Page 88 of Where Roads Lead

“Hey, Will,” Theo called from somewhere behind me, and I stiffened. “Oh, hey Elsie. Long time no see.”

“You people in Colbridge use expressions I only ever hear on old television shows.” She laughed.

He smiled, looking at her as if he didn’t quite know what to make of her, and I had the strangest urge to step in front of her before he had time to figure her out.

“Do you remember me? We met in the hardware store the other day,” he said, and for half a second, I hoped she’d tell him that nope, she had no recollection of their entirely unmemorable encounter.

But, being Elsie, overactive brain and all, she had no such gap in her memory.

“Theo, right?” She smiled. “Ava talked you up the whole rest of that shopping trip. Apparently, you’re quite the catch.”

What the hell? Was she flirting with him?

In front of me?

Why wouldn’t she be flirting with him in front of me? It wasn’t like anything was going on between the two of us.

“Oh, I’ll have to thank Ava for lying on my behalf.” He laughed easily, and I felt the strongest urge to put a stop to whatever the hell was happening in front of me.

“What are you doing here, Theo?” I bit out, unable to hide the disdain that slipped through.

He stared at me like I was crazy, and maybe I was, because Theo was probably the closest friend I had, and yet I was contemplating the very real urge I had to punch him in the jaw.

“I just wanted to check on you. You kinda rushed out in a hurry, which isn’t like you, so—”

“Aw,” Elsie cooed. “What a good friend to come check on grumpy Will, even though he’s being so rude to you.”

“Am not,” I gritted out.

“Are too,” she said pointedly.

“It’s okay,” Theo said easily. “Will had a tough morning. He gets to be a little cranky if he wants.”

Elsie laughed, and I felt sick.

Why was she laughing because of some other man?

“Those look heavy.” He leaned forward, grabbing her bags. “Let me take those for you.”

“Thanks,” she said, stretching out her arms. “I underestimated how heavy cat litter was.”

“I’m surprised Will let you stand here all this time holding them yourself.”

I ground my teeth.

“Hey, do you need a ride back home?” he asked suddenly.

“Aren’t you working?” I glared at him.

“The café’s dead,” he said, “and I figured you’d let me leave a little early because of what we talked about earlier.” He widened his eyes and glanced subtly at Elsie.

Just to be a jackass, I wanted to pretend to have no idea what he was talking about. But Elsie opened her mouth—

“That would be so great, my arms feel like they’re about to fall off.”

“Great, my car’s just outside the café,” he said, already moving in that direction, as if he were afraid she might change her mind.

“Wow, I’m so lucky to have so many big, strong men in town willing to help a girl out.”