“Clover?” She scrunches her nose. “Are you naming a girl or a golden retriever?”
“Are you saying you actually like Beatrix?”
“I had a great-aunt named Beatrix.”
“I rest my case.”
Hazel scoffs. “I prefer classic names like Charlotte or Emma or Elizabeth or Victoria or?—”
“And I like nature-inspired names.” I don’t actually hate most of the names she just listed, but it’s the point of the thing. “Lily or Poppy or Fern or Violet.”
Hazel sighs. “This was much easier when I thought I’d be doing it on my own.”
“Sorry to crimp your style by inserting my penis and opinions into things.”
Her cheeks fill with color. “I’m an only child. I’m not used to sharing.”
“I kinda got that.”
“Sor—” She winces again, then changes the subject. “Are you driving straight back to Cherry Blossom Lake?”
“I’m staying here tonight.”
Hazel blinks. “Here?”
“Not in my truck.” Never mind that I sometimes do that. “Probably with a buddy. My business in Salem isn’t until tomorrow.”
“Oh.” She nibbles another saltine. “Meeting with a parole officer or something?”
“No.” I can’t be offended by the guess, since she’s not so far off the mark. “My lawyer successfully argued the sentence was excessive and got me cleared for time served.”
“So no parole obligations?”
“No parole obligations.” I’m annoyed she keeps harping on this. “What, you just automatically assume the only business an ex-con would have near Salem has something to do with parole?”
“Sor—” She stops with a frown. “That’s on me. Seems like the only time I come to this part of the state is to visit my father or meet with his lawyers or attend some kind of court hearing. I’ve come to dread the Willamette Valley as one big prison-related road trip.”
Now it’s my turn to feel bad. “That sounds heavy.”
“It can be.” She toys with the top of her soda. “Knowing you’re staying over makes me feel worse about your shoes. I don’t suppose you brought an extra pair for your meeting?”
“’Fraid not.”
“Please, let me buy you some new ones. I’m staying downtown at The Grand, and there’s tons of great shopping nearby. You can clean up in my suite if you want. It’s the least I can do after throwing up on you and…well…” She nibbles her lip again. “Being sort of a bitch to you.”
I should probably argue that last point. “You don’t need to buy me shoes, but I wouldn’t mind cleaning up. Can’t go to my buddy’s place until after five, so it’d be great to grab a shower.”
“Shower.” Pink fills her cheeks, like maybe she’s remembering our last shower interlude. “Right, yes—okay. Do you want to follow me there?” Her face goes another shade pinker. “To the hotel. Not to the shower. I didn’t mean?—”
“I know what you meant. Yeah, that’s fine.” I know where The Grand is, but arriving together makes sense. “All right.”
“Great.”
“Good.”
“That’s the plan then.”
“Yep.” I wait for another two beats. “Hazel?”
