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“Everleigh. How’re ya?” a man finally comes from the back and greets us.

“Hey, Tim! I’m great. This is my roommate, Archer. Not sure if you’ve met him yet.”

She introduces us, and he gives me a curious little look, but I ignore it.

Everleigh explains what happened and what she needs. He points out the lumber, wood glue, and clamps. As he’s cutting the wood to our exact measurements, the front door chimes. Over the sounds of the saw, Tim shouts that he’ll be right there. I glance over my shoulder and see a silhouette, but I don’t get a good look before they disappear down another aisle.

Tim leads us around, and it feels like someone’s watching us. Perhaps I’m paranoid, but my gut is hardly wrong.

While Tim rings up Everleigh’s items, I stay guarded in place while looking around the store. I hear footsteps but don’t see who they belong to.

“I’m leaving here in thirty minutes if you want me to come over and help.”

My attention snaps to Tim.

What the hell?

I’ve literally been next to Everleigh this whole time, and he’s been staring at her inappropriately. I assume everyone here is just neighborly, but there’s something suggestive in his tone that’s more sexual than friendly.

“I’m taking care of it,” I respond before Everleigh can. “Since I’m the one who kinda broke it, I figured I should be the one to fix it.”

I stand with my arms crossed, staring the gawker down. He doesn’t reply, just simply nods, then tells Everleigh her total.

“Thanks, Tim!” she calls out as we exit.

As we walk toward her car, I can feel her eyes burning a hole in the side of my face. “I know what you’re gonna say.”

“Is that so?” she muses, pulling out her keys and unlocking the door. “Enlighten me.”

I glance around, and my heart nearly stops when I see an Escalade parked across the street. That’s when I notice someone in all black leaving the hardware store. I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman by the way the hood shields their face. I’m tempted to haul ass over there, but since I’m on parole, I need to be on my best behavior, which means not getting into fights or drawing attention to myself. If I’m being followed or if Chad’s family is after me, I can’t retaliate without reason.

Everleigh quickly moves her gaze to the black SUV as it speeds away.

“Did you see who it was?” she asks in a panic.

“No.” I shake my head. “But they were in the hardware store with us.”

Everleigh’s brows furrow, and I feel bad that I’m putting her in this position. She looks worried, and it’s my fault she’s living with fear. Staying here puts her and Tyler at risk. I should do the right thing and leave.

“If I had to guess, it’s probably a friend or family member of a local resident who has a crush on you. Hopefully seeing me with you scared them off.” She winks, then gets behind the wheel.

Well then. Everleigh isn’t fazed at all. Perhaps it’s an act because she sounded concerned when she spotted the unusual vehicle before.

“Everleigh.” I turn toward her when I buckle. “You and I both know it wasn’t an admirer.”

“Well, whoever it was is gone now.” She shrugs, and her casualness throws me off. “Plus, we need to talk ’bout your little caveman stunt back there.”

Everleigh pulls out into the street, her words putting me on the spot.

“He was being rude,” I say. “He was basically inviting himself over to your house.”

“I could’ve defended myself.”

“He needed to be put in his place.”

Everleigh snort-laughs, and it’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard. “Is that so? Because I think you were the one trying to manifest your way into my bed.”

“Considering you were in mine last night, it wouldn’t take much to get into yours.”