Page 79 of Dream Chaser
“Jesus L. Christ.” Ava flops back in her seat.
London starts texting.
“Your husband’s in meetings, your kids are good. They’re with Emma and Tessa, where you left them less than an hour ago,” Luke assures her.
She sets her phone on her lap, closes her eyes, takes in a few breaths, and then opens them and looks at Matthew. “Is she okay?”
“Haven’t seen her in over a year. Zach says she’s good.” Zach is her brother, who never stopped searching for his missing sister.
“None of this leaves this room,” Remington states. “We’re all getting together for dinner Sunday night, the whole family. We will know more then. There’s no reason to get a and Grandpa fired up any more than they already are. So just chill. You gotta talk, call us. Talk to your parents, each other.”
“Our parents know?” I ask.
“Of course they know there’s a possibility. There’s always a possibility shit goes sideways in life. Everyone’s, not just ours,” CJ answers.
“When are you guys going to just come home?” I ask.
Remington chuckles and points to Wile. “When we look like that.”
“You already smell like that,” I retort.
“We good here?” Matthew asks, agitated.
“We’re fine,” Harper answers. “You good?”
He arches a brow at her.
“What? I don’t get to ask, but you can?”
CJ winks at her. “We’re good, baby sister.”
She waves to the door. “Then go do whatever it is you need to do.”
“Love you,” he says.
“Oh my God, I know.” She forces a laugh.
Jackson pushes up off the floor. “You made me take my boots off forthis?”
“You’re damn right I did.” I laugh.
“See you in the morning for donuts and coffee?” He chuckles.
“Get out.” I feign annoyance, which I still would be if not for the fact that there are far bigger issues than getting busted in my own place with a freaking boy.
They’ve all headed out when Jackson peeks back in. “You have an extra room?”
“Go away,” I huff.
Once they’re gone, I look at Harper, Lexi, and London. “You guys okay?”
“I hated her,” Harper says, curling up into a freaking ball. “I hated her so freaking much, and then”—she shakes her head—“I didn’t. No matter what shit she did to me, to Maddox, she saved me from those maniacs, and I understand what she’s been through, because of Maddox. But he chose to heal. From what I understand, she gets better, and then something triggers her. I can’t hate her for that, but I can be angry at Matthew.” She hugs her knees. “I just wish he would see that she may not choose to change, to make up for all the years she couldn’t. He’s never been the same since … all of that.”
That being he shot and killed the man who shot and killed their father, Uncle Collin, while he was trying to save Harper. London and Lexi’s father, Brody, he got the man behind it all.
“And that’s Matthew’s choice, too, Harper,” I whisper the truth no one wants to acknowledge.
She nods. “I know. I just … you know, miss him—all of them.”
