Nothing worked quite as well as burying a big truth under a smallerone.
She tapped my knuckles with her fingers. “Eldiablo.”
Another reason I needed to help Liam win this duel . . . so that nothing and no one stood in my way to send the devil toHell.
21
After droppingEvelyn off at Frank’s, I drove over to the warehouse. I called Sarah on the way. I preluded my invitation to dine with a bunch of Boulders with a, “Are you busy tomorrownight?”
“You mean, am I deejaying at TheDen?”
Right.It was Thursday night. “I meant earlier, fordinner.”
“I’m free for dinner, and even afterward. I’m taking some time offdeejaying.”
I didn’t ask why, but I suspected it was because she was still grieving for her uncle and for her pack’sannexation.
“Meet me at Tracy’s ateight?”
“Is it just the two ofus?”
“Um.No.”
“Who else will bethere?”
“Somepeople.”
“Whichpeople?”
“Um. Liam, Lucas, Matt and hisgirlfriend.”
Would Tamara come? If she did, the guys would surely pick up on her pregnancy . . . How would Liamreact?
“Why are you having dinner with all these people?” Sarahasked.
“We.You said you werefree.”
“Not sure if I amanymore.”
“Please.”
“What about August? Is hecoming?”
I sighed. “What are you doing tonight,actually?”
“Hanging out with you to find out what the heck’s going on in your life. Plus, I’m dying to know how your weekendwent.”
As I made plans to head to her place later, the warehouse materialized like an oasis, which made my pulse skip. I parked the van next to August’s pickup, then made my way toward the wide-open loading dock. As I approached, the tether solidified like concrete. Standing beside Uncle Tom at one of the worktables, August looked up atme.
I tried to smile, but I was so jittery the simple process proved tremendously arduous. When I was close enough, I said, “Hi, UncleTom.”
“Ness!” Tom grinned wide, which made his purplish-red cheeks rise and round, and the faint scent of cold whiskey clout mynose.
It was just after lunch, and yet he was hitting the bottle? I knew he needed the job, but I hoped August was monitoring him so he didn’t hurt himself—or anyone else for thatmatter.
“We miss you around here!” Uncle Tom’s strident voice made me glance worriedly atAugust.
“I miss it here too.” And I did, even though the warehouse brought me equal parts pain andpleasure.
