Page 91 of Fallen Flame

The bell over the front door jingled and I looked up.

Wrecker walked in first, followed by Dad, who was followed by Mom. Alice brought up the rear.

Ever looked up from the register. “It’s about time we hear something.”

Wrecker frowned. “I texted Jude three hours ago and told him we’d stop by.”

I looked across the table.

Jude scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah. I got it.”

Ever narrowed her eyes. “You got it?”

“Yep.”

“You didn’t tell me?”

Jude shrugged. “I forgot.”

Ever planted both hands on her hips. “Are you serious?”

He nodded without an ounce of shame. “Yeah. Because if I’d told you, you would’ve spent the last three hours staring out the window waiting for them.”

“I would not.”

“You absolutely would’ve.”

Ever grabbed the towel she’d been using to wipe the counter and whipped it toward him. It made it about halfway before fluttering to the floor.

Jude pointed. “You missed.”

“I wasn’t aiming very hard.”

Dad walked past all of us and pushed his glasses onto the top of his head. “Can we get ice cream before we talk?”

“Jesus,” Wrecker muttered.

Alice and Nikki were already standing at the register looking up at the menu.

Alice looked over her shoulder. “Oh, like you didn’t already know we were getting boozy shakes.”

Wrecker sighed dramatically. “I knew.”

“You act surprised every time.”

“I keep hoping one day you’ll all say no.”

Alice laughed. “You know us better than that.”

Wrecker slid into the booth across from Jude and me.

The second he sat down, I knew something wasn’t right.

Not panic.

Not relief.

Just frustration.