The Persistence of Thornes

1. Halle

CHAPTER 1

HALLE

I t’s like a slow-motion replay of a lion attacking a gazelle, the way the ball sails through the air, arcing toward the man climbing out of his car next door.

Please, don’t hit him! Don’t hit him! Don’t ? —

Smack .

The soccer ball ricochets off his head.

What an excellent first impression for my new neighbor.

The glower I turn on my fourteen-year-old brothers is deadly.

“I said to take the ball to the backyard.”

The two of them take off, Quinn scooping up the ball on his way, scattering for the broken fence and overgrown lawn beyond it.

I’m livid. Mostly because I’m exhausted. A bone-deep tired I’ve never felt. At twenty-three, I am now my brothers’ legal guardian. This was not part of the plan, yet here we are. I couldn’t let them end up in foster care. They’re my brothers, my flesh and blood. They belong with me, even if taking responsibility for them puts an unbearable weight on my shoulders. I was barely getting by before. Now? I’ll figure it out. I always do.

I set the box on the ground and cross the side lawn that separates my scraggly yard from the immaculate one next door.

The man rubs at his head, looking around for the source of his sudden concussion.

“I’m so sorry about that.” I come to a stop in front of him, cringing. Not only because of the soccer ball incident, but because this man is dressed in an expensive, sharp-looking suit, while I’m standing here in ripped jean shorts and a t-shirt with a cartoon character on it I’ve owned since middle school. “My brothers… I told them to play in the back, but they’re fourteen and aren’t too keen on listening to their sister.”

He lowers his hand from his head and focuses his gaze on me. The move finally allows me to get a good look at his face.

Holy fuck.

He might be the best-looking man I’ve ever seen. Bright, expressive blue eyes. Sandy blond hair. Chiseled jaw with just a hint of stubble. And the posture of a man who’s both confident and easy-going.

“It’s okay,” he says, voice deep and soothing. “I know how kids are. Your parents are moving in next door?”

“Oh, no. I mean yes, we’re moving in next door, but no to the parents part. It’s only me and my brothers.”

“Ah.” He nods, rubbing the spot on his head again. “I see.”

The words aren’t condescending, despite the way he eyes the house next door, my house. It looks like a verifiable dump compared to every other house on this street.

I straighten my shoulders. “It’s not much, but I’m going to fix it up.”

When I can afford it, which, at the rate I’m going, is never. But we’ll have a roof over our heads. That’s the most important part.

His blue eyes skate over my body. The move is perfunctory. Rather than checking me out, he’s trying to commit me to memory so he can place me later. “If you need any help over there let me know. I did a lot of the work on my place.”

I blink at him, surprised. “You did?”

He looks too clean-cut in his suit and tie. Though his hands are large and masculine with thick veins, they still don’t look like the hands of a man who does manual labor. Though the sight of them makes me think I’d enjoy finding out all the things he can do with them.

He lets out an amused chuckle. “A fair amount, though I had help. Thayer”—he points to the house on the other side of his—“next door to me, owns a landscaping business. I’m sure he’d be happy to help with the yard.”

Wincing, I eye the crab grass and dying plants. Our new place sticks out like a sore thumb in a row of well-maintained homes on this street. According to my realtor, this house sat vacant while family members fought over who would get the money from the sale. Apparently they never learned how to share. The fight dragged out so long, the house fell into disrepair, and that placed it squarely in my budget. It’s in a good school district, though. I never thought I’d be thinking about things like that at my age, but here we are.

“That would be great.” I paste on a smile even though I know there’s zero chance I’ll ever ask him or this other guy for help.

In many ways, I’m a stereotypical eldest daughter, which means I loathe the very thought of requesting help. If I can’t figure it out, I’ll die trying.

“I’m Caleb, by the way.” He holds out a hand to me.

“Halle.” I slip my hand into his. His palm is warm and surprisingly rough for how tidy his nails are. “These two dipshits are Quinn and Casen.” I point to my brothers as they run back through the front yard and up a set of porch steps that groan beneath their weight.

