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“We will be at your place tomorrow night. Be ready, we’re making you over.”
“I don’t need a makeover,” Birdie protested. She also had calls to take and money to earn.
Nina braced two hands on her desk. “Birdie, this is coming from a place of love.”
“Okay.”
“You need a makeover. You cannot go to a wedding with the hot Dukes and those Ryker people, who I’ve seen and are also hot, looking like that.” She waved her hand up and down Birdie’s body. “I mean, it’s cute for here but not for a wedding.”
“I have a dress,” she blurted.
“Really? How come I’ve never seen it?” When Birdie remained silent, she nodded. “Didn’t think so. Make snacks. I’m bringing my stuff. We’ll do something with your hair.”
“What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Tomorrow,” Nina said as she walked away from the desk. “Make sure there’s chocolate.”
Birdie spent the next ten minutes before she left doing a mental list of things she needed to sort before going to Ryker Falls with that shithead Sawyer Duke. First on it was stop and get some supplies on the way home for when Nina and Cill came over tomorrow night. She’d bake. It was cheaper, and then she’d steal stuff from her mother’s house. For all they ate healthy, her mom had perfected yummy snacks.
“Home time,” J.D. said an hour later. He and Birdie were usually the last to leave for the day.
“Yeah. I got it, boss. I’ll lock up.”
“Birdie?”
She slung her backpack onto her shoulders and then looked at him.
“Be careful of Sawyer.” His expression was serious.
“I thought he was your friend?”
“He is. Probably the best one I have. But I also know what he is, just as I know what you are.”
“What am I?”
He smiled. “Gentle, sweet natured and happy all the time. Sawyer is the exact opposite, and I don’t want you hurt.”
She wasn’t exactly miffed at being described as gentle and sweet natured, but it made her sound as interesting as a three-day-old lentil bake and just like one of her parents’ dogs.
“This is just a-a friend helping a friend, J.D. Don’t make more of it than that.”
He kept on studying her and finally nodded. “Okay. Good. I’ll tattoo ‘I love’ above the ‘Jolena’ when he comes in next if he hurts you.”
“Nothing that drastic required, I promise you. Lovely though that sentiment is.”It is nice having people in your corner,Birdie thought.
“Want a lift home?”
“I’m all good, and thanks for caring.”
“Welcome.”
Birdie left and climbed on her bike. The sun would be up for hours yet, so the ride home was nice, unlike the winter months when it was freezing. She waved to people as she traveled toward the center of town until she reached Main Street.
Birdie put her bike in the rack outside Calloway’s Convenience Store. Her parents had lobbied for years to get bike racks everywhere for kids and succeeded.
The sign below the name of the store said, “Come in and sashay down our aisles. You won’t be sorry.” Entering, Birdie grabbed a basket.
“Hi, Birdie.”
