Page 43
“Like what?”
“Like I’m holding on to the past, and I should just let it go. This place is nothing but bad luck. I learned that lesson.” I sigh, glancing at Shane. “Ransack has been struggling for a decade. Bank debts, sewage problems, and now a fire. Maybe fate is sending me a message. I should have let it go after—” My words choke in my throat.
Shane turns me to him, tipping my chin up. “After what?”
“My mom died in the alleyway.” I swallow, tipping my chin to the alley beside the bar.
It’s been a long time since I’ve acknowledged that—to myself or out loud. When I moved home last year, I tried not to think about it because if I did, then I couldn’t do what needed to be done to save Ransack.
Standing here, faced with the disaster before me, there’s no avoiding all my family has suffered on this street. But I don’t go into details with Shane because I’m not ready to talk about it, and I don’t want his sympathy.
My shoulders sink. “Zander tried to convince me to sell the bar after she died. He said it was a burden my family didn’t need to take on. Maybe he was right.”
“I refuse to stand here and have you believe your douchebag ex could be right about anything.”
“I guess. Either way, I didn’t sell it. I wasn’t ready to let it go. Or to give up on her dream like that.”
Shane brushes his thumb over my chin, along my jaw. Teasing my skin with gentle touches as he listens. This man commands a room the moment he enters it, but he never interrupts me. He pays attention. He’s an excellent listener.
“I’m sorry I’m making my problems your problems.” I sigh. “Again.”
A sad smirk curls in the corner of his mouth. “Don’t worry, you’ll make it up to me in a second.”
“Will I?” My eyebrow quirks. “How’s that?”
Before he can answer, my father’s voice cuts through the chaos. “Harloe, there you are.”
Shane barely has time to step back before Dad’s arms wrap around me.
Worry has his voice wobbling. “I called you a hundred times last night. I was worried sick.”
“I’m sorry.” I hug him tight. “My phone was on my nightstand. And well…”
He pulls back in time to see me frown as I glance up at the second story of the bar.
“I didn’t even think about that. All that matters is that you’re safe.” He turns to Shane, grabbing his shoulder. “All thanks to our local hero.”
“Local hero?”
“He saved my baby girl.” Dad squeezes my shoulder. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s what he is. It’s about time you wised up and started dating someone who cares about your well-being. Don’t worry, we’ll get you a new phone, and I’ve already grabbed Shane’s number in the meantime.”
“You have?”
“Like I said… he’s a good one.” Dad winks at me, nodding at Shane and then turning to face the bar again.
Shane leans in, his breath tickling my ear as he drops his voice so low it skitters a hot path straight along my neck. “Told you you’d be making it up to me.”
“Don’t let it go to your head, hero.” I nudge him away, and he chuckles.
When Dad looks back, he smiles like he thinks he caught us flirting.
Shane plays along, wrapping a hand around my hip and hugging me closer. His thumb moves in slow, surprisingly soothing circles.
“That’s a big mess to clean up.” I sigh, taking it all in.
“Or we don’t,” Dad says, surprising me.
“Why wouldn’t we?”
