Sometimes, I wondered if my group of high school friends was cursed. Tragedy had a firm grip on us and didn’t seem to want to let go. “Thank you for telling me. You didn’t have to—”
“Laiken.”
Hayes’ voice brought my gaze back to his.
“We share a bond. I feel Jase’s loss, too. Feel how it’s marked all of you. You’re not alone in that.”
“Thank you,” I said hoarsely.
“Do you want me to call Ev? Have her come be with you?”
I shook my head. “I think I need to be alone for a little while.”
“Okay. You call or text if that changes.”
“I will.” But I wouldn’t. I’d felt weak so many times in my life. I didn’t want anyone to see me that way a moment more than absolutely necessary.
Hayes hovered for another few seconds as if he weren’t sure he should leave me alone.
“I’ll be okay.”
“I know. You always are.” He gave me a tilt of his head and headed out.
I closed the door after him and flipped the sign toClosed. But I couldn’t find it within myself to move. I simply sank to the floor where I stood.
Gizmo climbed onto my lap, wheels and all. I cuddled him to my chest and let the tears fall. For Lisbeth. For Scott. For Jase. For all of us who would never be the same.
9
Boden
I duckedout of the little café called Spoons and headed down the street. The waitress behind the counter had looked at me a second longer than usual but then shook her head and took my order. When people weren’t expecting to see you, you could get away with a lot more.
My stomach rumbled as the scents wafted out of my takeout bag. Some sort of egg salad BLT was calling my name. I’d made an impulse decision when I saw it on the menu and had gotten two, along with a few whoopie pies from the bakery case.
It was dumb—monumentally stupid, really—to try to get to know the dark-haired beauty better. My life was a mess. Likely always would be. I didn’t need to drag anyone else into that. Yet my feet took me in the gallery’s direction.
My pace slowed as I took in a man in a uniform through the window. From my spot across the street, I could just make out the patches that signified the sheriff’s department. My heart slammed against my ribs as my gaze moved to Laiken. Her typically tanned, golden skin was ashen now, far too pale for this to be a friendly visit.
I started across the street just as the man exited the building. His eyes paused on me, doing a double-take. “I’ll be damned. Ev was right.”
“Is everything okay?”
He blinked a couple of times. “Excuse me?”
“Is everything okay with Laiken?”
“I’m sorry, are you two friends?”
The thought that this guy might be more than a local law enforcement officer ate at me, but I dismissed the idea. If he was, he would still be in there with Laiken, not on the sidewalk with me. “I met her the other day.” The words sounded pathetic, even to my ears.
The man extended a hand to me. “Hayes Easton.”
“Boden Cavanaugh.”
“I figured. My fiancée said she thought she saw you driving through town the other day, but I told her she had to be mistaken.”
“I’m doing some research for a film. Staying out at Ramsey Bishop’s ranch.”