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Nodding like an idiot, I waved and left.
It took me almost twice as long to get back to Mel’s Pizza because the snow had picked up. I started to slide a couple of times and prayed my old Toyota wouldn’t fail me.
Swirls of snow followed me into the restaurant that was now deserted except for the staff.
“I was just about to send out a search party!” Mel exclaimed, and I chuckled.
“I was fine. But the roads are getting bad,” I admitted.
“Yeah, I’m closing down early. This weather is insane. It’s too early in the year for this stuff. I haven’t seen snow this early since I was a kid. Anyway, we were only waiting for you to get back. Should’ve told you to go straight home after your delivery,” he said as he started shutting lights off.
“It’s okay; I needed to bring back the money for the pizza delivery.” I rang up the cash in the old-fashioned register. With my past, I hated for anyone to think I was being shady.
“I wasn’t worried about that,” Mel said as he waved my unspoken worry off. He was one of few who knew my truths.
“I’ll see you Tuesday night. If you need me before that, give me a call,” I offered as we locked up. Mel nodded and gave me a hug.
“Thank you. I wish I could hire you full-time,” he said into my ear before he leaned back to gaze at me with kind eyes.
“I know, and I appreciate it.” The corner of my mouth quirked. We all got into our vehicles and went our separate ways. Mel had been one of the only ones who would hire me when I came to town. He’d also been damn near like a father to me in the year I’d worked for him.
The snow was really coming down hard, and my wipers were working overtime. “For crying out loud! It’s only October!”
It was times like this that I questioned my sanity in moving to northern Iowa. At the time, a small town miles away from home had seemed like the perfect solution to my problem. Except coming from central Texas, I wasn’t used to driving in snow… yet there I was delivering fucking pizzas in the shit.
Making the decision to stop for gas on the way home, I pulled into the place around the corner. After filling up, I went inside to grab a scratch-off ticket. It was a tiny guilty pleasure that I’d treated myself to once a week for the last five years.
Rushing back to my car, I looked up through the snow to find a police car parked at an angle blocking me in.
Fuck.
The officer got out of his car as I approached my door.
“Good evening, Ms. Barnes,” Officer Edwards said as he walked up to me.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked, knowing damn well there wasn’t anything I’d done to fall under question. I lived my life strictly by the book. I didn’t speed, I didn’t jaywalk, I didn’t so much as walk on public grass. I’d never risk going back.
“Just making sure there wasn’t a problem while you were in the store,” he said with a smile that didn’t meet his eyes as they swept over me from head to toe, then back again. He stepped closer, and I really wanted to move back, but I held my ground. It brought him too close into my personal bubble, and ripples of anxiety snaked through my veins.
“None at all,” I replied with a tight smile.
He tugged on my scarf as if he was teasing. Hell, maybe the fucker thought he was, but I didn’t like it. Gently but firmly, I pulled it from his gloved hand as I held his gaze.
“You know some of the force here doesn’t trust you. They don’t think you have any business in our little town.” He gave me the creeps, the way he bit his top lip and looked down at me. While the other cops in town glared at me or curled their lips in contempt, Officer Edwards made me nervous.
“Well, I can assure you I have no idea why they would feel that way. I’m a law-abiding citizen, Officer Edwards.” Giving him a saccharine sweet smile, I stepped back.
He moved forward again and dipped his head to speak softly. “If you wanted, I might be able to convince them that you weren’t any kind of threat, Ms. Barnes. I mean, if you wanted to work something out.”
Not a chance in fucking hell.
“I think I’ll be just fine, Officer Edwards. You have a nice night. And be careful on those roads. They’re getting nasty.” With an exaggerated wave, I stepped around him and got into my car. Since he still blocked the front of my car, I backed away from the pump. As I pulled out onto the road, I was so damn tempted to flip him off.
But I refrained—because law-abiding citizen and all.
“Ughhhhhh!” I roared in frustration as I drove away. The flakes were coming down wet and heavy by then, and I had my wipers on high to keep my windshield clean. “It’s not even really winter yet! Fucking ridiculous,” I muttered. At least back in Texas, it wasn’t winter.
You’re not in Texas anymore, Toto.
