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She frowned and stepped back, realizing, it seemed, that she was too close to me. “What does it matter?”
“Don’t you want to know who did it?”
She shrugged. “People do shitty things all the time.” She gave me a pointed look that felt more like a punch. “Now, are you going to give us a ride or not?”
I gritted my teeth, rubbing a hand over the back of my neck. I didn’t like that someone messed with her car. I had more than a suspicion it had something to do with that complete asshole we ran into at the bar last week, but if she wasn’t concerned about it, there wasn’t much I could do.
I let out a breath. “Yeah, of course I’ll give you a ride.”
At least this gave me an excuse to be close to her again, even for a little while.
Several minutes later, I helped get her dad securely in the back seat of the Jeep. She folded up his wheelchair and hoisted it into the back before she seated herself on the passenger side and we headed into town.
She didn’t talk to me. I was getting tired of it, but had no room to complain. My eyes shifted to her as if of their own free will, like they couldn’t get enough of her.
“You sure you’re all right?” I asked to fill the silence.
Ellie didn’t look away from the window she was fixated on; her shoulders rigid. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
My hands tightened around the wheel. “Your car. It bothers me that someone did that.”
Her fingers twisted around a stray lock of hair. “It shouldn’t. It’s not your business anyway.”
“Doesn’t change my feelings.”
Ellie sighed. “It was probably Callen. If you haven’t noticed, he easily loses his temper.”
That didn’t help. I was ready to give her a piece of my mind about cutting that dick permanently out of her life when her phone rang. She glanced at the number before answering, her mouth tightening.
“Hello?” There was a pause as whoever was on the line spoke. Ellie’s head turned back toward her father, her frown deepening. “No, that’s okay. I understand. I’ll make other arrangements. Thank you for notifying me.”
With that, she ended the call, stuffing her phone back into her purse. She stared at her lap as she picked the skin around her fingernails. It was a nervous habit she’d had for a long time. Her mama used to punish her for it, which never helped.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, making my voice soft.
She quickly crossed her arms over her chest, hiding her hands under her arms. “Nothing.”
My brows knitted together. “Come on, El, you might hate me now, but you were my best friend for most of my life. I can tell when something’s wrong.”
Her eyes darted to me quickly before returning to her lap. “It’s really nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
She let out a short sigh. “You’re annoying.”
“Guilty. Now, who was on the phone?”
Her arms clenched tighter around her chest. “It was just…my dad’s home health aide. She’s sick. It’s fine, it happens. I’ll have to tell Faye I can’t work at the store for her tomorrow.” She swallowed hard as if the thought made her want to vomit.
Knox told me she worked at her sister’s boutique. I had a feeling it was difficult when she was taking care of her father most of the time. I knew how hard it was when your parent relied on you. It could be crushing.
I glanced at Charlie through the rearview mirror. I’d known him for about as long as Ellie had. He used to be a big guy. Intimidating. He’d been broad and tall and even though he looked tough, he was kindhearted and fair. He loved Ellie more than anything.
His eyes met mine and he narrowed them as if he didn’t trust me anymore. His face was thinner now, his body still tall but frail. It hurt my chest to see him this way. I couldn’t imagine how it made Ellie feel.
“So the aide stays with him while you work?”
Ellie glanced at me as she nodded. “I work most weekdays, but he can’t stay by himself for that many hours in a row.”
