“Okay.”
Inside, Eli grinned as Cady popped up behind the register. “Eli!”
“Cady.” Eli grinned. “I’m here for that lumber I ordered.”
“I got it. I’ll have to get the boys to load it on the lift.”
“Sounds good. It’s ready for it.” Eli tapped her hand against the counter as she waited.
Cady headed to the back room and yelled loudly that Miss Wilson needed her wood. Had Cady not been a middle-aged woman who had no idea what innuendo she’d just made, Eli would have erupted in giggles. When Cady came back, Eli waited patiently.
“You still got that pretty young woman up there?”
“Who?”
“The one you brought to bingo night.”
“Oh! Sarah, yes, she’s still staying at the house.”
Cady nodded and stared Eli directly in the eye. “I saw Bridget after you left that night.”
Eli’s heart thumped. It hadn’t been loud around town that she and Bridget had been together. Honestly nothing could be a secret in a town their size, but she hadn’t expected anyone to come right out and say it.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” Eli muttered as she stared at her boots, suddenly finding the pattern of mud on them more interesting than anything.
“No, what happened? Talk to me, Eli. You know I’m here for you.”
Sighing, Eli tried not to cry as she stared up into Cady’s older and wiser face. She shrugged. “It’s been a while since we broke up.”
“Yeah, I think we all know that. What happened the other night?”
Eli groaned. She did not want to go into this. “I have no idea.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No. I don’t.”
“Elijah Wilson.”
Eli hated when Cady used that tone with her. Pursing her lips, she bounced on her toes, mumbling.
“I didn’t catch that.”
“She kissed me, all right? I don’t know why. I don’t know what she was thinking. It wasn’t welcome, but there it is.” Eli planted both her palms on the counter as she caught sight of the boys outside raising the forklift up for the two-by-fours.
Cady pointed one decisive finger at Eli, nearing Eli’s nose as she squinted her eyes. “She’s jealous.”
“I…what?” Eli shook her head, completely confused.
“She’s jealous.”
“Of what? I’m not seeing anyone.”
Cady raised one bushy eyebrow at her. “You sure about that?”
“Yeah, pretty damn sure.” Eli’s eyes were wide and serious.