Kian took Everly to the garage and stood with her in front of the six cars that were parked there.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, thinking they were going for a ride.

"I want you to choose one of these cars for your friend Stacy.”

"Are you kidding?" she said, looking at the row of brand new cars.

"Of course not. I know how important it is to you to pay your friend back for everything she did for you after your divorce.”

"Kian," she said, putting her fingers to her lips. "This is too much."

"Nonsense.”

"You are such a wonderful man," she said, throwing her arms around his neck and reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “What did I do to deserve you?"

"You give me everything I've ever wanted and more. I wonder what I did to deserve you."

Everly let out a deep sigh and smiled, lowering back down from her tiptoes to the ground. She turned and started walking down the line of cars. There was an SUV, three sports cars, a Subaru station wagon, and a truck. She crossed her arms, tapping her finger to her mouth, considering which car Stacy would appreciate the most. She had been driving a 1995 Volvo that was rusted and falling apart.

"I think we should give her the Subaru," she said, pointing at the four-wheel-drive station wagon.

"Good choice."

“How are we going to get this car to her?"

"I've asked Dax to drive it with us to the city.”

"Thank you so much. She's going to be so happy.”

Dax came into the garage and grabbed the keys to the Subaru. Kian and Everly buckled Ember into the backseat of the SUV.

"Are you sure you want to give this car away? I like driving it to the beach to go surfing."

"You can just use the truck,” Kian said. “We have something important to do for Everly.”

Dax shrugged and opened the door of the Subaru. "Well, let's do this then. Can we stop at that café? I’d like and get a triple mocha latte with extra whip cream and chocolate sauce."

"Sure," Kian said. “What’s a trip to the city without a triple mocha latte?"

Everly giggled, and they all climbed in the cars. They pulled the SUV out first and then Dax pulled up behind them.

The drive into the city took a few hours. But it was worth it. They drove through the coffee shop and got iced mocha lattes.

"She's at the café right now at work," Everly said, as they drove out of the café.

"Then we'll drop the car off there.”

“What will we tell her?"

"That your billionaire boss fell in love with you?”

"That sounds plausible," Everly said with a giggle.

They drove up in front of the Fifth Street diner and parked in the lot out back. Having just finished her mocha latte, she was feeling a bit energetic. Kian took Ember out of the car seat and carried her in a sling on his hip.

"A table for three?" the hostess asked.

"We're just here to see Stacy Morgan," Everly said.

"Stacy?" the hostess said. "I'll get her right away."

She hurried into the back and Stacy came out a moment later, dressed in her pink uniform and white apron.

"Everly!" she said, running to her friend. "I missed you so much. How have you been? And who is this?"

"Stacy, this is my fiancé, Kian," Everly said, trying to come up with the best equivalent of mate. “And our friend Dax.”

"Was he your boss?" Stacy asked at a whisper.

"Uh huh," Everly said.

"What brings you to the diner?" she asked.

"We just wanted to bring you something to pay you back for everything you did for me."

"It was nothing. What are friends for?" Stacy said, looking at Dax and Kian.

"You helped me out at the most difficult part of my life, and now I want to pay you back. I know you are struggling. So, we brought you something.”

Dax lifted the keys and dangled them in the air.

"What did you bring me?" Stacy asked.

"Come outside and see," Everly said.

They all piled out of the café and walked down through the parking lot to where the cars were parked. Dax hit the unlock button on the Subaru and the lights flashed. Stacy's mouth dropped open when she saw the car. Dax dropped the keys into her hands.

"That's for you," Dax said. "Can we get another mocha latte now?"

"He bought me a new Subaru?" Stacy stuttered, walking closer to the station wagon.

"Your Volvo was falling apart,” Everly said.

“Do I need to take over the payments or something?" Stacy asked.

"Nope. It's all yours, free and clear," Kian said.

"This is too much," Stacy said.

"It's not too much. You were there for my mate when she needed someone to help her. I take that very seriously. This car is nothing compared to that kind of loyalty."

"Thank you so much," Stacy said, turning to Everly and throwing her arms around her.

The friends embraced and Everly could feel Stacy's tears dripping on her shoulder. She rubbed her back and pulled away, looking into her friend's face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"I know that you were hurting when you took me in, and you never once complained or made me feel bad. My life has taken a complete turn for the better, and we wanted to share our good fortune.”

"You have no idea how much this helps. I just had to take my Volvo to the shop. It was going to cost me a thousand dollars to replace the engine. I just didn't have that. I was going to have to start taking the bus to class and work. And that would have made me late for everything. You are basically saving my life right now."

"I'm just glad that I can help you," Everly said. “It's been weighing on me since I left.”

“The loyalty of friends is important to us,” Kian said.

"Thank you, Kian. And thank you for being so good to Everly. I've never seen her so happy.”

She reached out her hand to shake Kian's and he cupped it with both of his.

"She has given me everything I've ever wanted and more. She is the best mate I could've asked for."

Stacy mouthed the word “mate” and shrugged, looking back Everly.

"Can we get another mocha latte now?" Dax asked.

"In a minute, Dax. Have a little patience."

“I really should be getting back to work," Stacy said.

"Keep me updated on school. If you need anything else, I don't want you to hesitate to call.”

"My last year of grad school is going to be so much easier now that I have a new car. It's really amazing. I still can’t believe it.” She hugged Everly one more time with tears in her eyes. She wiped her eyes and turned, waving before walking back into the café.

"My heart feels all warm and fuzzy right now," Dax said. “But I still want another mocha latte."

"All right, all right, Dax," Kian said. “We better get going back to the mansion."

They all piled back into the SUV. Everly felt better than she had in so long. She could barely contain her joy. She had wanted to pay Stacy back since she had left to work for Kian. And now it felt like the cycle was complete. Her friend had been there for her and now she could be there for her friend.

She looked over at Kian and smiled. His heart was as big as his shoulders were broad. And she knew that he could bear the weight of her past and their future. He was a man that could bring balance and clarity to her life. And now that she belonged to him, she knew that she would always have a solid foundation to stand upon. He had given that to her. Now that they'd brought the car to Stacy, she could see it with greater clarity. It was like walking out into the daylight for the first time. A tear slid down her cheek, and she brushed it away. Kian glanced over at her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm better than okay," she said. “I've never been better."

"Are we getting a coffee now?" Dax asked.

"Yes, Dax," Kian growled.

Everly giggled in the front seat and glanced back at Ember through the mirror on the rear facing car seat. Ember slept peacefully. Dax was scanning the street, looking for another drive-through café. One word entered her mind like a flashing neon sign.

Family.