“Halle,” he repeats my name, and I feel it down in my toes. “Haven’t heard that before. Do you need help with anything?” He motions to the small U-Haul in our driveway.

“Nah, it’s okay.” I wave at the white and orange trailer, dismissing his help even if I desperately need it .

The process would certainly go faster and be less painful with help, but I don’t know anyone in town, and getting my brothers to help for more than a few minutes will be a feat. Their attention spans are nonexistent unless they’re playing a video game.

He slips his hands into his pockets and wanders over to the open back of the U-Haul. Then, with an arched brow, he turns back to me. “Looks to me like you need help.”

I press my lips together. The offer is well-meaning, but it’s a trigger for me. The girl who’s always had to do it all.

“It’s really okay.” I inhale deeply. “I can get the boys to help. We’ll be fine.”

Without another word, Caleb walks away. Shit. I didn’t mean to piss him off. Just as I’m ready to call out an apology, he stops beside his car, leaning against its door, and pulls out his cell phone.

“Hey, can you come outside? Our new neighbor needs help unloading her U-Haul.”

He pulls the device away from his ear, taps the screen, and slips it back into his pocket before he eyes me where I’m standing awkwardly in the halfway point between his yard and mine.

“Thayer’s going to come help too.”

Great. I do my best not to let my shoulders slump.

“You really didn’t need to do that. It looks like you just got home from work.” I wave a hand, gesturing to his suit. “I can figure it out.”

He smiles slowly, like he sees right through my stubborn pride. “It’s really not a problem.”

I should probably be jumping for joy. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, but with their help, I can get everything inside tonight. But that nagging part of my brain is still screaming at me to tell him that I’m fine on my own.

I give that internal voice a shove.

“Thanks,” I say instead. “I’m going to check on the boys, and I’ll be right back.”

They’ve disappeared, and I don’t hear them, which is never a good sign. At fourteen, they shouldn’t need my constant supervision, but they prove time and time again that they’re about as trustworthy on their own as a pair of toddlers, when, in reality, they’re full-fledged teenagers.

That thought brings me up short.

They’ll be fifteen in January, which means driver’s ed and learner’s permits and?—

I tamp down on the spiraling thoughts. I’m getting ahead of myself.

“Take your time,” Caleb says as I retreat. “I’m going to change real quick, and Thayer will be a few minutes.”

I give him a thumbs-up and immediately wish the ground would open up and swallow me. A thumbs-up? What am I? Five?

I go in search of my brothers, stepping over the broken fence. The house is still locked, so they must be in the backyard. Unless they know how to pick locks.

My stomach plummets. Crap! Can they pick locks?

I wouldn’t put it past them to learn in their free time.

“Boys?” I call out as I scan the yard. “The neighbors are going to help us unload. You two need to participate as well.”

I push aside an overgrown bush, watching my step since I’m a little scared I might encounter a snake. I’m a strong, independent woman until I encounter a snake or a spider.

“Casen? Quinn?”

I head for the massive tree, taking it in as I get closer. Head tipped back, I catch sight of a flash of color.

Of course they’re in the tree. I wouldn’t expect anything less.

“Get down from there before you break a bone and end up in the hospital. I need your help.”

They’re determined to give me a heart attack, I swear. I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, reminding myself that I’m doing the right thing by taking custody of them. That all this is worth it.

The boys laugh, shoving playfully in a mock effort to knock each other out of the tree.

“I mean it.” I infuse my tone with all the firmness I can muster. “Get down and help or you’re grounded.”

That only earns a round of laughter.

I can’t say I blame them. We’re siblings . I’m not their parent. And for their whole lives, their parents have been deadbeats who never bothered to parent them. We share a mom, one who doesn’t give a shit about being a mother, but while I have no idea who my dad is, theirs has been in and out of the picture over the years. Mostly when he wants money, which we never had, or a bed to crash in, which my mom was always willing to offer.

“Listen.” I plant my hands on my hips. “I know this is a weird dynamic, and I know I’m not your mom, but I am your legal guardian. The two of you need to show some respect, and I’ll do the same in return. Now, since our neighbors are being kind enough to help, would you please join us?”

