Right.
“How old is Pebbles?” he asks as I head for the stairs.
Literally no one in town has asked me that in the two months we’ve been stuck here. “She’s four.”
“Seems like a really good traveler.”
“She is.”
“Nice that she fits in your purse like that.”
“Why are you so nice to me?” The question comes out of nowhere, and I wish I could take it back, but I’m not operating at full brain function this morning.
His steps echo on the metal stairs as he trails me up to the dark, starry morning. “Not much reason to be mean to you, is there?”
“Where I come from, you don’t need a reason to be mean. Or to betray people. Or spread rumors. Or ... well, basically do anythingbutbe nice. And I ... wasn’t nice ... to you.”
“Eh. Mistakes happen. Lucky for you, you’re in Tickled Pink now. We don’t need a reason to be nice.” He tilts his head. “Unless you’re Teague.”
God help me, now he’s making me laugh. In themorning. While I can still smell the world’s worst breakfast sandwich, which smells utterly delicious, and which I wish I were eating right now.
This vegan, sugar-free public persona sucks, for the record.
“Are you, like, planning to feed that thing to the wildlife?” I ask. Mental note: when I move to Costa Rica, I will no longer saylikefor any reason.
Ever.
I annoy even myself when it comes out of my mouth.
“Can’t leave crumbs in the bunker. Which doesn’t exist. Right?”
“I was never here.”
Except for the favors.
I won favors off Dylan and Willie Wayne last night, and I owe Ridhisomething.
To be determined.
As soon as I’m showered and ready, I’m cashing in that first favor.
Dylan Wright is about to become a social media star, becauseduh.
Of course he’s the best option.
The internet won’t know what hit it when a sweet, hot, dimpled small-town plumber invites them all to come visit him in his hometown.
And then—then—I can finally leave Tickled Pink behind and head to my own chosen home.
Chapter 4
Dylan
The Over Easy Café in Deer Drop is busy this morning, and I’m running late after making sure Tavi Lightly got out of the secret poker bunker.
Didn’t mean to let her spend the night, but when she face-planted on the table right after the final round, I volunteered to get her home and close up.
Everyone else had a spouse to get home to. And I didn’t specifywhenI’d wake her and get her home. Just that I would.
