“I like identifying problems and offering solutions. It’s rewarding. And the pay isn’t bad, either.” He smirked. “But enough about me. Let’s talk about you. I went back to the compound after high school, and was shocked to find that you were gone. Why’d you leave? Where’d you go?”
“There wasn’t much at the compound for me, so I ran away to go to college.”
“Oh. Wow.”
“Yeah. I got my master’s in education, and I teach third graders now.”
He chuckled. “Of course, you do. That’s fitting. Praise the Lord, that’s so wonderful! I always thought you’d make a good teacher, but figured you’d be teaching in the compound. I expected to move back, we’d be back together, and it would be just like old times.”
Two friends were reconnecting, and I’d never felt more like a third wheel in my life. Not even when Dave was doing everything in his power to make me feel unwanted in my childhood home. Shifting in my seat, I wondered if I should move and give them a little privacy. It was clear to see Toby was interested, and he was a much better fit for her than I was. Still, being around them stung. It made me feel insignificant and foolish for even looking at Mila the way I had been.
“You look amazing, Amelia. Even more beautiful than I remember.”
I could still keep an eye on them if I stood by the door, and I wouldn’t have to hear this.
“Thank you. You look great, too. I’m so glad to hear you’re doing well. And as great as it was to see you, we should get back. I don’t want Levi’s coffee to get cold. You remember my cousin, Levi, don’t you?”
Toby’s eyes widened. “Of course! He’s here, too? I’d love to see him again. Maybe we can all get together for lunch soon.” Smiling at me, he added, “Hound, you should join us, too.”
I’d rather run a fucking mile than sit through lunch while they made doe eyes at each other, but I gave him the best smile I could manage. “Sure, man.”
“I’ll have to check Levi’s schedule.” Mila pulled out her phone. “Let me get your number.” She punched in the digits he rattled off before standing. “I’ll message you as soon as I know Levi’s availability.”
Toby bolted to his feet, smile firmly intact. “Sounds great. Please give Levi my best.” He gave her another hug before offering me a hand. “It was nice to meet you, Hound.”
“You, too.” We shook again before I picked up the coffees and followed Mila outside.
I had a million questions for her, but suddenly felt like I didn’t have the right to ask any of them.
“You okay?” she asked as we hit the curb, waiting for our light.
No. “Toby seems nice.”
Leaning back on her heels, she snorted. “I don’t buy it. Not for one fucking second.”
Before I could ask what she meant, our walk light lit up. Practically buzzing with energy, she marched out onto the crosswalk. I struggled to keep up until she slowed down and matched my strides.
“Don’t buy what?” I asked.
“Any of it. What are the chances of him running into me like that? He had to know I was there.”
“You didn’tseemsuspicious.”
“Good. Hopefully that’ll throw him off.”
I was so confused. “Do you think your childhood friend wants to kill you?” Judging by the way Toby had acted, his plans for Mila included things like a ring and a cradle. I was pretty sure murder was the last thing on his mind.
“Hound, you’re such a good, honest guy.”
She made it sound like an insult, so I didn’t respond. We walked the rest of the way in silence as I tried to figure out what had just transpired.
When Mila burst through the door to Morse’s office, he was on the phone. She put her hands on her hips and stared him down until he promised to call the person he was talking to back and hung up.
“That was a client,” Morse said. “So, I hope this is important.”
“Hound and I just ran into Toby at the coffee shop.”
Morse’s jaw dropped. “Tobias? The Mayer kid?”