Finally, reluctantly, they shimmy down the tree, both landing impressive jumps from branches too high for my liking.

“You’re kind of a buzzkill,” Casen says, sauntering past me.

Quinn stops beside me with a sigh. “We were going to help.”

“But only after you gave me a minor heart attack over a potential broken bone, right?” I arch a brow, hands on my hips.

He cracks a half grin. “Exactly.”

Out front, Caleb has returned, wearing a faded t-shirt and a pair of jeans that look way too good. And he’s flanked by two other men. The first, a tall, good-looking man with a hint of gray in his stubble and at his temples, extends a hand and introduces himself as Thayer.

The other, who has hair the same shade as Thayer’s and similar eyes, shakes my hand as well. “I’m Laith. This one’s brother.” He tosses a thumb in Thayer’s direction.

He’s tall and just as good-looking as his brother, but with an easier smile and softer eyes. Thayer’s sharper edges make me think he’s experienced some hardships, whereas Laith is full of a playful lightness. The other noticeable difference is a crook in Laith’s nose that his brother doesn’t have.

“I’m Halle.” I tuck my hair behind my ears, cursing myself for somehow losing the hair band I always keep on my wrist. “I appreciate the help. You didn’t have to do it. ”

Despite my desire to handle all my shit on my own, I can’t say I’m not relieved.

“We’re happy to do it,” Laith says with a beaming smile.

Caleb, who was leaning against the U-Haul, straightens. “Put us to work.”

I smooth my hands down my shirt and paste on a smile. “All right.”

With their help, all our meager belongings are inside and in place in under two hours.

Now, I stand in the doorway of my bedroom, biting back the urge to cringe as Caleb assembles my bedframe, hands wringing, while I consider the best way to tell him he doesn’t have to do that.

“You can go,” I tell him. “I can figure out the bed.”

There. That sounded okay, didn’t it?

He glances over his shoulder, one of the pieces clasped in his hand. It would take me a while to figure out how to assemble it, but I could get it done. Eventually. And if I had to spend one night with my mattress on the floor, that wouldn’t be so bad.

He arches a brow that’s more brown than blond. “You really don’t like help, do you?”

I frown, easing away from the wall. “Is it that obvious?”

In my experience, most people don’t actually want to help, and when I suggest I can handle something on my own, they’re way too quick to let me try.

He chuckles, sizing up the pieces. “Yeah, it is.”

Across the hall, Laith and Thayer are putting together the boys’ beds. The boys? They helped a little, but quickly lost interest, as I expected. Now they’re outside doing who knows what. Terrorizing the poor squirrels in the tree? Figuring out how to roll the U-Haul down the hill? Plotting world domination?

I sit on the floor and bring my knees up to my chest. “I’ve always done things on my own. It’s easier that way. So this is new for me.”

He glances sidelong at me. “Get used to it here. This town is small, and we look after each other.”

“That’s… nice.” I wrinkle my nose. In reality, it sounds like my own personal hell.

He chuckles. “This may not be the right place for you, then.”

I sigh, resting my chin on my knees and locking my arms around them tighter. “I did it for them. Good school district and low crime rates.”

And this town is several hours away from our mother, so the chances of her showing up unexpectedly once she’s out of prison are slim to none. Not that I’d give her the address.

He pauses, Allen wrench in hand, and assesses me.

Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, I eye the stained carpet. How is he not concerned that he’s probably sitting on toxic waste? It’s probably eating a hole in his expensive jeans as we speak. “I think you’ll like it here.”

I exhale, my breath causing my dark hair to flutter. “Do you want help, or should I get out of your way?”

He looks up from his work again, one hand frozen in midair. “What’s going to make you feel better?”

“To help.”

“Then I’d be happy to have it.”

Thirty minutes later, the frame is assembled and we’ve positioned the queen-size mattress.

“Where are the sheets?”

“Oh.” My face goes hot. “I can handle that.”

The last thing I need is for my hot neighbor to see the holey, threadbare pink and white striped sheets. They were a girly indulgence I purchased with my first paycheck when I was sixteen. Even the TJ Maxx price was out of my budget, but their soft material made the splurge worth it and now I’m too attached to get rid of them.

