“Maybe that Flick woman has some ideas,” Tally slyly stated as he pulled cash out of his wallet to cover her burger and his coffee.
“‘She might. My partner Sawyer has also lived in this town all his life and knows everyone,”’ Kai replied.
“Yeah, but you’re going to talk to Flick first,” Tally said as she stood up. “I’m a great excuse to initiate a chat with her, aren’t I?’
Wise child. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kai told her, placing a light hand on her back to guide her out of the restaurant. She immediately stiffened and he dropped his hand. Yeah, someone had definitely done a number on her.
Tally made herself smile. “Not that it’s any of my business—”
“Usually when someone starts a sentence with those words, it’sneverany of your business.”
“—but you really don’t need an excuse to go and talk to her.”
“It’s really not any of your business,” Kai reiterated, opening the door and gesturing for her to walk out first. “I’ll drive you back to the hotel.”
Tally’s curls bounced as she shook her head. “It’s two blocks over. I’ll walk.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” Tally rocked on her heels. “Thanks for the burger and you know…thanks.”
“It’ll be okay.” The words jumped out of his mouth and he was as surprised by them as Tally.
“I know.” Tally dragged the toe of her boot over a crack in the pavement. “I’ll be fine…it’s just…”
“Tough? Lonely? Shit?”
Tally puffed air into her cheeks and he caught the shimmer of tears in her eyes. "Yeah. All that.’
“I know. It gets better,” Kai jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Go on now. Get some rest. I’ll be in touch in the morning.”
Tally hauled in a breath, straightened her spine, and slung her backpack over her shoulder. “Later.”
“Later.”
Kai watched her walk down the road and it was only when she turned the corner did he cross the road to his car. He hesitated, hand on the handle, before jamming the keys back into his pocket and walking north. The Artsy-Tartsy was just around the corner, in the opposite direction, and maybe Flick was still there. He could ask her advice about Tally, get a decent cup of coffee, a leftover cookie, and relax.
Wind down because dealing with bereft teenagers, running Caswallawn— and living in Mercy— was damn hard work.
Chapter Nine
KevTheFireFighter:Rufus has got to be the stupidest dog in the history of creation. All lust, no sense.
DocMolly:But the sweetest.
AbbyM:More importantly, let’s discuss Mr. G’s outfit. The ruffles did nothing for him, and those heels were very Princess Di.
In the Artsy Tartsy, after a long day, Flick lifted the screen of her laptop, thinking she’d pick up her email and surf her social media accounts in the now quiet, empty space. She loved being alone in the bakery at the end of the day, it was a friendly and happy space, a place she could unwind. Except that every time she tried to relax she remembered the tense conversation she had with Gina earlier.
“Please can I tell Pippa?” she’d begged.
Gina looked about ten years older than she normally did. “I can’t, not just yet. I need...time.”
“We don’t have time, Gin! You’re going to have to go home at some point, and Pippa will find out. When she realizes that I kept this from her...” Flick let the words trail away.
Gina put on her stubborn face and Flick knew that she wasn’t going to get anywhere. “Why not? Why can’t she know? Why does this have to stay a secret?” she demanded, shoving her hands into her hair.
Gina stared at her. “You and I realize that people are not always who they seem to be. That there’s always a churning mass of emotion beneath the surface.”