Flynn called me yesterday to let me know the funeral would be this weekend. I took off from the salon and had Faith and Mags come over to give me pep talks as I packed. I’d been stuck in my head about everything and fighting off panic attacks at night in my room, so the distraction was more than welcome.
“I’m sorry you went through all of that.” Faith fanned the tears in her eyes. She’d been extra emotional the past week, and I had a suspicion that she was pregnant but didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong. She and Asher have been trying for almost half a year now.
“I’m glad Flynn got to him. Someone needed to beat the fuck out of the crazy psychopath!” Mags seethed. Luca offered to watch Lance so she could come over, and she took him up on it. It was weird seeing her without her little baby attached to her hip.
“He beat him, alright. He rearranged his face.” I cringed. “I never quite understood that saying until I saw Gerald’s face when Flynn was done.”
Faith’s eyebrows rose. “Are you scared of what he’s capable of? I mean, you said he just kind of… snapped.”
I zipped up my duffel bag. “Not at all. I know what he’s done. I know what he can do. Seeing him snap was an eye opener, but it didn’t make me afraid of him. I do feel like I understand his triggers more, if that makes sense.”
Mags nodded. “Yeah, makes sense. He did protect you.”
A cold chill went down my spine and I straightened up. “I don’t want to think what would’ve happened if he hadn’t been here.”
Mags patted my shoulder. “Thankfully you don’t have to think about it because he was here.”
A knock came from the door and Mags raced to answer it with Faith behind her. “Flynn Rockwell. Long time no see,” Mags greeted him in an innocent voice.
He smirked. “Magnolia, Faith. How are you?”
“Great!” Mags opened the door wider to invite him in. “Let’s catch up.”
His weary eyes met mine, and I snickered behind my hand. My friends were sharks, and he’d walked right into their domain.
“Thanks for protecting our Eve,” Mags told him.
“She’s been through a lot.” Faith nibbled on her lip. “You put her through a lot too.”
His eyes darkened as his shoulders slumped. “Yeah. I know.”
“Just take care of our girl, Flynn.” Mags winked as she came over to put an arm around me. “I’m sure you will. You wouldn’t want to hurt this sweet angel again.”
He winced, adjusting his weight on his good leg. “I plan to take care of her.”
I grabbed my bag and shot my two friends a warning glare. “We’re going to head out now before you passively threaten him to death. We have a long way to go.”
“Aw! No fun, Eve.” Mags pouted.
Faith smiled. “Be safe, and let us know when you make it to the hotel.”
“I will, Moms.”
Flynn cleared his throat. “Sorry we can’t hang around. It’s a six hour drive to the hotel.”
“Damn! That’s a hell of a drive.” Mags whistled.
“At least I’ll have good company.” He winked at me.
Blood rushed to my cheeks and I ducked my head down, curls falling to hide the blush I was sure I had. Perks of being a pale ginger.
Faith and Mags shared a satisfied look before we locked up my house. After a few more threats mixed in with goodbyes, we were off to the next state in his new truck.
I pressed my fingers against my lips before a burst of giggles escaped. “I’m sorry. They tend to be protective of me.”
He gave me a side glance. “I can see why. You’ve been through a lot. They’ve changed since high school. More mature, I guess. But you all seem as close as ever. I’m glad they’ve been there with you.”
I shrugged. “We’ve all had to grow up. Faith went through a lot of crap a few years ago. She’d been engaged to this absolute asshole, Preston. He was a slimy lawyer who cheated on her their whole relationship.”
His biceps flexed as he turned on to the interstate. “Damn. How’d she find out?”
“She was going home to end the engagement anyway, I mean Asher moved back to Violet Ridge and ended up working with her at the elementary. She walked in on Preston sleeping with his client on their couch.”
“Shit. How’d she handle that?”
“Asher was with her, thankfully. She’d thrown her ring at him. She moved past a lot back then. Being cheated on gives you trust issues, but Asher was great. They’ve grown together.” I smiled, remembering how they’d finally gotten together. I was hesitant of their relationship at first, since Asher left her the morning he took her virginity—but there was a logical, stupid reason for it. Besides, they are perfect together.
He nodded. “What about Magnolia? How’s she been? She’s always been the wild one of your friend group.”
I stuck my tongue to the roof of my mouth. “Well, she’s always been in love with Faith’s cousin, Luca.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, everyone knew that.”
“They’d slept together the night we had our first kiss at Luca’s party that summer.”
He gave me a lopsided grin. “No shit.”
I nodded. “And then they slept together a few years ago at Asher’s place. He ended up bolting, and Mags was pissed.”
“I bet. She can be scary.”
“Definitely!” I threw my head back and laughed. “Anyway, at Faith’s week-long wedding festivities they ended up getting together—sort of. They were messing around, but never labeled anything. Well, Luca had some issues when it came to commitment and got scared after Faith and Asher’s wedding. He ended up leaving. Mags was a mess.”
He arched a brow. “So, how’d they end up together?”
“He came to her apartment and apologized. She turned him away. Then, she decided she did want to try with him. And then she found
