AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Of getting hurt?”
“No, of failing.” Dylan sat back in his seat, eyes casually wandering around the restaurant to focus on nothing in particular. “Everything in life is a gamble, and I made the safe bet. I chose to stay in my small town, work with my family, stick to what I knew would work out. The straight and narrow, the safest path.”
I tilted my head to the side, studying him with great interest. “I can understand that. Sometimes the smartest thing is to choose a guarantee.”
“If only it were a fulfilling choice,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Sorry? I missed that.”
“Nothin’.”
I was about to follow up when my phone started to ring. My heart skipped a beat, momentarily fearing it was Leonna calling to yell at me. I was pretty sure that being angry was her default setting. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw my sister’s name pop up on the caller ID.
“Hey!” I greeted, pressing the phone to my ear.
“Don’t you ‘hey’ me, sis,” Winona said firmly. She didn’t sound pissed, per se, though she was teetering on something quite close.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for ages,” she snapped. “The last time we spoke you were yelling something about running someone over with your car! You can’t just leave me hanging like that, woman!”
I grimaced. “Oh my God, you’re totally right. Must have slipped my mind.”
“Slipped your mind? Are you kidding me? When you didn’t answer, I thought for sure you got arrested for vehicular manslaughter!”
“You’re being dramatic, Winona. Everyone’s fine. It was a tiny little bump, that’s all.”
“Then why haven’t you been answering?”
“I think my cell coverage in Sunville was super spotty. It’s right by the mountains, after all.”
“So you promise you’re okay?”
“Yes, I promise. I’m so sorry I didn’t reach out sooner. This assignment’s been a lot more interesting than I thought it would be.”
“Why is it so loud where you are? Wait a sec… Is that a slot machine? Where are you, sis?”
“I’m in Las Vegas.”
“Huh,” Winona breathed, sounding very surprised. “Having a heyday, are we?”
“It’s for work.”
“Uh-huh. Sure it is.”
“Itis.”
Dylan cleared his throat. “I’m going to get more coffee. Can I grab you anything?”
I shook my head. “No but thank you.”
“Who was that?” Winona asked me as he vacated the table.
I swallowed. The last couple of weeks had been such a whirlwind that I’d almost completely forgotten about their history. Dylan used to date my little sister in high school. If I told her the truth, how would she react? I nibbled on my bottom lip, concerned, but determined to rip the bandage off.
“Um, funny you should mention that,” I mumbled. “Do you remember Dylan Callaghan?”
Winona was quiet for a moment. “Um, yeah? That was him? Wow, talk about a blast from the past. What’s he doing with you in Vegas?”
