“Tell Kyle,” I said, and my voice came out rougher than I wanted.
Jenna blinked. “Tell him what?”
“If anyone asks about me,” I said, “tell him to stop answering.” My voice was flat, and I hoped it got my point across.
Jenna’s mouth tightened. “Okay.”
Outside, the air felt colder. Or maybe it was me. I walked back to the clinic with our coffees held too tight, my gaze bouncing off windows and windshields, trying to catch something that wasn’t there.
Brooke was at the counter. She looked up the second I walked in.
“You look like you swallowed a nail,” she said.
“Jenna said my boyfriend was in earlier,” I replied.
Brooke’s pen stopped. “Your boyfriend? I didn’t know you had one. Where was he when you laid Ray to rest?
“I don’t have one,” I sighed, which made the look of concern change to confusion. Spilling all my personal secrets wasn’t high on my list, but I told Brooke everything that had happened with Colin.
Brooke leaned forward slightly, voice low. “Tessa, if he walks in here, I’m throwing him out.”
“I’m not asking you to do that,” I said.
“I’m not asking you,” Brooke snapped. “I’m telling you.”
Brooke watched me like she was trying to read the parts of me I wasn’t saying out loud. “How long has he been trying to contact you?”
I hesitated. That was an answer with too many edges.
“Since I left,” I said.
Brooke’s eyes narrowed. “Calls?”
“Texts.”
“Threats?”
I shook my head. “Not direct.”
“He knew enough to find me here. So really it’s not shocking he did.”
“But he knows exactly where you are, because this town can’t keep its mouth shut,” Brooke replied, eyes flashing.
“I can’t control that,” I said.
“No,” Brooke agreed. “But you can control what happens next.”
I met her gaze. “I’m not calling the cops.”
Brooke’s mouth tightened. “I didn’t say cops.”
“Then who?” I asked, crossing my arms and leaning up against the counter.
“Wyatt,” She said, with a grimace.
“Not a chance,” I spat at her with more force than I intended.
“Look, I’m just thinking about you being alone out on that ranch,” Brooke said.
