When bothersome thoughts of Ryder’s abrupt departure from breakfast earlier wouldn’t leave her alone, she called Laurel. Sometimes the bay walk was the only place in town to get a strong signal.
“I’m trying to fix all that,” Kinley finally said to Laurel.
“I can think of better ways.” Laurel always did love a good, humorous jab. “Have you seen Ava yet?”
“No. She was running an errand. Want me to tell her hi?”
Laurel either sputtered a laugh or spit out a drink, Kinley wasn’t quite sure which. “Yeah, maybe don’t. You know she doesn’t want to hear from me ever again.”
In high school, the three of them were inseparable; ironclad in their mission to ditch Sunset Ridge given the first opportunity. Kinley missed that bond the most. She had friends in the Army, but it wasn’t the same.
“Youstillhaven’t talked to her?” Kinley pried, though she had no right. Kinley and Ava hadn’t kept in touch the past few years either, though for entirely different reasons. The last time they had a phone conversation, Kinley had been days from heading overseas. Ava was moving back to Alaska. Instant messages on social media eventually dried up until there was nothing.
“You, uh, run into Chase?” Laurel asked, her voice quiet and lacking her usual boisterous pep.
“So, the rumorsaretrue. Kinley James is back in town.” Ava Monroe’s voice floated through the breeze, catching Kinley off guard.
She flinched, jerking around while her brain made the necessary connections between a friend’s voice and no visible danger. She really had to stop sitting with her back to possible threats. Heart still slowing, Kinley flew to her feet, phone launching from her hand and landing in the soft grass. As she fumbled for it, her thumb bumped the end call button.Just as well right now.
“Hey, Ava.” Kinley tried shoving her phone in a back pocket, but these danged skinny jeans had skinny pockets too. She missed having her ACU cargo pockets. Dropping her phone in an unzipped purse pocket, she wiped a sweaty palm against her jeans and added a quick, “I went to see you. At the shop.”
“I was on a bank run.”
“That’s what the girl said. Becca, I think.” Kinley wished for the blueberry scones now so she had a peace offering.
“She’s my part-time summer help.”
After Kinley joined the Army, she did her best to stay in touch. She’d even met up with Ava a couple of times in the lower forty-eight. But around the time Ava moved back home to help out at her mom’s gift shop, she and Kinley lost almost all contact. It made Kinley feel all the more guilty for keeping in such close contact with Laurel.
“You own the store now. Forget Me Not Boutique.”
“Yep.” Ava folded her arms across her chest. “Did you really crash into the town sign and blame Ed?”
“It’s Ed’s fault.”
“How do you even know Ed? You’ve been home all of—how longhaveyou been back?”
“Since Saturday.”
“Fourdays?”
Kinley cleared her throat, willing the apology she owed her best friend to form into words. “Ava, I—”
Ava marched forward, closing the distance between them. Kinley braced for the unexpected, but she wasn’t prepared for the bear hug her petite friend wrapped her in. It pushed out all the negative air she’d been holding tight, her lungs burning from the lack instead of angst.
“It’s so good to see you, Kin! I’ve missed you.”
Kinley failed twice to force words without oxygen.
“Oh, sorry.” Ava hopped back, giving Kinley exactly three seconds to suck in a breath before she punched her in the shoulder.
Kinley rocked back on her heels a step, rubbing the afflicted spot. “Ow!”
“Fourdays, Kinley? You’ve been hiding out for half a week and didn’t even send me a text?” Ava folded her arms over her chest with such force her entire frame rocked. “I’m only one of your very best friends, you know.”
“I’m sorry. Fiona broke her arm. I’ve been getting settled in.” The narrowed gaze did Kinley in. She broke. “Okay, so I was hiding. I’m not excited to be back. I was worried you wouldn’t even want to see me.”
“Why on earth would you think that?”
