Page 75 of Unleashed

I understand where my mother’s coming from. I completely agree with her. But while Maren seems to feel more casual than I do about this—and her mother’s involvement—I’m sure it’s still a sensitive subject. One she likely doesn’t want to get into right now.

“How is it coming along in here?” I try to change the trajectory of the conversation. “Do you think we can get all of this packed up and loaded in the trucks before two?”

It’s almost eleven now, so I know that’s going to be cutting it close. But if anyone can make it happen, Deidre Bradshaw can.

“Are we trying to stick to a schedule?” As I’d hoped, my mother is immediately distracted from her earlier question by the excitement of a challenge. “Do you want to have everything moved by two, or just Zara’s things?”

“Primarily Zara’s stuff.” I have a fully furnished bedroom waiting for her at my place, but I want Maren’s little sister to feel as at-home as possible. “Maren and I can get what she needs later tonight after we finish up at the petting zoo.”

Maren’s head snaps my way, her expression confused. “We can’t still go to the petting zoo.”

“Of course we can.” I gesture at where my mother is now fully engrossed in her mission. “My mom and brothers have this under control. I promised Zara she could pet animals, and I’m not taking that back.” I force in a deep breath as I look around at her destroyed room. “Especially after this.”

“I can’t ask your family to do this.” Maren grabs a trash bag from the roll my mother brought in. “I genuinely can handle this. It’s not a big deal.”

“I don’t doubt you can handle this.” And obviously has before. More times than I probably want to know about. “But it is a big deal, and so is the promise I made to your sister.”

I’ve broken plenty of promises in my life. About dinners and movies and dates. I felt bad about it each time. But it had to happen. Plus, those were promises I made to adults. Breaking a promise to a kid is something I’m just not going to do. Especially not Zara. We’re best friends.

I have the bracelet to prove it.

Gently, I take the bag from Maren’s hands and pass it to my dad. “If anything strange happens, or they have any questions, they’ll call us.”

I assumed Maren would struggle the most with me essentially forcing her to move in with me, but that might have been an incorrect assumption. The most difficult part might actually be allowing someone else to help her. After spending a lifetime only having herself to count on, it’s possible Maren doesn’t actually know what to do when she’s not completely on her own.

It’s another thing she’s going to have to get over. And not because of me.

My mother is capable of allowing space for others to acclimate to our family’s climate. She did with Ruth. Was so careful not to overstep or pressure the single mom. But that was a very different situation. One where my mother didn’t know the full scope of the problems Ruth was facing.

She’s seeing Maren’s issues firsthand, and has already been tiptoeing around dragging Maren into our fold for months now. There’s no freaking way she’s going to slow her roll after this.

Especially after meeting Zara.

I take Maren by the hand, leading her away as she continues trying to argue her case. It’s a futile pursuit. I know it. She knows it. Because at the end of the day, she will do anything for her sister.

Including letting my family help her.

Begrudgingly.

I pause to check in with my brothers while Maren goes to chat with Brooke and Ruth. I watch as the women converse, each one occasionally throwing glances my way.

“They’re talking about you.” Toby smirks. “Or plotting. Could go either way.”

“Probably both.” Walker scans the trio. “I’d be worried if I was you.”

“Nah.” Tucker tips back a bottle of water he helped Toby rescue from Maren’s upturned fridge. “Ruth loves her job too much to risk it by murdering you.” He swallows down another mouthful of water. “And she’s the organizer out of the group, so if she’s not on board, you’re safe.”

“Maren’s organized.” I look around the trailer making it appear otherwise. “This place is normally clean as hell. And she doesn’t only manage Brooke’s schedule, she also has to keep track of her sister’s.” I meet Toby’s eyes, smiling a little as I say, “And that little girl is way busier than your wife.”

“That’s not shocking.” Toby lifts up a wrist. “Zara and I became best friends when I went to check on her and see if she needed anything.”

I stare at the handmade bracelet my brother is wearing. “Are you shitting me?”

Titus grabs Toby’s forearm, dragging it closer so he can inspect the jewelry. “That’s nice, man. I’m gonna see if she’ll give me one too.”

“You can’t all be her best friend.” I’m not jealous that Zara so easily added another friend to our new group. That would be dickish.

But I really fucking hope it’s only because he pointed out that he owns a swimming pool.