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Chris: Here if you want to talk.
The reply was delayed, but it took me a while to get settled in the car and warm up enough to drive.
Daniel: I know. Sorry C.
Chris: It’s all good
I left Lennox Ranch feeling rejuvenated, and the drive home was quiet, the landscape a blur of winter browns and grays. I found myself already looking forward to my next visit, to the next lesson, to that feeling of freedom and strength that came with each ride.
I just didn’t want to hang around and wait for lunch, because I had things I needed to do.
Then, I hit town, but drove straight past my house and stopped instead in the parking space outside the diner without even realizing what I was doing. There were no lights inside yet, but I could see his truck parked, and I wanted to go in and speak to Noah.
Something had passed between us—although I wasn’t sure what.
Somehow, he hadn’t stared at my scars, or made a comment about them, or been stupid with pity.
He’d stared of course, but then, he’d caught my gaze and held it steady.
I watched as Scott left the diner. He spotted me and headed over, and I steeled myself for whatever he was going to say. No doubt Daniel had called and told him I was out riding in a potential snowstorm, and I was prickly and defensive even as he tapped on my passenger window, then clambered inside, huffing, and puffing to squeeze in with his bulky coat.
“Saw Daniel this morning,” he began without introduction. “Think something happened.”
“He had a bad night at the hospital.”
Scott sighed, then nodded. “And I’m betting he doesn’t want to talk about it?”
“He was going to find Micah to talk.”
“Okay then.”
Scott’s focus moved from Daniel to me. “What are you doing parked here?”
Busted. “I owe the owner an apology for accusing him of breaking in.”
He smirked. “An apology? Right.”
“Fuck off,” was all I could say because that was all his almost-laughing deserved.
He poked at my arm, then let himself out. “Have fun!” he said and sauntered away, turning briefly to raise an eyebrow at my middle finger, then offering one of his own.
Freaking brothers. I was done with both of them today.
ChapterSeven
Noah
Scott had just left.Telling us it was going to be eleven before the electric company attempted to connect us. He’d also left a proposal he’d created way back when Lily’s Diner was assumed to be for sale and gave us a number over in Collier Springs for a company who helped when he needed to stage a house. He’d seemed hopeful we’d be able to get furniture on a short timeline and cheaper than retail. I was all for cheap and speedy. I flicked through the folder, checking out the plans to turn the upstairs into something way better than a dingy apartment, and to split downstairs into two storefronts, then sighed. I guess I had options if my grand ideas for a brand-new Lily’s Diner failed.
My cell buzzed, and I pulled it out to check, my chest tightening at the familiar Google notification.
Turned out, my ex had a girlfriend, some influencer who was number three on some list or something that made her famous. I swiped away because news about what Briggs was doing was going to ruin my day.
“I’m hungry,” Fox announced.
I side-hugged him, and for once, he didn’t protest. “You’re always hungry.”
But he was in full-on teenage hangry mode. “It’s beenhourssince breakfast.”
