Bingo.
“Thank God it’s still there.”
The voice behind me appeared suddenly and highly distraught, causing me to nearly trip over my own feet.
“Shimaney Cricket.” She righted me with two hands. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Shimaney Cricket?” I laughed lightly at the bubbly blonde who smiled at me.
Her hair was crimped like the eighties and she wore the biggest gold hoop earrings I’d ever seen.
“Sorry. I’m fasting.”
“Fasting?” I lifted a brow.
“Yeah. Gave up cursing for a month. It’s a family thing.” She rolled her eyes. “I have to get creative with my adjectives now.”
I shrugged casually. “Well, I wish you all the fucking luck.”
She was stunned silent before she busted out a laugh. “That was a good one. And on the spot like that? Impressive.” She held out her hand. “I’m Landry.”
“Trinity.” I shook her hand before glancing back at the board. “Know anything about this Laces Out place?”
“Know anything?” She clucked her tongue in a scolding manner. “You’re looking at the heir to the college bar throne.” She plucked the pink piece of paper from the board. “My family owns it.”
“You still hiring?” I asked.
“You got any experience?”
“Enough. But I’m shadowing the athletic trainer for the football season, so my schedule may be a little out of the norm.”
“No way.” She flung an arm over my shoulder, like we just read each other our diaries and painted our toenails. “My boyfriend, J.C. Tull, plays on the team.”
“The defensive lineman?”
“That’s him.” She winked. “Been dragging that boy around since we were six years old.”
She shoved the pink paper in her pocket.
“Usually when the Cougars win, which they will, everyone celebrates at Laces Out. Come by tomorrow night and we can get you all set up.”
An odd feeling washed over me. Kindness without consequences wasn’t something I was used to. There was always a catch.I did this for you. Now what will you do for me?
“That’s it?” I asked. “You just give some random girl a job?”
She laughed again, her blue eyes dancing. “I get a vibe about you.” She dropped her arm. “And Lord knows I can use another female friend with all the testosterone I’m surrounded with.”
I opened my mouth to speak when she whipped out a pink business card.That smells good.“Here. My number is on it. Text me after the game.”
She held out the rectangular card, her number neatly printed in gold ink.
“All right then.”
“Nice to meet you, Trinity. Welcome to Canyon.”
I had just plated the chicken I seared to perfection when my phone rang. I hadn’t spoken to my mother since last week. That was due to her lack of calling and partially from my pure stance on avoidance. The trust between us had been fractured, and I was trying to see past the hurt to build it back. But it was tough.Alonewasn’t a new feeling. I’d felt it since I was a kid, but here in this new place, it seemed I had an opportunity to change that. I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to. To let someone in. To put my trust in people who had the power to break my heart.
Placing my fork on the counter, I swiped the screen.
