. Brynn. Evie and Lena both waved hello. Her face lit up when she saw me. “I didn’t run into you this time.”

“No.”

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