He eyes me, raising his hands. “All right. Anything else you need?”

Lips pressed together, I pretend to ponder his question. “I think I’m good.”

The amused look he gives me—lips half curled—tells me he sees right through me. “I ordered pizza. It should be here any minute,” he announces, wiping his palms off on his pants.

I wince at the dust stains left behind in the shape of his massive hands.

“When did you have time to order pizza?”

“I used the app. Takes like two seconds,” he says.

He did pull out his phone halfway through assembling the bed, but I figured he was checking in with a girlfriend or something. Because there’s no way a guy this hot is single.

He only paused for a minute, but maybe that was enough time to text a girlfriend and order pizza .

I’m the one who should be providing a meal for him and his friends?—

My stomach growls at the thought of food.

He grins, triumphant.

“I haven’t eaten today.” I bring a hand to my stomach and grimace.

He frowns at that. “Why not?”

“Too busy.” And I spent more money feeding my brothers alone than I felt comfortable with. I figured I’d rather keep the additional ten dollars. Never know when I might need it, and hunger is something I’ve learned to deal with. “You really didn’t need to do that, I could’ve…”

Could’ve what? Pizza for six people is not in my budget, and my fridge and cupboards are bare.

“Just say thank you.” His tone is teasing, easygoing, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling bad about once again stomping on his kind gesture.

“Thank you.” The words are a pitiful squeak. “And thank you for the help. You really didn’t have to do all this.”

As much as I genuinely appreciate the help, dread has formed in my stomach, because I have no idea how I’ll ever be able to repay him.

He dips his head. “You’re welcome. I’m happy to help.”

I shove my hands in my back pockets, rocking on my heels, unsure of what to say next.

He watches me, silent, his scrutiny making me itch. Thankfully, I’m saved by a knock on the front door.

He thumbs over his shoulder. “That’ll be the food.”

I puff out my lips. “Okay.”

With a questioning glance, he leaves the room, then his feet pound down the stairs.

I blow out a breath and count to ten in an effort to center myself.

Across the hall, I poke my head into the boys’ room and find the beds assembled and the dresser moved to beneath the window. But Thayer and Laith have disappeared.

Downstairs, I peek around, but I don’t see them there either.

I follow Caleb into the kitchen, where he sets the pizzas down. “Where did your friends go?”

“Home, I guess.”

“Oh, well, can you thank them for me?”

“Sure can.”

“Listen.” I clear my throat. “Like I said before, I’m not good with this whole… friendly thing.” I flick a finger between the two of us. “But I mean it, thank you. It would’ve taken me forever to do all this.”

His eyes soften. “It’s okay, Halle. To feel the way you do, you must have been disappointed by a lot of people in your life. When that happens, it’s hard to trust again.”

I nod, averting my gaze. “Thank you for understanding.”

Most people take my behavior for stubborn pride, but it’s not that at all. And somehow, this virtual stranger gets it.

He opens the top pizza box, then peers at me over top of the lid. “Let me guess, you don’t have drinks. ”

I wince. “You’d guess right.” This man helped move us in and bought dinner, and I don’t even have drinks .

With a chuckle, he closes the box. “I’ll be right back. You want a beer? You’re legal, right?”

“I’m twenty-three,” I say, a tad offended. Do I look that young? “But no thank you.”

Watching my mom succumb to alcohol and drug abuse has made me wary of touching the stuff. That’s not to say I’ve never had a drink, but the instances are few and far between. I tend to steer clear of any behavior that could cause me to be dependent on a foreign substance.

With a sheepish grin, he says, “I’ll be back.” Again. Like he’s concerned I’ve forgotten in the two-point-five seconds that have passed.

“I’m going to go check on my brothers.” I point to the living room, where their heads are just visible over the back of the couch.

The front door closes with a soft click as I approach them.

“Hungry? Caleb ordered pizza.”

Quinn looks over at me. His dark brown hair is in need of a trim, but he refuses to let me take him anywhere.

