“Thirteen years, huh?” Alice nods, glancing in my direction. I can tell she wants to look at me, really look at me, but doesn’t want to make it obvious or stare too long.
“Yeah, I’m definitely not young anymore.” I sigh, pushing my black hair out of my face.
“So what, that makes you like thirty, or—”
“Thirty-five, actually.” I give her a slight smirk. “Can’t you tell?”
There’s something about the way she’s looking at me now—curious, maybe a little shy, but interested.
“Hey, Sawyer, we gotta get going,” Chris calls, sticking his head through the entrance door.
Right. Back to work.
But as I head toward the door, I glance back. Alice is already helping another customer, but she's smiling now. Really smiling.
I might need to make more deposits.
Chapter 3
Alice
Wesayourlastgoodbyes while walking to our cars. My phone buzzes in my back pocket.
Missed call from Unknown Caller.
No voicemail. Probably a scam. If it was important, they would've left a message.
My thumb scrolls up on my phone screen as I sit inside my car.
Madi: I’m at your house with WINE!??
Madi: P.S. You’re gonna regret giving me a key??
The text makes me laugh. I won’t regret it if I lock myself out of the house. Which has happened more times than I like to admit.
I pull into my driveway, seeing Madison’s car parked exactly where I expected it. I walk up the three steps to my front door. Inside, Madi is already perched on the kitchen counter with a glass of wine in hand.
“This house hasn't changed much since we were in high school.” She looks around, sipping from her wine glass. “This is Grandma Alice's place for sure.”
"You know I'm a creature of habit." I set my purse down on the counter next to her, pushing my glasses up my nose. “And don't forget my bookcase in the living room.” I gesture toward the freshly built bookcase that stands tall next to the flat screen TV.
“Oh yeah, you really are living the life.” Madi jumps off the counter, handing me a fresh glass of wine. “You really have it made, you know that.”
The sweetness of the drink hits my lips, and the burn of the alcohol slides down my throat.
“Yeah, sometimes I can’t believe I freed myself from him.” The words tumble out after just one sip of wine. God, I’m such a lightweight. “You don’t realize how much of a relief it is to wake up and realize he isn’t in my life anymore.”
The house feels safe in a way our house in Creeksprings never did. No one knew about this place. Not Lance. Just Madison, and she'd never tell. Here, surrounded by Grandma’s things and Madison’s laughter, I can almost forget why I needed to run away in the first place.
“Just be careful,” Madison says, quieter now. "You know how Lance is. He doesn't just... let things go."
Before I can ask what she means, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Unknown number: You always did like that house.
The wine glass slips. I catch it before it hits the counter, but my hands are shaking. How does he—
No. Wrong number. Has to be.
