“This is why you’re in the job and I’m not. I don’t have your patience.” Holden rose. “I should get going.”
“Sure.” Jesse stood too, but slower. “Hey, how’d the run go?”
“Clara stopped halfway, and I walked back with her.”
Jesse’s features hardened. “Was she okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired.”
“Okay. Good. I’m glad you were there for her.”
Holden chuckled. “Shewasn’t.”
“She says that, but I’m sure a part of her appreciates it.”
Her soft thank you after he’d helped her with the graze on her knees flickered back to him.
He’d never told Jesse about the night Clara had said she loved him. He’d never told anyone. It felt too personal to share with even his best friend and Clara’s brother.
Or maybe he was just ashamed of his response.
He was about to go, when he remembered her questions about the fake ID. “Hey, you’re not able to do a background check on someone, are you?”
“Not without cause.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Anything wrong?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. Clara would hate him for sharing, but fuck…he needed the town sheriff to know. “Scarlett, her roommate, has a fake ID.”
“Have you seen it?”
“No. But Clara has.”
Jesse’s frown deepened. “You think she’s involved in something she shouldn’t be?”
“Not yet. But I don’t like that she’s so close to Clara.”
“I can talk to—”
“No. And you shouldn’t even tell Clara I brought it up. But I think we should keep an eye on them.”
Jesse nodded. “I tend to keep as close an eye on my sister as I can, anyway.”
“Good.” Holden cleared his throat. “I’ll see you later.”
On the way to the hospital, his chest started to grow tight. Then he saw the building. And even though this was a different hospital than the one his mother had died in, it looked almost the same. He parked out front but didn’t get out right away. He wanted to stay exactly where he was. Not go inside but just leave instead.
But that was fucking stupid. He was an adult. He should be able to walk into a damn hospital without anxiety closing his throat.
He texted Briar.
Holden: Hey. I just got here.
He didn’t have to wait more than a few seconds for a response.
Briar: Great. Meet me in the cafeteria. Be there in ten.
