He takes the cashier's check from my hand. Our fingers brush.
The brief contact sends a jolt through me. I pull my hand back too quickly.
"See you around, Alicat."
"You're going to keep calling me that, aren't you?"
"Yeah." He's still holding the check. Still standing there. "I hope you don't mind."
My stomach flutters. "I don't."
He turns to leave.
"Have a good day, Sawyer." I call after him.
He glances back with that same confident smile. And I realize I'm smiling back. Really smiling. The kind of smile that hurts my cheeks because I'm not used to it anymore. “You too, Alice.”
After he leaves, I stand there for a moment, staring at the door.
Study buddy?The thought of spending time with him outside of work—helping him prepare for his sergeant’s exam—makes me nervous and excited at the same time.
I shake my head and get back to my drawer. I've got work to finish.
My phone sits next to my cash drawer. No new notifications. No missed calls.
For now.
Chapter 10
Alice
Islideintomydriver’sseat, debating whether I should go read or get groceries on my lunch break.Decisions. I’m always going to have time to read, so I might as well get the groceries I need and put them in the fridge.
Pulling out of the bank's parking lot, I stop at the stop sign. A black SUV pulls up behind me. Way too close. Before I can even press the gas pedal, the driver lays on the horn.
What's their problem?
I roll my eyes, pressing the gas pedal and taking a right turn. The next thing I know, the SUV is laying on the horn and getting so close to my bumper I think they’re going to rear-end me. Then the vehicle swerves from behind me to cut directly in front, so close that I have to slam on my brakes. I try to catch a glimpse of the license plate but there’s nothing there.
My heart hammers against my ribs as my car jerks to a stop. I didn’t hit them, but it was close.
What the hell was that? What was their problem?I couldn’t get a good look at the driver because of the heavily tinted windows. My hands shake as I grip the steering wheel.
Black SUV. Tinted windows.
The same one from the coffee shop. The day I saw Lance. My vision tunnels. The steering wheel feels too far away even though I'm gripping it.
Lance drives a blue truck, not a black SUV. This is just some road rage idiot.
But my hands won't stop shaking.
Sawyer
I’m reviewing reports in the patrol car when my phone buzzes with a text from Nora.
Nora: Alice almost got into an accident on her lunch break. She’s pretty shaken up. I don’t know what you can do, but maybe you can talk to her.
Nora's right.
