Page 34 of Somehow You Knew

Gage

“That’s the last box we can take right now.” One of the Salvation Army workers shuts the door on the moving truck, wiping his hands on his jeans.

“No problem.”

“We’ll come back tomorrow to get the big stuff. Furniture is always in high demand.”

“Sounds good.”

With a nod, the guy hops into the truck, fires it up, and slowly pulls out of the driveway, leaving me alone at my aunt’s house yet again.

I look back at the home that holds a lot of memories for me, especially from when I was a kid. My aunt took me in every summer for a few weeks so I wasn’t alone while my father worked. I’d help her in the yard, pulling weeds and planting flowers. She’d take me to the beach so I could build sand castles, use a metal detector to hunt for treasure, and boogie board on the waves. And she taught me how to cook. Hell, if it weren’t for her, I’d probably still be surviving off of TV dinners.

It’s memories like those that haunt me more than I care to admit, reminding me of how alone I truly am in this world now.

Well…except for Hazel. But that’s temporary, which I have to keep reminding myself of.

A car door slamming shut behind me pulls me from my thoughts. I turn—and immediately size up the tower of a man walking toward me, a tool belt slung around his hips.

“You must be Gage.”

I eye him warily. “Do I know you?”

The man steps toward me with an outstretched hand. “Penn Sheppard. I believe you know my sister,” he says with a laugh.

Realization clicks into place, and my guard instantly goes up. “You’re one of Hazel’s brothers, huh?”

“Did the last name give me away?” There’s a joking tone in his voice before he shoves his hands in his pockets, resting his weight on his heels.

“That, and I can see the family resemblance.”

“Don’t tell her that or she’ll rip your head off. She hates being told she looks like her brothers.” He chuckles. “Something about not wanting to be ‘built like a linebacker.’”

An amused grin stretches across my lips, but I think I’ll keep that bit of knowledge tucked away for later—just in case.

“Sorry to drop in unannounced, but when I saw the ‘For Sale’ sign out front, I had to stop by. I own a contracting business and turn homes into rentals for tourists. I’d be a fool not to see if you’ve found a buyer yet.”

I glance behind me at the house. “Not yet. The sign just went up this morning. Pam at Cove Realty said it wouldn’t take long for the place to sell, though.”

“Normally, Pam gives me a heads-up about houses coming on the market, but I guess she forgot about me this time.”

“In her defense, I only found out about it last week and just got the paperwork going a few days ago.”

Penn nods in understanding. “I’m sorry for your loss, by the way. Diane was a wonderful person. I know she meant a lot to my sister, too.”

Just the mention of Hazel makes my pulse spike. “Thanks. And yeah, Diane never stopped talking about Hazel and how amazing she is…and was always trying to set us up.” I huff out a dry laugh, knowing my reluctance to take her up on that is what got us in this mess.

He laughs. “Yeah, so I guess you’ll be a part of the family now, huh?”

“As of yesterday, yes.”

Penn’s brows draw together. “Wait, you two already got married?”

Fuck. “Um, yeah.”

Penn shakes his head in disbelief.

“Hazel didn’t tell you guys about the wedding?”

---