I mirrored Cady’s frown. Lawson could’ve dropped Charlie off with me instead of sending him to the school’s early care program. “Well, you’d better go find him. He’s probably been missing his best pal.”
That was all Cady needed. She took off running, her pink glitter backpack slapping against her back.
Once she disappeared, I hurried to Maddie’s SUV and slid inside.
“What did the queen bitch have to say?”
I grimaced. “Some snarky comment about me still not having a car.”
“That woman needs a life,” Maddie mumbled as she headed out of the lot.
“You aren’t wrong. How are things with Nash?”
A soft smile spread across her lips as she glanced down at her ring glimmering in the morning light. “Really good.”
“Love seeing you happy like this,” I said softly.
“Do not make me cry. I’ll boob punch you.”
I snorted. “I’ve been officially warned.”
She pulled into the lot at the body shop and parked, looking over at me. “I want you to have this kind of joy.”
“I’m happy. I’ve got Cady and the animals and amazing friends.”
Maddie studied me for a moment. “Don’t you want more? A partner? Ridiculously hot sex?”
I choked on a laugh. “I don’t know, Maddie. I’m not sure I’m built for it. It’s not the easiest for me to let people in.”
But memories from last night and this morning flashed in my mind. Stolen seconds with Roan. His tenderness with Cady.
Maddie was quiet for a moment. “You ever going to tell me why that is?”
My stomach twisted like a tightly wound ball of yarn. “It’s not important.”
Maddie reached over and squeezed my hand. “If it has marked you like this, it’s important. And I’ll be here to listen whenever you’re ready to share.”
I swallowed the saliva pooling in my mouth. “Thank you.”
I didn’t deserve her friendship, but I was grateful for it all the same.
“Got your back. Always.”
I glanced over at her. “Same goes. Even when Nash steals the last of your ice cream.”
Maddie barked out a laugh. “Us doing battle over the last of the ice cream is something no one wants to get in the middle of.”
“Consider me warned.” I opened my door and climbed out, rounding to the back passenger seat. I unhooked Cady’s booster seat. “Thank you so much for carting us around the last two days.”
“Please, I got Taylor Swift sing-alongs and promises of glitter manicures. I’m a happy camper.”
I laughed. “You and Cady are a match made in heaven.”
Maddie grinned at me. “She’s my girl.”
I adored how my friends loved her. “See you later.”
Maddie gave me a wave as I shut the door and started toward the office. Footsteps sounded on the pavement, and I jerked.
The younger mechanic stopped in his tracks. “Sorry, ma’am. I was just gonna take that for you and put it in your wagon.”
I sent him a wobbly smile. “Guess I’m a little jumpy this morning. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem,” he said, taking the booster seat. “I’ve got a little sister who still uses one of these. I’m an expert at taking them out and putting them in.”
“It is a science.”
He chuckled. “First time I tried, I was cussing up a storm.”
“You and me both.”
He laughed as he jogged back toward an open bay.
I let out a breath. “Get it together,” I whispered to myself.
The electronic bell dinged as I opened the door. Jim looked up from the reception desk. “I’m just finalizing your paperwork. Good news is that it wasn’t nearly as bad as it first looked.”
The tension that had held me captive for the last few days released a fraction. “Really?”
“Really. We got you a new set of tires and fixed those corroded cables. Just cleaned up everything here and there.”
“How much do I owe you?” I braced.
Jim scanned his sheet. “With the discount for letting me take my time and the used tires, the total comes to six-fifty.”
I blinked. I thought for sure the work would be in the multiple thousands. “That’s it?”
He bobbed his head in a nod. “That’s it. Jake’s bringing it around front now.”
I pulled my wallet out of my purse and found my debit card, handing it to Jim. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
I studied the mechanic for a moment. Why did I have a feeling he was cutting me a deal that was a little too good?
“Four-letter word for a creepy crawler’s home?” Jonesy called.
“Dirt,” Elsie answered without looking up from her computer.
I grinned as I rounded the counter with my coffeepot. These were my favorite days. The ones in our slower months when it was just the regulars. It felt like spending the day with old friends just shooting the shit.
Elsie looked up as I refilled her mug. “You are an angel on Earth.”
I chuckled. “If only everyone were so easy to please. How are the photos coming?”
Elsie flipped her computer around. “What do you think?”
I sucked in a breath. The image was incredible. It was of a path through the forest, but the way she’d done the exposure made it moody and alluring. It pulled you in and didn’t let go.
“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to order the book.”
Elsie nibbled on the corner of her thumbnail. “I’ve still got a few more spots to shoot.”
“I’m gonna miss you around here when you go.”
She glanced out the window. “I’ll miss it here, too. There’s something about the peace.”
“I know. Most places don’t have it.”
Jonesy held up his mug for a refill. “I think she just needs to move here. Make it her base of operations.”
Elsie chuckled. “I gotta get a real job after I finish this book. Sadly, the payout for photography books isn’t the greatest.”
“You should think about staying. There’s a bunch of galleries in town that I’m sure would love to show your stuff,” I said.
She seemed to mull it over. “Maybe.”
The bell over the door chimed, and I turned to greet the newcomers. When Steven and Tyson strolled in, the words died on my lips. My mouth went dry, and I gripped the coffeepot tighter.
Tyson spoke first. “We just want to talk. Hear your side of the story.”
“You need to leave.” My voice didn’t give away the fear that had begun to take root, and I was grateful for that.
“Not talking just tells us you have something to hide,” Steven said with a sneer.
The handle of the coffeepot dug into my palm. I wanted to bean him with it.
“This is a privately owned business. We have the right to refuse service to anyone. Leave. Now.” My voice vibrated a bit, but it could’ve been fury.
“The story’s out there,” Steven said snidely. “If you don’t want to talk, we’ll just fill in the blank spots.”
Elsie’s chair scraped back. “She asked you to leave.”
Steven’s eyes narrowed on her. “This is none of your business.”
“You’re making it everyone’s business by making a scene in a public place,” Elsie shot back.
Steven turned back to me. “Your buddies know you’re a manipulative liar? That you cost a man his life? His daughter?”
My mouth went desert-dry as blood started to roar in my ears.