“Can’t. My car—a rental—is at Sandusky’s and Brooks is going to take me over there to assess the damage. It’s part of the long story.”
“I’m completely enthralled,” she said. “Now, what are you drinking?”
“That drink you made for Hadley last time I was here,” I said. “But ad an espresso shot.”
“Coming right up.”
Brooks still wasn’t back by the time my drink was made, so I opened his wallet and pulled out a few bills and handed them to Gracie and then dropped the change into the jar on the counter.
“See ya later,” I said to her as I grabbed our coffee orders.
“Later,” she said with a wide smile.
A customer entered the bakery and held the door for me. I thanked him and looked around for Brooks as I stepped outside. He was a few doors down, still on the phone. Assuming he wanted privacy to finish his call, I waited out front of Sweet Teeth.
A few minutes later, he hung up and came to me.
“Thanks,” he said, taking the coffee and his wallet.
“Thankyou,” I said. “Breakfast is on me.”
“I told you I was taking you to breakfast and that’s what I’m doing.” He took a sip of his hot coffee. “Hmm. Perfect.”
I grinned and the two of us headed to The Diner. Greaseand fried potatoes made my mouth water and my stomach rumble. Unlike the bakery, The Diner was in the middle of their rush, and it was packed.
We stood at the door, and I looked around for an empty table, or even vacant stools at the counter, but there were none.
“Oh man,” I groaned. “I’m hungry.”
A man with a dark mustache wearing a cowboy hat stood up from a table near the back of the restaurant. “Brooks! Over here!”
I looked at Brooks in confusion.
He looked down at me and sighed. “I’m sorry.”
CHAPTER SIX
The Diner
“Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here,” the man greeted as Brooks and I approached his table.
“Poet, this is my brother, Archer. Archer, be on your best behavior.”
“No promises,” Archer said with a grin. “Poet, nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“You here by yourself?” Brooks asked.
“Yeah. I was with Josiah and Henry. They left already, but I wasn’t done. Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the other side of the booth.
“Thanks,” I said, sliding in first, and then Brooks took the spot next to me, sitting close enough that his leg pressed against mine.
Archer watched me with an amused smile. “So . . . he found you in a ditch, huh?”
“You make it sound like I’m a long-lost puppy,” I said. “How did you know he found me in a ditch?”
“He called me last night and told me. So, are you?” Archer asked.
