Page 27 of Peaks and Promises

“Don’t get fingerprints on the window,” Summer said.

Nate jerked his hand away. “Sorry.”

I grinned a little. “Don’t worry about it, chief.”

I took a right onto the street and stopped at the next light.

“Where do you live?” Summer asked.

“Near the diner.”

“Then why are we going in the opposite direction?”

“Making sure we’re not followed.”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

“Mom, is there a gang after you?”

I glanced at Summer out of the corner of my eye.

She sighed. “No. Yes. Sort of. I promise I’ll explain it later.”

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“Reese’s house.”

“Why?”

“Because we need to. I said I’d explain it later.”

Looking a bit sullen, Nate crossed his arms.

I took a circuitous route through town, making sure we weren’t followed. I had a feeling Summer’s ex was waiting at her apartment, but I wasn’t taking any chances. Especially because there were three of them lurking in town—maybe more.

“Mom?” Nate asked from the back seat, cutting through the silence.

“Yeah?”

“I have to pee.”

“Can you hold it?”

“I think so.”

Summer glanced at me.

“We’re not far,” I said.

With no sign of pursuit, I drove to my house. It was on a quiet residential street a couple miles from the main road through town. Like most houses in the neighborhood, it was tan stucco with a tile roof and a high concrete wall surrounding the backyard.

I hit the button to raise the garage door and pulled inside. We waited until the door closed behind us before getting out, and I led them through the mostly empty garage and into the house.

The living area was sparsely furnished. Just a couch facing a TV on a low cabinet and a cheap coffee table. The dining room was empty—I’d never gotten around to putting a table there—and the walls were bare.

The blinds were already closed to keep the sun out. I checked the back door to make sure it was locked—although it was always locked—and walked over to take a quick look out the front window.

Nothing.