“Someone meaning Waylay?”
Naomi shot a nervous glance in Nash’s direction. “What if Tina got word to her that she needed access, and Waylay left a door unlocked? You were the one who yelled at me for leaving the back door unlocked. Or what if Tina told her what she needed, and Waylay got it for her?”
“You think that kid would give Tina the time of day after she’s had a few weeks with you? With your parents? Hell, even fucking Stef and Liza. You made one big happy family for her. Why would she risk fucking that up?”
“Tina is her mother,” Naomi insisted. “Family doesn’t stop being family just because one of you does shitty things.”
“That’s exactly what happens to families, and you need to quit this loyalty to your fucking sister. She doesn’t deserve it.”
“It’s not loyalty to Tina, you idiot,” Naomi shouted back. She shoved against my chest again, but I was immovable.
“Educate me,” I insisted.
“If Waylay had anything to do with letting Tina in, how is that going to look in the guardianship hearing? How am I fit to take custody when I can’t even keep criminals out of my house? They’ll take her away from me. I’ll have let her down. I’ll have let my parents down. Waylay will end up with strangers—” Her voice hitched.
I grabbed her and pulled her into me. “Baby. Stop.”
“I tried,” she said, fingers curling into my t-shirt.
“Tried what?”
“I tried not to hate Tina. My whole life, I tried so hard not to hate her.”
I cupped the back of her head and buried her face in my neck.
“Don’t fucking cry, Daze. Not over her. You’ve given her enough.”
She sucked in a breath and blew it out.
“You can use me as a pillow if you wanna scream it out,” I offered.
“Don’t be sweet and funny right now.”
“Baby, those are two things no one has ever accused me of being.”
She pulled back and took another steadying breath. “This is not what I was expecting when you said you were taking me to lunch.”
“I expected the yelling, just thought we’d be doing it naked. We good?”
Her fingers were tracing little circles against my chest. “We’re good. For now. I’m going to go collect myself in the bathroom.”
“I’m gonna eat some more of your mom’s cobbler.”
She gave me another one of those wobbly smiles that made me feel things I didn’t want to feel. I reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s gonna be fine. No one’s takin’ Way. Nash and I’ll take care of it.”
She nuzzled her cheek against my hand. “You can’t solve my problems for me.”
“Oh, but you can solve everyone else’s?” I pointed out. “You gotta stop worrying about making everything okay for everyone else and start thinkin’ about making it okay for you.”
She didn’t say anything, but I felt like my words had landed.
I gave her a playful slap on the ass. “Go on. Go scream into some hand towels.”
A minute later, Nash came out of the bedroom. “Grave is sending some boys out to see if we can lift any prints. Where’s Naomi?”
“Bathroom. You find any prints in the landlord’s office?” I asked Nash.
He shook his head. “It was a clean job.”
“What are the odds they split up? Tina took the storage unit, and the boyfriend took the office.”
Nash thought about it. “It plays.”
“Naomi doesn’t think Tina broke in. She’s worried Way let Tina in. Worried how that’ll play in the guardianship shit.”
Nash blew out a breath. “Any judge that looks at those two sisters and decides Naomi isn’t fit has their robe on too tight.”
“She’s a worrier. Which is why I don’t want her worrying about some stranger sneakin’ into her home and going through her things.”
“Better the devil you know,” he said.
I nodded.
“Speaking of, you going to see him this weekend?” Nash asked.
Deliberately I took another forkful of cobbler even though my appetite was suddenly gone. “If he’s there.”
“Give him this from me.” Nash limped over to the table and picked up a backpack. “And maybe think about not handing over cash.”
“You’re lucky I’m tired of fighting about this,” I told him and took the bag.
“People keep telling me how lucky I am,” he said.