Page 184 of Heartbeats & Highways

I nodded and turned my head away.

Willa took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “She’s looking at my baby and she’s thinking about her own.”

Savage stared at the infant in Duke’s arms. His jaw clenched and his expression tightened.

The two men went into the living room while I followed Willa through the kitchen to the back door.

“How’s he doing?” Willa asked.

Because it was Willa and she was Savage’s family, I felt no compunction about hiding the truth from her. “Not good. Holding it together, but his mind’s a mess.”

“Did he go for a ride last night?” she asked as we began to trek across the lawn.

I shook my head. “He hasn’t left my side. To be honest, I think it’ll take more than a long ride on his motorcycle to help.”

“How areyoudoing? Your neck . . .”

“I’m . . .” I shrugged. “Alive.”

And afraid to sleep.

“You two have been through the wringer,” she murmured.

“So have you,” I pointed out.

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s amazing any of us aren’t curled up in the corner, holding our knees and rocking back and forth.”

We fell silent for a moment, but I wanted to talk about something else, so I turned the conversation.

“Did you always plan on naming the baby after him?”

She smiled softly. “Yeah. That was always the plan. He joked about it a lot. So I’m sure he didn’t think it was ever going to happen, but . . .”

“But?”

“But the baby is his, too, in a way. He’s family. He’s our best friend. The three of us work because it’s thethreeof us. It’s hard to explain and I’m sure it’s weird. But . . . Duke and I never wanted Savage to feel like he was being replaced, even when we got married and had a baby.”

I nodded slowly. “Can I ask a question?”

“Always.” She smiled.

“Was it ever romantic? Between you and Savage?”

She looked at me and arched a brow. “What do you think?”

“I think based on how you three interact, no. Probably not. But I was curious if I was missing something.”

“No, you aren’t missing anything. You’re astute, Evie.” She took a deep breath. “There was always something between me and Duke. Something we had to force down because when we were younger, it could’ve been the end of us. The end of all three of us. The two of them and their friendship . . . They never would have survived it. And not because Savage wanted me, but because if we’d gotten together too young the dynamic would have changed. A lot was at stake. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and eventually the time was right.”

“It worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

“It’s looking that way. It’s weird, right? Acid’s death is devastating. And so, while I’m mourning my friend, I’m also ridiculously happy.”

“Right there with you,” I commiserated. “Maybe that’s just the way life is supposed to be, you know? And hopefully there are enough moments of light that dispel the darkness.”

As if by tacit agreement, Willa and I had slowed down our walk toward the shop apartment so we could talk candidly. But now we’d arrived at the door.

She didn’t bother knocking, but when she opened it, she tread softly.

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