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Sensing her need for distraction, Roxie launched into her story with gusto. “Well, it’s actually not that exciting, so I’ll give you the short version. As you probably know, Joe grew up in this house. Quinn next door, and me”—she gestured with her head in the opposite direction—“two doors down. When Quinn’s folks died a few years ago, they left him the house.”
Roxie paused for a split second, and if Alex hadn’t been watching, she would have missed the flash of grief over the woman’s face. “So when he came back to town, he moved right in. Joe’s dad still owns this place and rents it out from time to time. Mostly, it sits empty, and Joe uses it when he’s in town, which is pretty damn rare these days. My folks retired a couple years ago and moved to the complete opposite corner of the country to God’s Little Waiting Room. So I—”
“What?” Alex’s brow furrowed. She couldn’t have heard that right. “Where?”
“Oh, sorry. Florida.”
Smiling, she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“So I, being their only child, moved in. I couldn’t have them selling my childhood home, now could I?” Roxie shrugged, the picture of innocence. “I was living there happily for the last couple years, blah, blah, blah, then I got the call that my folks had had enough. They were sick and tired of dealing with a bunch ofoldpeople.”
Roxie rolled her eyes as she took another bite of pie. “Can you believe that? I think the sun fried their brains when they were down there. Truly. So anyway, they moved back into the house with me and—hold on, I can’t actually eat when I say this.” She swallowed dramatically and frowned. “They moved back in and started acting like they were on their freaking honeymoon! I’d walk into a room and there they were, making out on the couch or groping each other in the kitchen! I’d walk in to find my dad’s hands up my mom’s shirt! It was traumatizing!”
Alex choked on a laugh.
“No,” Roxie said, shaking her head furiously while Alex alternated between laughing and coughing. “Not funny at all! It was sick! Disturbing! No child should ever witness that kind of horror!” Roxie shuddered. “So, I moved out. Fast. And being lazy, I just moved into Quinn’s guesthouse. My folks ended up getting a fancy RV, so their house mostly sits empty now, but...” She cringed. “I don’t want any part of that. Now here we are. Short version complete.”
As their amusement settled, they fell into a comfortable silence. Alex couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so at ease. Something warm bloomed in her gut. Something she didn’t fully recognize but knew she didn’t want to jinx. “Thanks, Roxie.”
“For what?”
Staring down at her plate, she pushed the remaining apple pie around. How did you tell someone—who was basically a stranger—that they were the first person in years that you had relaxed with? How did you say that without sounding like a complete headcase?
“I don’t want this to sound like a pity party or anything, but I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I’ve had a good, real laugh.” There. That hadn’t been so awkward. Right? She felt her face flushing. “So, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. That’s what I’m here for.” The jovial look on Roxie’s face sobered. “Look, considering we’ve just met, I don’t want to overstep any lines—please feel free to tell me to shut the hell up if I do—but I’m obviously not blind, and I can see what that monster, whoever he is, did to you.”
Her gaze dropped to her plate.
“No,” Roxie said, that one word fierce. “Please don’t do that. Don’t shy away like you’re embarrassed. You have absolutely no reason to be. Look.” She waited until Alex met her gaze. “I don’t know what went on or what led you here. All I do know is that Joe sent you. And even though we’ve just met, I want you to know that you can talk to me. About anything. Pies, exes, movies, puppies. Anything. I know this probably sounds strange, but I promise you I’m not saying this because I’m some sort of do-gooder. I’m not. What I am is someone who helps my friends.”
She didn’t know what to say.Overwhelmeddidn’t begin to describe her ricocheting emotions. The last thing she’d ever expected on her first day in town was this show of support from a virtual stranger.
For the second time that evening, her throat tightened. And for the millionth time that evening, she thought it was just all too much.
“I’ve known Joe all my life,” Roxie said. “We have our differences and all, but knowing him the way I do, if he sent you here, then he cares about you. If he cares about you, then I care about you. Same goes for Quinn. He and I will do whatever we can to help you out.”
“Easy as that?” She couldn’t hide the skepticism in her voice.
“Yeah, easy as that.”
“Why?”
Roxie shrugged. “It’s what friends do.” She rose and cleared the dishes while Alex mulled over that one simple sentence.
Simple, yet so foreign.
“I’m sure you’ll figure this out pretty quickly,” Roxie continued, “but with Quinn being the sheriff around here and—”
Her breath caught, and her lips parted in shock.
Roxie continued to speak but Alex didn’t hear a word. Her heart pounded an unsteady rhythm as she tried to suppress her rising panic.
Of course Quinn was the town’s sheriff. Of course.
Dread turned her belly.
She tried to quiet the voice in her head. The one that whispered it was only a matter of time now. That reminded her of Preston’s endless connections. That behind bars or not, he was going to find her. But it was no use. The voice grew until it was achingly loud.
