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Josie
“Ugh.” I held my hand up to block the sunlight streaming in through the kitchen window as I padded toward the coffeemaker and pushed start. “I’m never drinking again.”
How many did I have?
Let’s see… There was one while I was making dinner.
A second while I was eating dinner with Fox.
A third…
Shit. My brain backed up to Fox! I closed my eyes as the memories from last night flooded in. Why oh why did I have that third glass of wine? What had come out of my mouth was exactly the reason I always stopped at two.
Not only had I called Fox out for watching me over the security camera, I’d demanded to knowwhat he was doingwhile he watched. I rubbed my temples with my eyes closed. Now I knew how Fox felt about his high-school girlfriend Quinn’s mother. I was mortified. Packing up and leaving Laurel Lake today might be my only viable option.
The Keurig made a gargling sound, indicating it was done brewing. I gulped coffee from my mug like an addict mainlining heroin. Once I’d downed my fix, I went to the kitchen faucet and splashed water on my face. Then I made a second cup. While I impatiently waited for the drip to start, I looked out the front window—or more accurately, I looked to the right, to Fox’s house. I’d slept pretty late, so I was surprised that his truck was still in the driveway. Leaning over to see more, I noticed the hood was up. And Fox was outside.
He walked around from the driver’s side, looking at the engine while shoving a hand into his hair. The situation didn’t look very promising. The last thing I wanted to do was see him after last night—or go out in the annoying sunshine, for that matter—but Fox had helped me so much. I really had no choice but to go over and see if I could return the favor. So I threw on shorts and a T-shirt and walked across the lawn with my mug in hand.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
Fox shook his head. “Truck won’t start. I think it’s the alternator.”
His eyes dropped to my chest. I hadn’t bothered with a bra, and my nipples were saluting their freedom.
Fox diverted his eyes back to the engine and cleared his throat. “I tried to jump it. Didn’t turn at all.”
“Do you need to get to work? You can take my car. Or I can drop you off, if you want.”
“I texted Porter and told him I was going to be late. He said he’d come get me if I needed him to, but I have a meeting down at the building department in twenty minutes, and he’s at least that far away on a jobsite.”
“So take my car. Or I’ll drive you.”
“You sure you don’t mind? I can get Porter to pick me up from the building department. But I could use a ride there. Ubers around here aren’t too quick.”
“Just give me two minutes to get my keys and put on some shoes.”
He lowered the hood. “Thanks.”
As we drove through town, Fox told me where to turn, but not much was said other than that. Once we got on the highway, though, it was just dead air. I got the urge to turn on the radio to fill the space. But instead, I decided to pull on my big-girl panties and own up to my big mouth last night.
“So…” I said. “About last night.”
Fox’s eyes slanted over. “I’m quiet because I’m thinking about all the shit I have to do today. Don’t read into it. Last night was last night. Today is today.”
I sighed. “Hello? Helpless overthinker here, remember? I can’t stop myself.”
“You’re supposed to be working on that. Why don’t you start now?”
“Well, my therapist said one of the things I should do is trust my instincts. So that’s what I’m doing. My gut tells me we need to clear the air. I don’t want it to be weird between us. You’re like my best friend in town.”
Fox’s brows shot up. “I’myour best friend?”
“I take it from that response that I’m not yours?”
He chuckled. “We’re good, Josie. I promise.”
“I’m going to apologize anyway. If the shoe was on the other foot, and it was you who’d had a little too much to drink and pushed me to talk about sexual stuff, no one would find that okay. So it’s not acceptable that I made unwelcome remarks.”
