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Missy walks by with a lifted eyebrow, and before she can say anything, I shoo her away. As she continues toward the break room, I hear her chuckle. There's never a dull moment when she's around, something I can be grateful for considering the bank is boring most of the time. After I spend an hour on a call explaining interest rates in great detail to a customer, I finally pull my phone out of my desk drawer and see a text from Everleigh.
Everleigh: Brittany just left the boutique, and something is going on with her.
I check the time and saw she sent the message ten minutes ago. Considering it's a Friday and she launched new spring items today, I know she's probably busy. I text her back anyway.
Katie: What happened?
Fifteen minutes pass before she replies, and I swear I checked my phone every thirty seconds.
Everleigh: Sorry, Mrs. Beverly came in here talking my ears off about the weather. Anyway, Brittany was here acting strange. She was being overly nice, almost to the point where it seemed sarcastic. Her eyes were shifty, and she seemed nervous too.
I think back to the way Loretta acted at the bank, and it sounds eerily similar.
Katie: Did she say anything?
Everleigh: She asked if I’d heard from Noah.
I send a tirade of angry face emojis.
Everleigh: There was something venomous about the way she’d look at me, like her mask was melting off her face when I said he was fine and would fully recover.
Katie: It’s because she’s fake as fuck. And really wishes he was dead.
The more I think about this, the more annoyed I become.
Everleigh: Not to mention she tried on fifty different things and bought a key chain. A fucking key chain! It’s like she did that shit on purpose so I’d have to fold and rehang everything even though we’re busy as hell this morning.
Katie: Wow. I’m pissed for you right now.
Everleigh: She better never step foot in here again, or I might punch her in her face. Anyway, I gotta go. Super busy!
Katie: Don’t let her ruin your day! Sell all the things.
Everleigh: Thanks! Margaritas soon…please and thank you.
Katie: Deal!
Another hour passes, and I’ve had too much time to think about what Everleigh said. By the time my lunch break rolls around, I’m livid. I leave the bank with my phone in hand and find myself entering the deli on a mission.
Belinda’s carrying a tray of drinks and smiles when she sees me. “Hey sweetie, didn’t know you were stopping by today.”
“I’m not staying long,” I tell her as Brittany appears from the back. Her eyes meet mine, but it’s like there’s nothing behind them, almost as if she’s dead inside. However, her lips curl up into an evil grin, and I’m tempted to slap it right off her face as she walks toward me. “Need a menu?” Her voice is sugary sweet, and it takes all of my willpower not to roll my eyes.
“Quit the shit,” I snap, my heart rate increasing. I’m not a confrontational person, so I’m not sure what comes over me, but there’s no turning back now. “I want to know why the hell you lied to Noah and everyone else.”
The room grows quiet, and Belinda waves for everyone to mind their own business. I’m sure it won’t take long before the news spreads across town about this, but I don’t care. The only thing I have to lose right now is Noah, and I’ll be damned if I allow that to happen. We’ve been through too much to get where we finally are.
Brittany acts stunned and places her hand over her heart, making sure those still being nosy see her award-winning act. “I’m not sure what you’re talkin’ about, Katie.”
A sarcastic laugh escapes me as I take a step closer and lower my voice. “I want to know exactly what happened last Friday, and I’m giving you one chance to tell me your goddamn self.”
Her expression hardens first, then fades to concern as she leads me outside. I cross my arms over my chest and keep my stance wide.
“You want to know what happened last Friday?” she asks.
I nod.
“I needed a ride back to Lawton Ridge, and the only person who could help me was Noah, but he didn’t show up. I ended up having to call a wrecker to give me a tow and didn’t find out about his accident until the next day at work. How’s he doing? Okay, I hope.”
Remembering what Noah recalled at the hospital, I narrow my eyes at her. If she was there, then she knows the answer to that question already. Plus, she already asked Everleigh earlier today. This act is pathetic. “He’s fine.”
“Oh great.” Her inflection rises. “I’ve been worried sick about him all week, and no one would really give me any information. I couldn’t help but blame myself about the whole thing because he was coming to my rescue.”
