Chapter 41

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

“Dex, open the door. I know you’re home!” I tapped on the door, trying to make a dent. I wasn’t strong enough to make one but I would try. I mean, the man had taken a week-long break, what more did he need? Did he not want a sister? Or maybe it was different for me since I wentwithout my father since birth. I always knew my father was eitherdead like Dev or with a family of his own. Since it was the second, well, I never imagined what it would be like to meet any siblings I might have.But I had met that sibling, and I liked him even before I knew he was my family. I grew up with only Grandpa and Rusty. Could you blame me for trying to form a bond with my brother?

“Dexter!” I yelled again and stopped myself from hitting the door when I saw the doorknob turn. Detective “Dex” Hendrix, aka my brother, did not look like his sparkly self. Instead, he was sporting a full, bushy beard and purple bags under his eyes and looked like a hobo.

“Are you done acting like a bitch on her rag? Because, let me say, if anyone should be upsetin this scenario, it’s me,” I declared.

There was an itsy-bitsy grin fighting to break free on his lips. I took it as a good sign and barreled my way into his home.

“You want to come in, Freya? Oh, I’d love to. How gracious of you to ask,” I said sarcastically as I made my way to the couch.

“Make yourself at home,” he added dryly.

I watched as he took a seat across from me. When a full minute passed, and he didn’t talk, I figured it was up to meto start this little family reunion.

“So, I guess you’re my little brother. I mean, I feel like we should have known. I have brown hair and mesmerizing brown eyes. You have brown hair and mesmerizing brown eyes. We both have strong feelings about the law.”

Dex snorted at my comment.

Enough with the joking.

“Do you not want me as a sister?” I asked softly. What if he wanted to be an only child, and I ruined that for him? Never mind, his dad killed that for him.

“Nah, it’s not that. Look, Freya, I’m... I’m sorry for running off. This was as much of a shock for me as it was for you. My father always raised me to do the right thing. It’s part of the reason I became a copin the first place. Then to find out he had a secret daughter he might have known about, that shit’s fucked up. You told me about your childhood, how am I not supposed to feel bad that while we went on family vacations, my sister was bullied.”

“You called me your sister.” There was awe in my tone. “Look, you can still love your dad. He might not have been there for me, but by the sounds of things, he was there for you. I was fine; I had Grandpa, Rusty, and Max growing up.”

“Yeah, but if he would have believed your mom, your life might have been different.”

I grimaced. “I would have been a Hendrix bastard, no offense. Hell, I still am one, but I guess between breaking up a marriage and being a bastard, it’s not so bad.”

Oh my God. Abigail and I were related. Shit. I shook my head, not getting near that can of worms.

“So, we cool?” I got up. I had to meet Max. I had to pick him up at the factory since he let me borrow his car.

“We’re good,” he replied, and some of the tension I’d been carrying around disappeared.

Before I walked out the door, I turned to my brother and said, “If you don’t stop fucking around with Emma, I swear I will hook her up with Bear.”

Dex’s eyes darkened, not liking what I said. “You wouldn’t dare.”

I smiled sweetly at him. “We both know I would. Now, I want her as a sister, so go make it official or whatever.”

Dex gave me a playful push then closed the door in my face.

Great, I had another moody brother.

Love was a war; I knew that firsthand. I had lived with the scars of the battle for seven years. It was surreal, even after weeks of bliss, at how easy it was for your body to adjust to an old normal. Things had never been easy for me. Walking away from Max and being on my own was one of the hardest things I ever had to endure. It was scary how easy it was to get back to a point where, at the end of my day, Max was waiting for me. I was sitting on the hood of his car, waiting for him to finish his work. Emma was sending me pictures of what the workers were doing. Construction had begun, and our diner should be ready by spring. I looked up at the leaves that had fallen, and I still thought nothing beat Sunny Pines in the fall.

When Max came out, I jumped off the hood and ran into his arms. He dropped his briefcase and opened his arms wide so thatI could throw myself at him.

“I missed you.” I peppered kisses around his jaw.

“You have me, Freya,” he replied softly. He didn’t have to tell me he loved me. We didn’t always say it, but it was there—in every touch, in every smile, in the way we gazed into each other’s eyes.

“Come on, I’m starving.” He led me to the car and opened my door before going to his side. Man, I loved how chivalrous he was.

“Close your eyes,” Max said as he drove.

“Why,” I asked skeptically. “I thought we would visit my grandpa. I haven’t been over in two weeks. Either he comes to the shop to see me, or you take us out to eat. I need to see he isn’t starving.”

Max sighed in frustration. “Babe, can’t you do what I tell you for once?”

“Fine, I’ll close my eyes,” I bit out. “You’re not taking me to the old water tower again to relive old memories, are you? Because I gotta say, running into Blake was kindof a buzzkill for his girl and me.”

Then I laughed because that was awkward .

I opened my eyes just as we passed the old bridge, and I got goose bumps. The rails got fixed, and they put up metal ones instead of wood. It was more resistant that way. The car halted, causing me to shriek. “What the hell, Max!”

My man took off his tie, and for a second, I thought he would bind my hands. Instead, he put it over my eyes, covering my sight. “Babe, is there a fantasy we haven’t talked about? Cause I don’t know how I feel about bondage.”

“Jesus,” he murmured. “I like the way your nails press into my skin, trying to rip me in two when I fuck you, and you won’t be able to do that restrained.”

I had to get my breathing under control. “So, where are we going?” I asked, getting impatient.

“Freya, shut up and wait.”

How rude . I sat in silence, trying to figure out where we were going, but Max was making all these turns either to throw me off, or he was taking me to the water towerafter all. When the car stopped, I went straight for the tie, but Max stopped me.

“I’ll take it off. Wait here.” I heard him get out of the car and waited for my door to open. He wouldn’t leave me here, would he?

“Max!” I yelled when he picked me up carried me bridal style. My arms were around his neck while he kept walking. When he finally put me down, I was a ball of anticipation. Max had taken away the tie, but my eyes were still closed.

“Freya,open your eyes, baby.”

When I did, I stared right at his green ones. The soft gleam he always had reserved for me was there, but also worry. I took a deep breath and looked ahead.

“Is... is it for us?” I said, taking a step closer to the house that was being built. I turned to look around, and I saw my grandfather’s trailer down the road. I opened my mouth, but I was speechless.

“Freya Pratt, I knew I could fall in love with you the moment you told me about your mother. I knew I loved you the first time you were in my room. I knew I wanted to marry you at my prom. Living without you wasn’t living at all. Now thatI have you back, I can’t imagine a night without you by my side. I’m done wasting time, baby. I bought this land with you in mind. I would never make a home here with anyone but you.”

I couldn’t remember how to breathe. I blinked back tears.

Max gave me a soft smile. “Move in with me, Freya. Let’s finally be happy together.”

“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.” I jumped into his arms, and he twirled me .

Nine years ago, I met the love of my life. Seven years ago, I had to say goodbye to him. But now… now he was all mine.

We were forever.