Shane’s been my best friend since he moved here. At this point, he’s more like my brother, but the kid I met almost twelve years ago is almost unrecognizable.
And I’m the one at fault.
He wouldn’t have picked up his little habit if I hadn’t brought him around the Ravens Ridge Riders when his dad ran off, but I thought I was doing him a favor by giving him somewhere to belong.
I pick up the plastic sleeve for the Honda. There’s no name, but it has a familiar address.
“Whose car is it?”
She shrugs, quirking a brow. “Weird, huh?”
No fucking way. It’s weird that she’s thinking it too though, right?
“I’m gonna move it out to the lot after I lock up. You can head home. I’ll come by later.”She nods before grabbing her purse and walking out the front door.
Pulling the keys out of the sleeve, I freeze when my eyes land on a pink jewel “A” keychain.
“Fuck me,” I mutter to myself.Blood rushes in my ears, and my heart does a somersault.
I could be wrong. Surely, it’s not hers. Why would it be?
I unlock the car and climb in. The moment my ass hits the seat, my suspicions become reality. It smells like her perfume.
Why the fuck is she still wearing that goddamn perfume? Don’t girls switch that up or something?
For weeks that sweet vanilla scent clung to my sheets. For months she occupied my every thought. For years I’ve told myself I would be okay without her. I guess I am technically, but I wasn’t for a long time. When she left, I felt like someone had cut off a limb, but I’ve never regretted it. Not really.
I pull out of the garage, my fingers curled around the steering wheel so tight my knuckles blanch. As I’m about to pull into a spot in the parking lot, my better judgment flings itself right out the driver’s side window, and I pull out onto the main road.
7
ASH
MAY PRESENT DAY
Shane texted when the shop closed to say he was running down to the bar to talk to Nik, then he’ll bring my car back.
That was two hours ago.
Not like it matters. I’m stuck here until I get everything sorted, and seeing as how I don’t want anyone to know, I can’t very well get out and about anyway.
Luckily, Shane stocked the kitchen for me before I arrived. I pull a bag of popcorn out of the microwave and pour myself a glass of red wine before flopping onto the couch. The soft blue cushions suck me in. As I flip on the TV, my phone rings with a FaceTime call.
“Hello, sweetheart,” I sing.
Maggie bounces on the screen, her blonde curls in a wild mess atop of her head.
“Hi, it’s ‘bout bedtime, so I only have a few minutes,” she says like she’s heard Jess tell her that a few times.
“Well then, we better make it snappy.” I wink. “How was school today?”
“Great! We got a new student, and guess what?”
“What?” I ask, my eyes squinting from the massive smile on my face.
“We have the same backpack! Isn’t that crazy?” She dives into a fit of giggles.
“So crazy!”
