Kelly and I rode together and if he’s creepy we already have a plan to drive around in case he tries to follow us.
I look at my phone.
11:01.
This is it. Either he’ll be here any second and the mystery will be over or this whole thing was a big waste of time. I can see Kelly in the next aisle over, talking to someone selling fresh corn. But she’s assured me she’s not going anywhere unless and until I give her the signal that everything is okay.
I just—a familiar face is coming toward me and I blink in confusion.
Oh, no.
What’s Bodi doing here? This is going to be awkward.
He’s going to think?—
“Jayne?” He approaches me with a frown. “What, uh, what are you doing here?”
“What areyoudoing here?” I counter, staring at his face for a second before dropping my eyes to the…Arizona Cardinalslogo on his very white T-shirt.
He’s staring at my chest too, but I have a weird feeling it’s not my boobs he’s interested in.
“You’re wearing a Nirvana T-shirt,” he says, his voice almost accusatory.
“You’re wearing a Cardinals shirt!” I retort.
“Oh fuck.” His eyes snap back to mine. “Jeannie?”
“Broderick?”
There’s a moment of uncomfortable silence, and then he starts to laugh. “Oh, my fucking God, what the hell is fate trying to tell me?”
“It’s really you?” I demand incredulously. “Broderick is…”
“Broderick is my legal name,” he says quietly, “but I’ve been Bodi since my sister Billie was little. When she was starting to talk, she couldn’t sound out Broderick, so it came out Bodi. And it stuck.”
“Jeannie was my mother’s middle name,” I admit sheepishly. “Same initial as Jayne, kind of close but with an added layer of anonymity.”
“Oh, hell, honey.” He comes closer and looks down at me. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Me either.” I swallow but then look around for Kelly. She’s watching with a frown and I wave her over.
“You brought a wing man too?” he asks, chuckling.
“Yup. Who did you—” I’m cut off as West approaches us, with Vik trailing behind him.
“Oh, no,” I whisper. “Guys talk! If they say something to my dad?—”
“No. Give me a minute.” Bodi whirls and goes over to them, whispering heatedly.
Kelly puts a hand on my arm. “I’m confused,” she says.
“Broderick is Bodi,” I whisper. “It’s…this is a crazy coincidence.”
She smiles. “There’s no such thing as coincidence—this is fate telling you the two of you have unfinished business.”
I look over to where the guys are talking, and Vik smiles and waves.
Great. Somebody better explain the situation to him before he makes trouble for all of us.
