Sable Peak (The Edens, #6)

by Devney Perry

“Hey.” He dipped his chin, like he was tipping an invisible hat. “I’m Mateo.” That name locked into place for all time. Mateo.

I wished I had my father. That he could be here to see Vance on his happiest of days. That we could dance and be a family again.

“May I?” Mateo asked. “Sure.”

My skin tingled from where he’d touched me. No, not touched. Patted. He’d patted my shoulder. Like he’d do to a friend. Or a sister.

He’d started calling her Sprout not long after Vance and Lyla’s wedding. The first time I’d heard him, at a family dinner at this very table, I’d had to excuse myself to the bathroom to hide the tears. Vance had snuck away to check on me two minutes later. Dad had called Elsie Sprout.

And because I wouldn’t want Hadley to be left out, I’d started calling Allie Jellybean. Sometimes it hurt less. Sometimes it hurt more. Tonight . . . tonight was a bad night. I missed my sisters. I missed my dad.

My cheeks flushed and I tore my gaze away. And found Anne’s eyes, waiting. Shit.

Oops

And before Mateo could say another word, I pressed my lips to his, holding that soft mouth for two aching heartbeats before I pulled away. He stared at me, his face unreadable. “I’m done waiting for you to see me.” I flew from the bar. I ran.

YALL the embarrassment I would have died from

She’d cried. I’d made her cry. And I couldn’t stop seeing those tears track down her face. “What—oh.” Understanding widened Mom’s blue eyes. “It finally happened, didn’t it?”

Literally of course the only person to notice was mom

Something shifted beneath my feet like moving sand. Things in my chest, around my brain, rearranged. It was like a deck of cards being shuffled. There was before. This was after.

His jaw clenched. “You don’t know everything she’s been through.” “No, I guess I don’t.” When it came to Vera, there was a lot I’d missed. It was time to catch up.

“What if I don’t want to forget about it?” Her gaze whipped to mine. Finally. I had her attention.

Wait. What was his question? “Uh . . . no idea.” “Thrust.” Of course the answer was thrust. A word that sounded like sex in his rugged, deep voice. “Right.” I gulped. “Thrust.”

Thrust 😂😂😂

“Vera.” He stopped me just as I’d opened the door. The night air should have cooled my face, but Mateo’s stare was so intense that sweat beaded at my temples. “Yeah?” “I see you.”

“Uh, where are we going?” “Home.” “Oh. Um, I didn’t . . . I have to study tonight.” “Okay.” She didn’t move. Why wasn’t she moving? “Vera, get your stuff.” “But you just said okay.” “Okay, as in you can study at home. Allie sleeps best in her bed. And I want you in mine.”

“What can I do for you, Agent Swenson?” “I’d love a moment to talk.” “About?” “Your father.”

Boy bye

Lyla’s eyebrows came together but she nodded. “Talk loud. I’ll eavesdrop.”

My heart stopped. Mateo, blue eyes blazing with fury, stood with his arms crossed over his chest. “What the fuck is going on, Vera?”

Mateo tugged on the end of my ponytail. “And what about you? What do you love?” You.

“Miss Gallagher, we have reason to believe your father is dead.” My gasp echoed to the lobby’s wooden rafters.

I could still see their faces in my mind, but I couldn’t hear their voices anymore. “I miss their noise.”

😭😭😭

Mateo held out a hand. “Mateo Eden.” Dad glanced down at me, looking between the two of us. Then he blew out a long breath, a breath that seemed like two years in the making, and shook Mateo’s hand. “Cormac Gallagher.”

It had been a month since we’d found Cormac at Sable Peak, and not a soul knew he was currently living on Eden Ranch property.

“Mommy,” I corrected, my voice low enough that Vera couldn’t hear with the water sloshing. The days of Ve-wa were gone. “That’s Mommy.”