“You missed your window,” she said.
“For what?”
“For pretending you’re fine,” she answered. “You get about thirty seconds after walking in before I start asking questions.”
I snorted and leaned against the counter. “That generous?”
She slid a mug toward me without asking. “Drink.”
I took it. “You always do this.”
“Big sister job description,” she said lightly. Then softer, “You saw her?”
My grip tightened on the mug. “Yeah.”
“And?”
I hesitated. Violet waited.
“She’s not okay,” I said finally. “She’s jumpy. Scanning the street like she’s waiting for something bad to happen. She flinches at loud noises. She’s thinner than when I last saw her. And she won’t talk to me.”
Violet nodded, unsurprised. “Yep. Exactly what I saw. I’m worried.”
“She won’t admit anything’s wrong,” I added. “Just keeps everything light. Keeps moving.”
“She’s always been good at surviving,” Violet said quietly. “Slowing down is harder. Especially if she’s scared.”
My head lifted. “You know something.”
She shrugged, wiping the counter in slow circles. “I’ve heard things around town. Whispers. People saying developers are sniffing around again—riverfront parcels, long-term leases, the usual. But no one knows who they are. No names. No faces. Just offers coming in quietly, cash on the table, and people getting nervous. And Becca…” Violet’s voice softened. “She’s been quieter in here lately. Like she’s listening for something she doesn’t want to hear. Maybe that’s it. Her jackass ex is still in the picture, too. She has a lot going on. Too much, the poor thing.”
My jaw tightened. “She’s scared of something. I knew it. I called Matt. He said he’ll look into everything. He’s keeping a closer eye on her.”
Violet met my eyes. “I wish she would just talk about it. I tried when she was here earlier, but she said she was fine.”
I set the mug down harder than I meant to. “I’m not going to let her face whatever this is alone.”
“I know,” Violet said. “But she’s going to fight you on it. She always does when she’s worried about putting anyone out.”
“Then I’ll fight back,” I said quietly. “I can’t just do nothing.”
Violet reached across the counter and squeezed my wrist. “Good.”
I nodded once. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Outside, the sky had darkened, clouds thick and gray. Somewhere beyond the trees, the river moved fast and secret, doing whatever it wanted beneath the surface. I headed toward the station, every sense tuned tighter than usual. I’d learned long ago that the quiet fires were often the worst, the ones that smoldered patiently and contained until they found oxygen.
And Becca had always been the kind of spark worth protecting. I wasn’t going to rush her. I wasn’t going to corner her. But I wasn’t walking away either. I’d stay close. I’d keep watching. And when the smoke finally showed itself—when she couldn’t pretend anymore—I’d be ready. Because she wasn’t fine.
And the thought of her facing whatever was frightening her alone made my chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with duty and everything to do with the girl who used to trust me with her secrets, the woman who still owned every protective instinct I had.
Chapter 8
Becca
“Welcome back toSomebody Said in Sweetbriar. Tonight isn’t live. It’s easier to tell the truth when you believe you can stop, edit, delete, and no one will ever hear the parts you take back or the lies you tell yourself.”
Afew days had passed since the night by the river. Since the red light. Since Levi had asked me to talk.
