Page 29 of To Regret a Raven

The quick tap of footsteps faded from the window, then the door in front of Drie was forcefully slid open, and the dark-haired beauty from earlier waltzed into the room. She paused, making eye contact with Drie, who simply raised a browin response.What do you even say to the woman who is making moves on your future-possible-boyfriend, and failing?Speaking turned out to be unnecessary, however, as the woman spun quickly on her heel and marched back to the front door.

“Sorry about that,” Brea said, her words garbled.

Drie whipped around, a hand slapping her chest to find Fisher’s sister settled upon a stool and eating a burger on the kitchen island, looking like she’d been there for a good, long while.

“Did you just hear?—”

Brea nodded, snapping open a napkin to wipe her mouth. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“Uh—” She paused, then shrugged. The woman already knew she’d been eavesdropping. What was a little snooping to go with it? “Who was that?”

“That was Rena Lennox. My best friend.” She grimaced. “And Fisher’s ex.”

“Fisher’sex?” Drie’s brows drew together incredulously as she glanced back at the front door once more. “But what about that guy?”

“What guy?” Brea asked, tilting her beer cooler to her lips.

“The tall, scary one who has been watching her all afternoon. You know, with the fancy suit?”

The beer spewed across the counter as Brea began coughing, her eyes wild when she met Drie’s concerned stare. “Shepherd?You thought Goody Two-shoes Shep wasRena’sman?” Brea picked up the closest paper plate and began fanning herself as she coughed again, laughing quietly to herself. “Oh, holy hell, that’s some disturbing imagery.” She sighed, her eyes growing serious when she turned back to Drie.

“Okay. Listen, we both just heard the same thing, and it sounds like Fisher didn’t give you much background on his dating history, but let me be clear here. The two of them werenot compatible. And I won’t lie, I wanted them to be. He’s my twin, she’s my bestie. The math just maths, you know?” She sighed, shaking her head. “But it was never going to work. Everybody knew it…Well, except them. But I’m glad he found you. And Iknow”—she held her hands up—“you’re nottogether. But I just want you to know that I like you. We all do. You’re good for him. And you’re welcome back here anytime. Rena will get over it.”

Drie swallowed against the lump in her throat, unable to speak, and Brea’s eyes widened as she spotted the glistening in her eyes. She stood swiftly, ushering Drie toward the back yard, as if a distraction would ward off the incoming tears. “Oh, hell, don’t be like that. I take it all back. We hate your guts.”

Drie laughed, the sound watery, but followed along as they made their way back to the pit, where dozens of wire sticks were held aloft over the flames, roasting marshmallows.

Fisher smiled up at her, patting the seat at his side, and Drie was quick to claim the spot, grateful to have finally made her way back to him.

He passed her the stick in his left hand, nodding toward the crowd before he leaned down sideways and whispered in her ear, “You doing alright?”

“I love her in ways I’ve never loved anything or anyone.”

Drie stared up at him, offering a tight-lipped smile as she nodded quickly. “I’m happy,” she whispered back with the simplest of shrugs.

The words caused a slow grin to spread across his face, the look so boyish and innocent that something snapped back into place within Drie, and she realized that she’d never once stopped loving him. Not for a second of their breakup. And her smile only grew as she acknowledged the fact that she never wanted to stop.

But then Fisher glanced to the side, and the noise of the party came rushing back in on their bubble as Krazy Kris threw herarms up on the other side of the fire. “All I’m saying is that y’all like to throw the crazy title my way, and Loony Linda over there gets away with everything.”

“I do not!”

“Uh-huh. And what about that lamp you threw at Simon during the game of Clue last week?”

Linda rolled her eyes. “Whohasn’tthrown something at Simon?”

Laughter rang out amongst the circle as a dozen voices began piping in with their own Simon stories, but Linda leaned sideways, pitching her voice just low enough for Drie to hear. “Truth is, I wanted to redecorate, and that lamp was a strategic choice. It had to go.”

Drie giggled, leaning closer to ask, “Was the whole game part of your redecoration plan?”

“Look at you, thinking like a Bree woman.” Linda patted her leg, her grin sly and proud. “I’m glad you came today.”

“I’m glad too,” she answered, a second before Fisher wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly against his side, where she settled in without an ounce of resistance, content to relax into his warmth and watch the flames dance beneath her marshmallow as she listened to the deafening, wonderful chaos of his family.

16

TOMORROW

Fisher glanced sidelong to where Drie sat, swaying gently in her swing with one arm wrapped around the chain her temple rested against. Sensing his attention, she tilted her head back, meeting his eyes with a soft smile that warmed him to his bones, soothing his worries.