I want to see my collar.
And we need to talk.
But first, I want to see my collar.
Throwing down the dishcloth onto the worktable, I lock my hands on top of my head and lift my eyes to the ceiling, pacing the kitchen.
What do I know so far? He started Green Street. With DrewReeves.
He unintentionally killed someone and banished himself over the guilt.
Now, he’s being exiled again by Green Street’s new leader.
I try to retrace memories from years ago. How he’d come over for dinner but then jet off to see friends. That one time he was taking me to the library and we ran into someone he knew.
He didn’t want them talking to me. Was it Drew?
I draw up the image in my head, but I can’t get a clear picture.
Then there was that day under the dock when we hid. Was that before or after the killing? He didn’t want to see whoever that was.
And now he hates himself.
I drop my arms, putting the cloth in the laundry and sitting down at my open laptop. When he held me in the car, everything was right. He was like Lucas a decade ago. That’s the Lucas I want back. That’s the one I deserve. He’s not a murderer, and he’s not a bad man. He let Drew Reeves cost him too much.
I glance at the clock again. I showered, changed into clean clothes, and came back to the bakery, having time to kill yet. Where is he right now? Every second he’s not with me, I’m worried. As if Hugo will snatch him off the street.
I’m surprised he doesn’t send Farrow to pick me up and bring me to the track.
I let the wheels spin in my head.Yeah, that is surprising.He didn’t send Farrow because he’swithFarrow. Dread starts to curl its way through my mind. Are they up to something?
Why is it so hard for Lucas to talk to me?
To hell with it. If he’s not at the track, he will be soon.
Closing my laptop, I swing my crossbody over my head and grab my phone, about to head to my bike.
But then I remember…
Doubling back, I swipe my new car keys off the worktable and turn off the bakery lights.
My phone rings as I open the alley door, and I glance at the screen. I answer as I lock the door. “Hi,” I chirp.
“Hey, kiddo,” Jax replies.
I slip my work keys into my purse and head around the block, toward my new-to-me Jeep.
“Sorry I haven’t been around much,” he tells me. “This summer is flying by.”
“It’s okay. We’re all busy.”
“It’s not okay.” He pauses, his voice softening. “I miss you.”
I toss my purse into the back of the car and hesitate, loving how that feels. When Jared calls, it’s not always unpleasant, but he usually has an ulterior motive, and when Madoc reaches out, it’s to get me to join in on a picnic or a party. Again, not unpleasant, but it always feels like I’m a baby bird being tucked back under a giant wing.
When Jax calls, I just feel like he wants me to feel loved. Like he didn’t growing up.
“You don’t miss me?” he blurts out.