“Pizza sounds good.” He punches his brother, who removes one of his earbuds. “Pizza?”

It’s the only word Casen needs to hear before he’s up and moving toward the kitchen.

“We’ll go to the grocery store tomorrow,” I tell them. “Start thinking about what you want—but keep in mind the budget is tight.”

“Sure thing, Cap.” Casen salutes me .

I assume Cap is short for Captain, but honestly, one never knows when it comes to him.

The boys sit at the table, one of my better thrift-store finds, and dig into the pizza.

“Caleb went next door to get drinks for us, so be sure to tell him thank you when he gets back.”

When neither looks up from the pizza they’re inhaling or deigns to respond, I snap my fingers in front of each of their faces.

“Hey, did you hear me?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Quinn says.

“We’ll be sure to thank the new neighbor,” Casen says, “but I think it’s you he’s hoping for a thank-you from, not us.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

Casen laughs, nearly choking on his pizza. “I mean, the new neighbor dude clearly wants in your pants.”

I snort. That’s preposterous. I might’ve checked him out, but there’s no way he was doing the same. He’s older by at least a few years and way out of my league. From what I’ve seen already, he has his life together. Me? I’m nowhere close. His clothes look expensive and his car is newer, so he must make good money.

A guy who looks like him and has a good job? There’s no way he doesn’t have a girlfriend.

I snort. “Yeah, right.”

They exchange a look in that annoying, secret twin telepathy way they have.

With a huff, I change the subject. “I thought we could go to the hardware store tomorrow. Pick out some paint. What do you think?”

Again, with the silent twin exchange.

“Okay,” Quinn says. “Can we paint our room neon green?”

My instinct is to cringe, but I bite back the reaction. He’s just trying to get under my skin. “Sure. Whatever color you want.”

Hopefully they go with something more palatable than neon green, but they’re the ones who’ll have to live with it, not me. If they want to fuck with me, it’ll be to their own detriment.

At the sound of the front door, I navigate my way through the kitchen to the foyer.

“Wow,” I remark when I catch sight of the plastic bag full of drinks. “You didn’t need to bring all that.”

Caleb shrugs. “I always overstock when Costco has a sale.”

“Right.” I bite my lip. “Well, thank you.”

He follows me back into the kitchen and opens the fridge. “What do you guys want?” he asks over his shoulder as he sets several waters and a variety of sodas on the top shelf.

“Coke.”

“Beer.”

I point a finger at Casen. “Case. Be for real.”

His lips tip up in a sly smirk. “Coke for me too.”

Caleb hands me two Cokes to pass to my brothers, and as I hold them out, I keep them just out of their reach, giving them both looks that say be nice .

“What do you want?” he asks, hand poised to grab another beverage.

As much as I want to copy my brothers and ask for a Coke, I’m more than likely dehydrated after all the work unloading the truck and setting up the house.

“Water for me, please.”

Caleb straightens, holding a beer for himself and a bottle of water. He unscrews the top of the water bottle and hands it to me.

I take it and guzzle it down. It’s half gone when I catch myself and set it on the counter. God, Halle . He’s probably judging me for my excessive H2O consumption.

While Caleb pops the top on his beer and takes a careful sip, I swipe a slice of pizza and take a too large bite to occupy myself. With any luck, it’ll keep me from doing or saying anything stupid.

“Hungry?” Caleb watches me with an amused smile.

“Starving,” I say around the mouthful.

“I spoke to Thayer while I was next door. He said he’ll have his guys take care of the lawn later this week.”

His comment is like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. I swipe my hands through the air. “No, no. That’s okay. I’ll get a lawn mower.”

Mentally, I add it to the endless list of shit I need to buy.

Caleb shrugs, his demeanor easy. “It’s not a big deal. He has the guys to do the work. Just let them handle it.”

“But I?—”

“We’re broke, dude.” Quinn says it in such a bold way, it silences the whole room.

It’s not like our financial status isn’t obvious, but my brother’s blunt admission is like a swift kick to the gut.

Suddenly I’m not hungry anymore. I stick the half-eaten slice back in the box, the portion I did eat sitting like a lead ball in my stomach.

