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Alessandra locked the car, and they walked around to the sidewalk side by side. The sun was out, and Toni hoped it stayed that way. They planned to plant their butts in lounge chairs at the resort pool for the day.
“Lots of things,” she finally said, sidestepping the growing number of pedestrians.
“I think part of me likes keeping busy.” She took in a deep breath, the enticing smell of ice cream and waffles filling her lungs as they passed The Creamery. “After the accident.”
She didn’t look at Alessandra, not wanting to see the pity in her eyes, and added, “But it also seemed fitting.”
This part was harder to explain.
“What do you mean?”
They stopped on the street two buildings away from the shop.
“I don’t know. For someone who had no idea what she wanted to do with her life, being in a place like Murphy’s just made sense somehow.”
Alessandra looked on the verge of launching into a lecture. Toni could write the thing for her. How many times had her friend told her she wasn’t defined by what she did—or didn’t do—or that her life would be okay if she worked for Birdie until she was a senior citizen. It had always made her feel better temporarily, but a part of her had always known it wasn’t enough.
“I know what you’re going to say, and there’s no need. This isn’t me wallowing.” She sucked in a breath. “Just the opposite, actually. I have some exciting news to share.”
Alessandra’s face lit up. “Well, what is it? Don’t keep me in suspense!”
“I’ll tell you on the way to Elmwood. Let’s not miss more pool—”
A man came to an abrupt stop near the end of the block, quickly crossed the street, head down, and continued walking.
“Did you see that?” She nodded in his direction. “That guy saw us and did a complete about-face.”
Alessandra had on her warrior look, her Cheld look. “You know who that is, don’t you?”
She snuck another look in the guy’s direction, then pulled Alessandra toward the shop. His back was to them now, but she thought she recognized him nonetheless.
“That’s Zach Walsh, the guy who broke into the shop. That’s the second time we’ve seen him. He looked considerably more nervous today than when he was standing outside the bank last week.”
Alessandra laughed. “So I guess you don’t know?”
Toni’s hand paused on the handle of the door.
“Don’t know what?”
Grabbing a fistful of hair and tossing it over her shoulder, Alessandra coughed. So it had something to do with Lawrence.
Her suspicion was confirmed when her friend scrunched up her nose as if wishing she hadn’t said anything.
“The day he left. Oh shit, I’m so sorry.”
“No, go ahead. We can’t pretend he doesn’t exist.”
Lord knows, she’d tried.
“It must have happened after he talked to you—”
“Talked.” She made an extremely unladylike noise. “Acted like an ass. Left me in the dust.” She hated the bitterness in her voice.
Toni let her hand drop from the door, her aunt likely wondering why they hovered outside. At this rate, they’d never get to Elmwood.
“Right, all of that. Apparently, after he acted like an ass, he paid our friend Zach a visit. I guess he didn’t like him creeping on us the other day—”
“I did mention that to him.”
Alessandra looked down the street to where Zach had run off. “I have no idea what he said, or did, but it appears to have made an impression. I just wish I knew what was up with him and his grandmother.”
Toni had always considered herself a strong, independent woman. So why did the idea of Lawrence keeping her safe give her such a rush of pleasure? She could take care of herself. She was better off without him . . . wasn’t she?
His words had been so out of character that day. It didn’t take a genius to realize he deliberately pushed her away, and it had worked. Maybe Birdie was right and a relationship with a vampire would never end well, especially one with as much baggage as Lawrence. She believed he truly did want to settle down, but the call of the Cheld would always be there, demanding he take charge. He was the chief of Clan Karyn, the eldest son after Alec, with seven hundred years of experience protecting his brother and sister and Alec’s descendants.
Not to mention the fact that he’d left.
And never looked back.
