I slide down in my chair, hiding as much as I can of myself. I kick Dani under the table, and she laughs louder. It doesn’t even faze her.
“I think I need a new best friend.”
“Don’t you dare replace me.” She points at me with her lips pressed together.
“I’m never going to live this down.” I bow my head.
“You will,” Avery says.
“Yeah, eventually, you will. Seriously, who accidentally calls 911?” Dani asks.
“Your best friend,” I say emotionless.
“I love you for it. Maybe it’s fate. I wonder if he’s single. You should ask him. Oh! Ask him to the spring festival at the school.”
“What are we, thirteen? I’m not asking him anything. Besides, I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot, and if hedoesthink that, then good riddance.“ Dani rolls her eyes, nostrils flaring in my defense.
“Yeah, he isn’t worth your time if he’s a judgmental ass,” Avery adds.
“This is why I love you both.” I smile at them.
Dani is my soul sister, always ready to back me up or defend me. Avery became our friend as soon as she moved here years ago with her now ex-husband, but her divorce didn’t threaten our friendship.
I sit back in my seat, unable to take my eyes off Nate as I watch him leave with a bag full of containers. He doesn’t seem very friendly, and I can imagine it’s hard being new in a small town.
We are a tight-knit community, and it’s in our nature to be curious about the newcomers. His family definitely spikes our curiosity because we don’t know much about them. His sister has been nice enough, and Walker is a sweetheart, but they’re still strangers.
I know from being Walker’s teacher that his mom is a widow, so maybe Nate wanted to be close to his family and moved down here.
Whatever the reason, it’s sweet that he’d want to help his sister so much that he’d be willing to move to a different state.
He seems hard on the outside, but I wonder if there’s a soft center hidden under the intimidating uniform and badge.
Chapter 3
Nate
Myeyesblinkfora beat too long as the letters on my paperwork blur. How much coffee is too much? It seems that the four cups I’ve already had today aren’t enough to keep me focused on this task.
It’s boring as hell.
A lot about this job is boring in comparison to my fast-paced life in Dallas.
It’s for a greater good.
My priority is supporting Brooke in this new phase of her life and being there for Walker. I stand and stretch my arms and back.
I could be bagging groceries at the store and not regret it if it means I’m here for my family.
I sit back down with a sigh and finish filling out the report just in time to start another training. My mind wanders to the teacher with the pajama shorts that show off her legs as I listen to the speaker drone on through my computer. Although, when I saw her yesterday at the school, she looked the picture of professional.
These workshops are more boring than the paperwork I’m required to fill out, but I have to be trained in Florida’s regulations. It’s the curse of being the new guy from out-of-state.
Thankfully, everyone’s been welcoming, but I’m definitely the odd man out. Brooke and Walker have had more time to adjust to Emerald Bay, although my sister is still too reserved. I wish she would interact with people in town more and start remaking her life.
Try as I might, I can’t put myself in her shoes and understand how she must feel with the way her life was turned upside down, but it’ll do her good to immerse herself into this new life since she made the decision to do so.