Clearing his throat, her dad said, “She got busted. This time, with cocaine. We told her we’d pay for the lawyer if she’d get help. She doesn’t want it. She doesn’t want our help.”

“And we don’t know what to do,” her mother cried, and Markus reached out, taking her hand.

“There is nothing you can do, and I know that hurts. I can’t imagine. But addicts are a different kind of monsters, and unless they want help, you can’t help them,” he stressed, and Mekena was in awe of him.

These people were the parents of the woman who’d tried to rape him, and he was consoling them. Her heart couldn’t take it, and she found herself falling in love with him all over again. Who knew a person could fall multiple times for another? But she was. Completely in love with him.

“All you can do is pray, and maybe she’ll wake up,” he added, and Mekena wrapped her arms around his waist. He smiled, tucking her into his side before looking back at her parents. “It won’t be easy, but I think you need to let her know you love her and that you’re there for her.”

Her father nodded his head. “That’s what the therapist said.”

“Yeah, those therapists are actually smart,” he said with a laugh, and her father smiled.

Her father reached out, cupping Mekena’s hand. “I’m sorry we hurt you, Kennie. We love you so much.”

“We do,” her mother cried, nodding her head. “And you’re right, we haven’t done right by you with everything, but that will change. We’ll do better.”

“We will,” her father promised.

That was all Mekena wanted, but she wasn’t sure if she could believe them. Skylar would always be the star in their eyes. Mekena was the geeky, brainy kid they didn’t have to worry about because she was too smart to do the things Skylar did growing up. Jumping out of trees and breaking limbs? Nope, not Mekena. Getting caught sleeping with a guy in her room? Hell no, not Mekena. Failing her senior year? No way, Mekena could have graduated her junior year. As she stared into her parents’ faces, she understood more and more what Markus meant. They didn’t have to worry about Mekena; she was good. But Skylar, she needed their worry, their extra love.

She didn’t have what Mekena did.

A job she loved. A bright future. A guy who would love her enough for everyone.

“Sounds good,” she said simply, her parents’ faces filling with relief.

“Great. Let us take y’all to lunch, my treat,” her father insisted, but before Mekena could politely decline, Markus was grinning beside her, his hands holding her tightly.

“Actually, we are here with our interior decorator, and she’s expensive. So maybe dinner? Tonight?”

When Mekena heard Lucy laugh, she smiled since they all knew they were watching Angie for Lucy and Benji as payment. Her father nodded happily as her mom wiped her face and grinned. “Sounds great. Six okay?”

“Great. I’ll be starving by then if I don’t die looking at lamps,” Markus joked, and she beamed up at him as her father cupped his shoulder.

“I hear you,” he laughed before looking back at Mekena. “I think you got yourself a good one.”

“I do,” she said, holding him close.

“Wouldn’t expect anything less. We all know how Mekena is,” her dad joked, and Markus nodded.

“She doesn’t settle for anything but the best,” he said with a cheesy grin that she rolled her eyes at.

Mekena smiled as her mother spoke up. “We always have said that. Only the best for our Kennie.”

Mekena’s heart soared as she nodded. “Yeah, okay, stop. Y’all are making me blush. We’ll see you tonight? I’ll text you the address to the restaurant?”

“Sounds good. Make sure it’s a good steak place,” her dad said as he cuddled her mom up.

“I agree. I’m feeling cow,” he said, grinning at Mekena as she rolled her eyes.

“We aren’t getting the chair,” she muttered before nodding to her parents and saying brightly, “See y’all tonight.”

They said bye and started for the rugs while Mekena stood with Markus, wrapped up in his arms. Her heart was singing for him as his lips dusted her temple. She could feel his heart beat against her chest, and when she looked up, he looked concerned.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Good. You can cancel dinner if you don’t want to go. I didn’t want to hurt their feelings.”

“Do you want to go?”

“I do. I like them. They seem nice enough.”

She smiled. “They are. I just came to the realization they really don’t have to worry about me. It isn’t that they favor Skylar, it’s just they don’t have to be concerned about me the way they have to with her.”

“You’re right.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Maybe she is sick.”

“Drugs are scary.”

“I don’t know if I can help her, though. I’m still so mad.”

“Which is understandable. Your forgiveness will come.”

Mekena nodded. “Yeah, but right now, I’m good. Great, even.”

“Yeah, you are. Hot too.”

She giggled as she smacked him. “Thank you for being amazing to them. You didn’t have to.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t have to, but I wanted to because I love you, and they are a part of you.”

“Which means I’m going to church on Sunday?”

He grinned. “Yup, and I’ll get you a Sunday hat.”

“Will it distract them from asking about my ring size?”

He thought that over. “You might need a really big hat. With a bird on it.”

She nodded, loving everything about this eccentric man. “Cool, I like birds. Make sure it’s purple. That’s my new color.”

Grinning, he kissed her lips hard. “Purple bird, done.”

“And glitter.”

“With glitter.”

“And maybe some rhinestones. Hell, might as well come in there like a queen.”

“Good plan since you’re my queen,” he said cheekily, his eyes sparkling.

“Do you think I can order a Cinderella dress before Sunday?” she asked, her eyes lively while she felt so light inside. She loved this side of them. The playful, nutty side. “Oh, wait, would that match the purple bird hat?”