The Wayward Sister (The Wayward Sons 5)

I lean back in the seat, she’s right. I do have the room and could use the help, and yeah, not being alone in the house would make me feel better. But there’s also complications that will most definitely arise from having three handsome men in the house. One of whom I already have an awkward and unfortunate past with.

I sigh. “Fine. I’ll do it. But I’m going to set some rules.”

Her smile is wide. “Yay! This will be good for all of you. Promise.”

I want to tell Katie not to make promises she can’t keep. I’m not sure how “good” this is going to be for all of us, but it will most definitely be interesting.

11

Sierra

They arrive that night, dirty and exhausted. They smell of soot and ash. I’d spent the day prepping for them, cleaning out my former bedroom because it still has twin beds, and putting fresh sheets in Dexter’s half-packed room. I take my parents' room, pushing past the discomfort of sleeping in their bed.

“The bathroom is down the hall—I put linens in your rooms. There are some toiletries you can use—just some stuff I grabbed,” I ramble. “Sorry if things are a little unorganized, I didn’t…”

“Thank you, Sierra,” Adrian says, reaching out and touching my arm. “We appreciate it.”

I give him a tight smile. “It’s the least I could do. I’m just glad you’re all safe.”

“It was scary watching it go up in flames so fast,” Holden says. He looks at Smith. “I’m just glad you were up and heard the call.”

Smith was up because we were fighting in my driveway. I’ve never been so glad for an argument in my life.

“Curse of insomnia,” he says, not admitting to being here. He points to one of the twin beds. “I’ll crash in here.”

Holden yawns, covering his mouth. “I call the first shower.”

I step aside, and he dips in the room, grabbing a towel, then closing himself off in the bathroom.

Adrian and I are left in the narrow hall. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “Any news on the fire?”

“They’ve contained it, but there are still hot-spots,” he replies. “It’ll take a few days to really assess the damage.”

There’s a smudge of soot on his cheek, and I reach out and wipe it with my thumb. His eyes dilate, and I drop my hand. “Sorry. Old habit.”

“From the boys you took care of?”

I shrug. “They’re teenagers and didn’t need someone mom-ing them like that, but it happens. They were a mess.” I look at his soot-lined face. “Kind of like you.”

“I bet you were good at taking care of them.”

“Sometimes,” I allow. “But there were times I failed them, like everyone else in their lives.”

“You can’t be everything to everyone, Sierra,” he says, looking down at me. “But I do appreciate what you’re doing for us tonight. After seeing that fire tear through the forest like that, taking out everything in its path…it’s nice having a soft place to land.”

“Like I said, it’s the least I could do.” We stare at one another for a moment, a strange current building between us. We’re both exhausted. Me from being up all night, worried. Him from seeing his home and life vanish in a blaze of fire. “Good night, Adrian.”

I back toward my room, putting some distance between us. He holds my eye for a moment longer, then enters Dexter’s old bedroom. The light switches on and the door clicks.

For the first time in six months, I’m back in a house filled with men.

Hopefully this ends better than the last time.

12

Adrian

Bacon sizzles on the frying pan, waking my stomach. I rummage through Sierra’s cabinets until I find a bowl and start cracking eggs to scramble. There isn’t much food in the refrigerator—not with the way we eat. I’ll head into town later.