AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You know me better than that.” I winked at her. “And I wasn’t going to bring some random woman.”
“I’m a little scared right now.” Baker leaned closer to Holt.
“You told your sister?” I threw the question out there casually, but it went off like a bomb.
“She left in a huff the other day. Haven’t seen her since.”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“She didn’t tell us abouther,” Andrew said through gritted teeth.
“Don’t regret not inviting her,” Mrs. Quinn said quietly.
“I’m afraid I’ll regret it if we do.” Holt drained his beer. Baker punched him in the arm. “She’s on your shit list,” he accused.
“Doesn’t mean I have to act like her.”
Mr. Dixon was suspiciously quiet as he stared into his glass.
“Where is she?” I asked.
“Like she’s on speaking terms with any of us at the moment.” Andrew scooped some spinach dip onto his plate.
“I thought you were keeping up with her.” Mr. Dixon lifted his eyes to mine.
Ella shrieked. I grabbed her from her carrier and settled her in my lap. “Hey, gorgeous. You miss your partner in crime?” Everyone looked at me like they’d never seen me before. “We had a big time together this week,” I said by way of explanation.
“You looked after Ella?” Baker didn’t bother to hide her skepticism.
“And Blake too, if you must know.”
She sprayed some of her wine. “Why didn’t you send us a video?”
I wiped Ella’s face. “Next time we will, won’t we?”
Her tiny face looked like she’d passed gas, but I pretended it was enthusiasm.
“What’s going on with you and my sister? That was weird you showing up together for dinner.” Andrew leaned back in his chair and slung an arm around Trish.
I exchanged a glance with Mr. Dixon. “I assure you, there’s nothing going on.”
“I think you’re good for her,” Trish said. “She’s softer around you.”
“If you mean she can’t speak as much because I dominate the conversation, then yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“I’m serious.” Trish pressed her lips together.
“No offense, but I don’t think so.”
I still saw the absolute desperation and grief on her face when she was clear I was no longer welcome.“Don’t come in my house again uninvited.”I wasn’t sure if that meant she’d never reach out for me to take Blake or if I wasn’t allowed on her turf. And after getting shitfaced drunk because of her, it was probably better I cut all ties. She didn’t want me or anything else. The problem was, I heard her other words too.“I feel like this on the inside every day. Most of the time I do a better job of holding it in.”
I released a sigh, she wasn’t my problem to solve, and then shook my finger at Trish. “I almost forgot. My guy came up with a little info on Cricket. Said she sneaks out of the shelter around one every night.” I glanced to Mrs. Quinn. “You didnothear that from me.”
“Where does she go?”
“Meets a man in Brownsville. Comes back around four.”
Trish worried her lip between her teeth.
