“I don’t see how it’s anyone’s business how you earn your money.”
“People think I’m a hooker. Plain and simple.” I shrugged.
“Still isn’t any of their damn business.”
“I know. But it’s important to Ford. He’s got a reputation to uphold. His work is real important.”
She gave me a look.
“What, Gretchen? I know that judgy eyebrow by now.”
“I’m just sayin’ don’t go bending over backward for a man and changing who you are. Unless bending over backward is what you’re into.” She grinned.
“It’s not like that with us.”
“What’s it like then?”
I shrugged.
Sometimes we were so close to something, especially after our talk in my trailer last week, and then other times I felt like he wanted to run to Mexico to get away from me. Getting together with Ford was a bad idea, but my body hadn’t gotten the memo. We'd been good about keeping physical distance from each other. But we talked all the time. All day we checked in with each other. He called me just to talk while I walked to and from work, sharing the drama of his students and the stress of looking for additional funding. I hadn't known about all the work involved when trying to get tenure. Hell, I didn't even know what tenure really meant until he explained it to me. I'd learned so much about him but no matter how much he shared there was still a part of him he locked down and kept hidden.
Gretchen took a sip of the coffee I made her. “Holy crap. That’ll put hair on your chest.”
I took the cup and dumped it in the sink. A thick river of grounds stuck to the side of the cup. “It’s complicated.”
“You measure the grounds and add water. It’s really not—”
I glared at her. “With Ford and me.”
“Hmmm.” She held her tongue though and I took the chance to change the topic.
“Anyway. What’s going on with you? Something happening with you and Lucas?”
“Sure, we can change the subject.” Her innocent smile was canceled out by a mischievous glint in her eyes. “It’s complicated,” she mocked me.
“Wait a minute, are you the reason he hired me?”
She winked at me. “It certainly wasn’t your barista skills.”
“Thanks, girl.” I beamed. “What can I get you? I’ll try again.”
“No offense but I’m good with water.”
“Don’t give up on me yet. I’m learning. I’ll be a real barista in no time.”
“And that’s what you want?”
I wasn’t sure what I wanted anymore. “It doesn’t matter. It’s only temporary anyway.”
She gave me a look before heading back toward Blithe and Roxy. “Hurry and take your break. We need to have an emergency meeting of the SWS. We can’t get a hold of Kim and we’re worried.”
The Scorned Women’s Society had been meeting regularly but I had yet to meet the allusive Kim. “Isn’t she sort of on lockdown? I thought she was always hard to get a hold of?”
“Yeah, but something is up. Normally we can see her at least once a month.”
“No ex left behind.” I nodded seriously as I spoke our motto. “Give me five minutes.”
As I wiped down the coffee machine, my stomach twisted with a dread I couldn't identify. Then I realized it was my instinctual reaction to the sound of a bike rumbling in the distance.