“He’s not going to charge you.” Caleb leans against the avocado green linoleum countertops.

That color was certainly a choice. I’d rather focus on that than on the implication of that statement.

“You’re not a charity case,” he says, as if reading my mind. “This is just neighbors helping neighbors. That’s all.”

In my periphery, Quinn elbows Casen, and then Casen clears his throat. “Do you want to get in our sister’s pants?”

“Casen!” My face burns like I’ve been lit on fire.

Caleb brings a fist to his mouth, choking on his pizza.

I point a shaky finger at Caleb. “Don’t you dare indulge him with an answer. And you.” I swing my finger to Casen. “You know better than to ask things like that.”

“It’s a legitimate question,” Quinn grumbles.

God help me. How am I supposed to do this? They’re only fourteen. I’ve got to figure out how to keep them in line for another four years. At this rate, I can’t imagine all three of us making it to their high school graduation.

With a ragged breath, Caleb straightens. He takes a sip from his beer, then clears his throat. “I’m just happy to help.”

My brothers sear him with identical expressions. The same ones they gave when they were seven and skeptical that the spaghetti our mom smothered in ketchup instead of tomato sauce would be any good .

I pile slices on two plates, then hold them out to them. “Shoo. Go watch TV or something.”

Before you embarrass me any further.

At least the internet was installed before we arrived. If it hadn’t been, I have no idea what we would have done. It’s not like they’ll read a book.

“I’m sorry about them,” I say to Caleb when the TV screen lights up. I sink onto a chair and pick up my pizza again. This time, I nibble on it, hoping it doesn’t make my stomach churn.

He sits beside me and gives me a wry smile. “You don’t need to apologize. It’s funny, really. You’re their sister, and they clearly want to embarrass you.”

“Yeah,” I sigh. “That’s a problem. How can I be their guardian when they don’t take me seriously?”

Caleb purses his lips slightly. It should look silly, but if anything, it’s cute. “I’m sure they understand that when it comes to the important things.”

The man has only known them for a few hours. He has no idea the kind of mischief they’ve gotten into over the past few years. If I can’t keep them under control, I worry the state will change their mind and place them in foster care.

I give a small, miserable shrug. “We’ll see, I guess.”

Caleb takes another sip of beer, surveying the room. “Do you have a notepad handy?”

I snort and hold out an arm, gesturing to the stacks of boxes. “Pretty sure that’s a no.”

“Right. Phone, then? ”

I pull it out of my pocket and set it on the table. “Why do you need my phone?”

Lips twisting in amusement, he says, “I was going to save my number to your contacts. Thayer’s, Salem’s, and Cynthia’s too.”

“I have no idea who those last two people are,” I remind him.

“Salem is Thayer’s wife and Cynthia is the elderly lady across the street. She and her partner, Thelma. They’re too nosy for their own good, so you’ve been warned, but they’re great if you need a hand.”

I know good and well that I won’t ask for help from any of these people, but I let him put all the numbers into my phone anyway.

Once we’ve finished eating, Caleb helps me straighten up the kitchen and heads for the front door.

“Wait,” I call after him, picking up the pizza box we’ve put all the remaining slices in. “You should take the leftovers.”

He shakes his head. “Nah, keep it. Your brothers might get hungry again, and cold pizza makes for great breakfast.”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

I can’t count the number of slices I ate for breakfast as a kid.

As I follow him outside onto the front porch, I eye the flickering spiderweb-infested porch light and cringe, making a mental note to use a broom to clean it off and change the bulb tomorrow.

“Thanks again for your help. ”

As he descends the creaky steps, I hold my breath, afraid one might break beneath his feet.

Turning, he flashes me a disarming smile. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you around, Halle.”

He strides across the yard, then bounds up his porch steps. When he turns my way, finding me watching, he smiles and throws his hand up. Then he disappears inside.

“People are way too friendly here,” I mutter as I head inside and lock up behind me.

Hawthorne Mills might not be the place for us after all, but we have nowhere else to go, so for now, it’ll have to do.