“Yeah, he’s a great kid. Nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”
Humph. Bo was already that, in Kalista’s mind. The jury was still out on Tyler. He’d been nice to her for a couple of days. Now he was rude, rude, rude.
“Well, gotta get back to the tractor.” He grinned at Kalista. “See you at supper tonight.”
“See you.”
Kalista stayed and watched the pigs for a little while longer after Viv went inside. She was getting a little used to the smell. Or immune to it. Then she realized she was stalling. Time to go toThe Timesoffice and take care of business.
She drove to Clementine and parked Bo’s jalopy in a spot infront of the building, and the truck was almost straight between the lines. She grabbed her pink Chanel purse and climbed out of the vehicle. Before she’d left Viv’s, she’d gone through her suitcases and looked at the clothes she brought. The shorts were too short, the skirts too high, and the shirts too tight—for work anyway. Even though she wasn’t throwing papers today, she wanted to look appropriate in case she ran into her boss. Viv loaned her a super cute, light pink dress with capped sleeves and a mid-knee hem.
She walked inside and faced two stairwells—one up and one down. She was unsure where to go first. Tyler could be downstairs in the circulation area or upstairs where the offices were. He might even be on assignment—something she hadn’t thought about until just this moment. She put her finger on her chin and tried to decide.
“Kalista?”
Spinning on the heel of her white ballet flat, she turned and saw Tyler. “Hi,” she said, giving him a smile and a quick, unnecessary wave. At least she didn’t have to hunt him down.
“What are you doing here?”
Flat tone, flat expression, flat... everything. It was like he’d turned into a robot.
Let’s get this over with.She dug inside her purse for her almost-empty wallet and pulled out the money. “I owe you for the funnel cake.” She presented him with the two dollar bills.
He eyed them like he’d never seen cash before.
“Take it!” She thrust it out at him. Why was he such a weirdo?
Tyler shook his head. Even the movement was emotionless. “You don’t have to pay me back.”
“Yes I do.” She hadn’t anticipated he wouldn’t cooperate. She envisioned him accepting the money and her apology. Then she’d feel better about herself. “I’ll pay you back for the gas too.”
He didn’t say anything, just turned and headed for the bottom stairs.
Ugh, he was infuriating. She marched over to him. “Why are you so mean to me? I know I was rude to you on Saturday. And it was dumb not to check my gas gauge. But that doesn’t mean you can treat me like dirt on your shoe.”
Tyler pressed his lips together and glanced away. “It’s... hard to be around you.”
So she was right. He thought the same thing Daddy and Ryan did—that she was immature and shallow. Oh great, more tears. Apparently she was also a crybaby. “Got it,” she said, her throat hurting. “I won’t bother you again.”
His eyes grew wide before he turned and headed down the stairs.
She clutched the dollar bills and looked at the empty stairwell. She’d never felt so alone.
Chapter 20
Jade exited the elevator at Baptist Health Medical Center. When she called Logan yesterday, he’d been shocked that she was willing to talk to him.“What made you change your mind?”he’d asked as she fast walked to the car rental counter to arrange for another vehicle.
She didn’t know how to answer because she wasn’t sure. She still wasn’t. Maybe it was the lady in the airport who had mentioned her peach cobbler regrets. Or maybe it was because she was filled to the brim with shame and remorse over what she’d done to Sebastian and her own credibility. Maybe it was because she was so tired of the past constantly hovering over her, no matter how much she tried to ignore it or lock it away.
She knew one thing for sure.I’m tired of being alone.
Logan apologized for not having a place for her to stay since he was still in the halfway house. That was fine—she didn’t mind getting a hotel room. She needed time and space to clear her head. She still had to call Miles and then ask her supervisor for a few days off. She’d planned to do that anyway when Sebastian had asked her to stay.
“Can we meet for coffee in the morning?”
“No.” He went quiet, then said. “I’m going to the hospital.”
“Are you okay? What happened? I’ll come see you right now—”
