“Actually, she’s great with them.”
Huh?
“Sometimes I think she’s a better mother than I am.”
“I doubt that,” I argued.
Lana was a great mom. She loved those babies and would do anything for them.
I looked over at Ava, who had the brightest smile on her face. She always had this spark of sadness when we were kids. It was nice to see her happy. Even if she was crazy.
The songCover Me In Sunshinerang through the air, making Lana let out a disgruntled groan.
“It’s Parker,” she grumbled while picking up her phone. “I better get it or he’ll keep calling.”
I gave her a nod. Lana didn’t like being interrupted, she thought it was rude. Funny, considering half the time she was so busy talking that she didn’t notice the people around her.
All hell broke loose when she answered the call. At first I thought a rock or something had flown into the glass jug of juice sitting on the table beside me. My brows knit as glass shattered and juice splashed on my leg. Then another quiet slice cut through the air as a light bulb burst apart.
After that, all I could hear was pops, rings, and dings, as a shower of plaster and glass rained down on us. Men came from everywhere, bursting out of the house and running around the yard with their guns drawn. The world slowed down as gunshots echoed through my ears.
Oh my god, I was in the middle of a firefight!
I couldn’t breathe past the pounding in my chest. I could barely scream as someone grabbed me and threw me in the house. What the hell was happening? Who would shoot at us?
All I could do when Ava dropped a baby on my lap was gawk open mouthed at Lana, who looked just as terrified as me. She was clinging to Winslow so hard her knuckles were white.
“Don’t worry,” Ava plopped a pot on her head, grabbed a cast iron frying pan, and ran out the door. “I got this.”
I looked down at Weston’s calm face and prayed that I’d live long enough to see that bright sparkle in a set of green eyes again.
Parker swunghis hands back and forth, continuing to negotiate with the shop owner. I just rolled my eyes. Not only was I sent to ‘Sam’s Bait ‘N’ Tackle’ to collect video footage of the night Tico was found, but I was sent with Parker. Mr. There’s Always A Diplomatic Solution.
This shit could’ve been done in less than five minutes. All it would’ve taken were a few punches and threats. But noooo, Parker wanted to try and talk to him first.
I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have been sent here at all if talking worked. Gramps said that they were having issues getting the owner to cooperate. But hey, who was I to argue with Ashen Springs’ golden boy?
“You’d be really helping us out.” Parker braced his elbows on the counter and leaned in closer to the old man, eyeing him. “It couldn’t hurt to be owed a favor, right?”
Grumbling under my breath, I ran my hand over a nearby shelf filled with feathered tackles. Favor my ass. Why the fuck should we do shit for him? Without counting in the fact that we owned this town, this grumpy ass fucker was neglecting the fact that a kid was killed. I should just beat it out of him.
I was about to spin around and show Parker my version of diplomacy when something caught my eye. My head tilted as I walked over to the window. Across the street was a small café with red checkered tables sitting out on a patio. Most were occupied with people happily eating, but it was the couple at the end that made my lips curl in a smile.
“No fucking way.”
I could barely contain my laughter as Silas’s grandpa reached over to sweep some hair off Gretta Crawford’s forehead. Mr. Governor was on a date with Lana’s nan. This was the best day ever. I stood back to snap a couple pictures, then texted my best friend.
Me: Hey man, what’s up?
Silas: Not much just hanging out with Star.
I rolled my eyes. Nothing new there.
Me: Oh yeah, that’s cool.
Silas: Hanging out with Star is cool?
Me: Yeah, she’s your girl. You should hang out with her.
