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“You know we’ll all be there to cheer you on.” Aiden swept up the debris around the saw. “Lyric is okay with you riding?”
His shoulders turned to lead. He’d almost forgotten he was supposed to be dating someone. He turned his back and started to reorganize the tool chest on the table. Thatch really didn’t want to have to explain another lie right now. “She seems to be.”
“Wasn’t her ex a rider or something?” Aiden sounded closer.
“Uh, yeah.” That reminded him. “I’ve been meaning to ask what you think about the break-in at the clinic.” The more he’d thought about that incident, the more he’d wondered if it had something to do with Luke Copeland coming to town.
“Kyra said it was no big deal.” Aiden brought the rubber mallets to the table. He’d always been a stickler for organization on a job. “Seems weird that someone came in but didn’t take anything.”
“They didn’t have the chance to take anything,” Thatch reminded him. “Lyric and I were in her studio and scared them away.”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “So you think we have something to worry about?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t like it, though.” He’d been lying awake at night wondering if he should be doing more to figure out who broke in. What if Luke had come to town early and was hoping to find Lyric alone at the clinic? That possibility made his gut clench. “I’ve wondered if Lyric’s ex has already arrived for Rodeo Days. I mean, the competition is only a week away.” Luke could be in the area somewhere. That was his biggest concern. “Kirby told me he’s a violent type. So I don’t like not knowing who walked into their clinic uninvited.”
“I don’t either.” Aiden gave Thatch his full attention. “Natalie hasn’t been able to find anything?”
“Not yet. Last I knew, she was going to try to talk to the neighbors.” He’d have to follow up with her again later. “Maybe someone saw something.”
“I’ve already started to price out security systems.”His friend showed him a screenshot of a spreadsheet. “But it’ll take a while to get one installed.”
“In the meantime, I guess we’ll have to keep an eye on the place ourselves.” He’d already started to drive by the clinic more regularly, going out of his way to make sure nothing looked suspicious. “I think I’ll head over there now. Lyric teaches those high school girls tonight.” He didn’t want some random potentially dangerous person walking in during their session.
Aiden laughed. “You gonna join a yoga class?”
“Nah.” He wasn’t about to fess up to his new yoga hobby. “I think I’ll sit in the truck and keep an eye on things until Lyric leaves.” Otherwise, he’d only sit at home and worry anyway.
Aiden looked confused. “Won’t she be going home to you?”
“Oh. Yeah.” Everyone likely assumed they spent most of their nights together being in a relationship and all. “I mean, probably.”
“I’ll head out with you.” Aiden pulled on his sweatshirt, and they walked down the hall together. “I’m looking forward to the trip this weekend. Between the rec center and Kyra’s schedule at the clinic, we’ve hardly seen each other lately. Hopefully, there’ll be some early nights and late mornings, if you know what I mean.”
Oh, he knew. What he didn’t know was how he and Lyric would be spending those late mornings and early nights. On opposite sides of their cabin? He had other ideas about how they could spend those hours together, but he didn’t know if she was on board.
Aiden led the way out the door, looking at him funny. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Thatch quickly hoofed it to his truck. “I should head to the clinic. See you tomorrow.”
As he drove away, Aiden still stood there staring at him. For the first time, Thatch started to sweat going on a trip with their friends over the weekend. Silas and Aiden would see right through him.
He parked his truck along the curb two houses down from the clinic and cut the engine. Dusk had started to settle, dragging shadows across the lawns of the small bungalows and Craftsman-style homes on the west side of the street. Thatch leaned his seat back slightly and did a few of the stretches Lyric had shown him for his ribs. They were still cranky, but he’d been able to move better the last few days, so that was something. Still, he didn’t want to overdo anything, and since Lyric wasn’t here to supervise, he pulled out his phone to play on his Battleship game with Silas instead. Next, he sorted through his email, deleting almost everything in his inbox. He was about to pocket his phone again when it rang.
He answered on the Bluetooth before the first ring had even finished. “Hey, Mom.”
“Thatcher!” His mother sounded delighted. “I thought I was going to have to leave youanothermessage.”
“You caught me at a good time.” Most of her messages as of late had been asking how Lyric was doing, and he hadn’t exactly known what to say. He didn’t want to get his mother’s hopes up for a future with a woman who mostly held him at arm’s length.
“How are you? How’s Lyric?” she asked in her singsongy tone.
“I’m doing fine, but I’m not sure how Lyric is.” He couldn’t full-on lie to her.
“You’re not taking her out tonight?” his mom pressed.
“Not that I know of—”
The clinic’s door opened, and the girls from Lyric’s class hurried out to waiting cars. Lyric followed them down the pathway across the lawn and then turned in his direction.
