“What do you do?” I ask her, realizing I never thought to.
She smiles and checks her phone. “I’m basically a traveling vet.”
“Wow, that’s cool.” I go back behind the register and lean against the counter.
June shrugs with a humble smile. “I love animals. But my point was, if you need anything, just ask. I’m happy to help.”
I jerk back. “But you don’t know me,” I state.
June laughs and shakes her head before adjusting her cowboy hat. “Girl, I don’t know where you’re from, but around here we help each other.”
“Oh, I … thank you,” I tell her.
“No problem. Did you have a good time at the Wooden Cowboy? I know it was a week ago, but we haven’t talked and I wanted to ask since you slipped out so quick.”
“I had a good time. The bar scene is very different out here.”
June laughs and sits on the edge of the counter. “I never thought about that, especially since we all know each other.”
“At least you know what to expect. Back home in Colorado, my friends and I went out a little too much. But even if we go to the same club every week, it’s always different.”
“Is that a bad thing?” she asks.
I shrug and brush nonexistent lint off my apron because I don’t want to mention my real reasons. “It gets old fast.”
“Now that I can understand. When I was gone for college and vet school, it made me want to come back to Paxton more. Sometimes simple is better.”
“Where is Gracie?” I ask her.
June smiles sadly. “She had to do a set of shows. Hopefully, she’ll be back in a few months.”
“It was fun hanging out with both of you. Thanks for inviting me.”
June laughs. “We are a little wild, I probably should’ve warned you.”
“It was nice to have fun with the girls,” I tell her.
June tilts her head and looks at me as if she’s hearing more than I actually said.
I snap my mouth shut. I don’t want to talk about anything in Colorado. Things might be tough right now, but it’s also giving me a reprieve from dead ends and disappointments.
We’re both silent for a moment, and June hops off the counter. “Alrighty, well, next time I’ll bring lunch. You have my number, right?” she asks.
I nod once.
June smiles. “You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?” she asks.
“I’m a background girl.”
June’s eyebrow lifts. “Nah, I thoroughly doubt that.”
“And how would you know?” I ask her.
“I have a way with people, Mae. I just know things,” she says with a grin.
“Text me later, we can do something!” she says as she struts out the door.
Okay, so maybe I’m nottotally on my own.
