“Hey,” she said, a small smile on her face. “Was that Piper that my kid ran over? The new girl in town?”
“Yeah,” I replied.
“I feel terrible. Is she okay?”
“She will be. She has a thing about touching people.”
Mollie’s face turned red. “Oh,God. You’re friends with her, right?”
“I . . . am.”
Kelsey turned abruptly, knowing just how big of a deal it was that I was even admitting it. But it was true, even if I wasn’t good at making friends.
“Can you apologize for me? I need to be keeping a better eye on Jasmine, but she was, in fact, raised in a barn and she’s wild. Still, she shouldn’t have run in like that.”
And I knew that Mollie truly felt bad. She’d always been nice. She was immediately welcomed into town, especially since she’d spent part of her childhood here. Her and all the other younger women in town had formed a tight-knit girl group—another reason I knew she’d never want to hurt Piper.
“I’ll talk to her,” I replied.
“What a terrible first impression,” she muttered. “Thank you. I owe you one.” She gave me one more smile before she caught her daughter heading for the door. “Shit. That kid never stops!” She had a second to wave at both Kelsey and me before darting for the door.
I only had one breath to try to process all that had happened before Kelsey set in.
“So, friends?” She raised an eyebrow.
I let out a long sigh. “Please don’t.”
“I’m not gonna tell anyone. You know I don’t participate in the gossip, and none of the other women do either.”
“And if you getgoodgossip?”
“Maybe I’ll take Wren up on her offer to join the other women and talk about it there. I know how you are. You’re private. I’ll keep it that way.”
It helped to hear. “She hangs out after close sometimes.”
Kelsey blinked. “Wait, is that why you never let me close?”
“Sometimes.”
“Wow. You’re doing it to get time with her.” She crossed her arms. “I’m jealous.”
“You like her, don’t you?”
“She’s sweet. And looks like she’s having a hard time.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“Did you help when you ran out after her?”
“In the capacity she needed me to, which isn’t much.” I shrugged. “But I’ve been there. I know how it feels.”
Both of her eyebrows rose now. It was more than I’d ever given anyone. “Well, I’m glad she has you.”
“Thanks.”
“Can I be invited to the wedding?”
I let out a harsh sigh. “There won’t be a wedding.”
