Chapter 29
Chapter twenty-nine
Cam
Saturday’s sun hits differently—warm, bright, the kind of day that pulls people out of their houses and into everyone else’s business. Kate’s driveway is already full: Knox’s truck, Brynn’s SUV, Kinsey’s beat-up Jeep. And mine, parked crooked at the curb like it’s trying to draw attention.
Boxes are stacked knee-high on the lawn, most of them light, deliberately so. The labels are my handwriting—Books, Gear, Kitchen Stuff (Probably)—vague enough to pass inspection without telling the whole story.
Brynn’s on the porch, hands on her hips, running the operation like a general with a clipboard. “Fragile things go inside. Heavy things stay in the garage. And for the love of all things holy, don’t scratch the floors. This house is not your locker room.”
Knox laughs as he lifts one of the boxes from my truck. “You realize half of this is going to live in the garage and the other half’s just for show, right?”
I shoulder a box of tools and smirk. “Yeah. Probably best, Kate has better taste than I do.”
From inside the house, Evie’s voice floats out, bright and excited, explaining to someone that Coach Wells will be around more now. My chest tightens anyway, the sound of her making room for me in her world landing deeper than it has any right to.
Knox sets the box down and wipes his hands on his jeans. He watches the house for a moment, then looks back at me. “Your world is changing pretty quickly, Cam.”
“Yeah.” I nod, taking a deep breath. “But it’s good.”
“Evie already thinks you hung the moon.”
I glance toward the doorway, where Evie’s voice carries out, talking a mile a minute. “I know.”
“And?”
“And I won’t let her down.”
Knox smiles, quiet and knowing. “I know you won’t.”
Brynn sticks her head out the door. “If you two are done with your bro bonding, Kinsey is five seconds away from throwing your spice rack into a donation bin.”
Knox laughs. “I’ll save the paprika.”
Inside, the house hums with movement. Music drifts through the rooms, Knox cringes when Whitney Houston starts playing. Kate and Brynn are in the kitchen, arranging pizza and paper plates on the island. Kinsey’s sprawled on the floor with Evie, trying to keep her focused on a coloring book page.
Evie darts over and presses a glittery gold star sticker into my palm. I stick it right onto the front of my tool chest.
She studies me for a second, head tilted. “Are you sad you’re leaving your house?”
The question is gentle. Careful.
I crouch to her level. “No,” I say honestly. “I think it will be fun spending more time with you and your mom.”
She considers that, then nods, satisfied. “Okay.”
As I straighten, she returns to Kinsey, then Knox passes by, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “You did good, Wells,” he says quietly.
I glance back toward Kate, who catches my eye from across the room. She smiles before telling everyone to come get some food.
“Yeah,” I say under my breath. “This is good.”