Tara walked into Michelle and Aaron’s house in time for dinner. She was feeling good. She’d made peace with what happened with Rick and was finally ready to move on. She still didn’t want her brother butting into her life, but she was starting to appreciate that he’d given her a chance to say goodbye to Rick, even if they’d never actually said goodbye.

Their chemistry was off the charts, but they didn’t belong together. If they did he wouldn’t have walked away.

“It smells awesome in here,” Tara said when she saw Michelle in the kitchen. “You didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me.”

Michelle smiled. “Yes, I did. Happy Birthday. Aaron is grilling steaks and I’ve got all the veggies ready to go. We even got your favorite, ice cream cake.”

Tara groaned. “I’m going to gain ten pounds today.”

“It’ll be worth it,” Michelle teased. “Besides, your birthday is a day to celebrate, and we all know calories don’t count when you’re celebrating.”

Tara rolled her eyes and accepted the glass of wine held out to her. It was sweet and crisp on her tongue and she closed her eyes to savor it for just a minute. “I needed that. Thanks for yesterday, by the way. I thought about everything last night and decided you’re right. Rick’s not worth worrying about. I can move on and get my life back together. He left and I’m done crying over him. If he wanted me, he wouldn’t have run.”

Michelle was suddenly very interested in the vegetables she was sautéing. Tara narrowed her eyes at the person she knew as well as she knew herself. “What aren’t you telling me?” Tara demanded.

The silence between them let Tara hear the sounds she hadn’t noticed before. Two voices in the backyard. Male voices. Her brother’s and Rick’s. Then she heard Rick laugh and her stomach dropped through the floor. “What the hell?”

“I’m sorry. This wasn’t supposed to be an ambush, I promise. When I invited you last night I was positive he’d be gone. He didn’t want to leave, Tare. He said he had to stay here and talk to you. He wants you to move on because he doesn’t think he’s good enough for you. He told me he said it was just sex before because he couldn’t admit how much you affected him. It started out as sex, but by the time he touched you he knew he would never feel that way again. So he pushed you away so he wouldn’t hurt you-”

“He did hurt me,” Tara growled around the tears and lump in her throat. “He shattered me.”

Michelle nodded. “He thought it was the best thing for you. He wants you happy. He’ll walk again if you want him to, but Tare, be sure. He’s here to make sure you’ll be happy. If that isn’t love I don’t know what is.”

The problem was, Tara didn’t know either. Until she turned and saw him watching her. And felt it. Unmistakeable. Love.