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Her brow furrows. “That’s strange. Jack said some creepy guy in a mask made you leave. If you’re in trouble, you can talk to me. I’ll help.”
I chuckle, but it comes out sounding nervous. “The guy in the mask was messing around. I didn’t leave with him.”
She looks unconvinced. “Okay, but just know I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
I smile. “Thanks, that means a lot.”
“Your coffee is ready,” the barista says, passing me the mug and card.
She notices that I haven’t opted for takeout. “How about we have a coffee together?” She asks, glancing at her watch. “I’ve got half an hour to kill if you’re up for it.”
“Sure,” I say, despite not wanting to talk right now. I’m too distracted by the town’s priest. “I’ll grab a table while you order.”
She beams at me, and I take my mug and find a table near the window, waiting anxiously. Eva and her friends are nice, but I’m not used to having friends, even in high school. My parents and their connections with crime ensured I had to remain a loner most of my life.
It’s not like I could invite friends over when, more often than not, armed men who worked for Father would be hanging around the mansion. Or they’d have someone strung up in the living room beaten half to death.
Eva is only a few minutes, and then she joins me with a mocha and two chocolate muffins in her hand. “I got us one each. “She places one in front of me.
“Thank you, that’s nice of you.”
She sits down opposite me. “So, what do you think of Jack?”
My brow furrows. “Jack got a bit drunk and pushy at the party. But generally, he’s nice when he takes me to work. Why?”
She chuckles. “Jack likes you, Madison.”
I clear my throat. “Oh, well, I’m not looking to date now. I got out of a difficult relationship before I moved here.” It’s a lie because while I may have got out of a shitty relationship, I’m falling for a man I’ve got no business falling for.
Eva nods. “Fair enough. I’ll let him know.”
I chew my lip. “Are you dating anyone?”
She laughs. “Not for a few years. The problem is, there’s never anyone new in this town. You’re the first new person since Father Jenson moved here four years ago. And unfortunately, despite being hot, he’s kind of tied to God!” she laughs. “I must admit, I often think I’ll never find anyone unless I move away.”
“Great, and I’ve moved in,” I joke.
“It’s different for you. You didn’t attend high school with every age-appropriate male in the town.” She shrugs. “You never know; you might find your soul mate.”
I fear I already have. The only problem is Dante is the priest in this town. It’s a huge problem. I swallow hard, taking a bite of my muffin to distract myself. “This is delicious,” I say.
Eva leans back in her chair. “Yeah, it’s the best cake in the town. You know what, I think we’ve focused way too much on men. Let’s talk about something different,” she says, a sparkle in her eye. “Have you explored the forest yet? It’s worth a visit, especially this time of year. The colors are breathtaking, and there’s a waterfall not too far into the woods. We could have a picnic there. You know, make a girls’ day out of it. What do you think?”
I pause, surprised by the invitation. “A girls’ day out?” I repeat.
It sounds perfect, a wonderful distraction from the man occupying my thoughts. “That sounds great. A picnic, a waterfall, the forest. I’m in.” I sigh. “I could use the distraction, to be honest.”
Her eyes light up. “Perfect! We’ll make a day of it. Pack some snacks and get lost in nature for a while.”
I laugh, finding myself caught up in her contagious enthusiasm. I’ve only known Eva for a short time, but she’s already proving to be a good friend. “Sounds like a plan,” I say, clinking my coffee mug against hers. “To forgetting everything for a day in the forest.”
“When’s your next day off?” she asks.
“Tomorrow,” I reply.
“Let’s go tomorrow,” she suggests.
“Tomorrow,” I echo. “Sounds perfect.”
