“I’ll be quick, just go.” I shoo them away and unlock the door, stepping inside. I run to the back, and sure enough, my phone is sitting on the counter where I left it. Grabbing the device, I place it into my purse and head back through the shop. When I open the front door to go outside, a folded pamphlet falls to my feet. I bend to retrieve it and let out a gasp as I turn it over. It’s a pamphlet on the Hadley River, and the word Hadley is circled in bright-red marker.
I get the prickly sense of being watched, so I try to calm my racing heart and slowly tuck the pamphlet into my purse, acting unaffected by it. On the way to the parking lot, I scan my surroundings. It’s a warm night, and people are walking up and down Main Street and sitting in the gardens. I don’t notice anyone watching me, but I pick up my pace just a little, unable to shake the feeling away.
“Did you guys see anyone go by the shop?” I ask casually, hiding the tremor in my voice as I get settled in the back seat.
“Nope. Not that I noticed. I was texting Ford. How come?” Sarah asks.
“Actually, I saw someone. It looked like they were trying to read the store hours.” Wren shrugs, and my pulse races.
“Did you see who it was?” I ask, my voice wavering.
Wren shakes her head and eyes me. “No, sorry. Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” My voice squeaks as I swallow the unease and paste on a fake smile.
“Okay then.” She eyes me suspiciously before turning back around in her seat.
As we pull out of the parking lot, my eyes catch on a figure darting behind the bakery and my breath catches.
I’m on edge the rest of the night. My mind is whirling, and I feel like I can’t breathe. Trying to focus on the girls’ night, I smile and join the conversations, trying not to let them notice how bad my hands are shaking.
“Okay, Jade. Spill,” Sarah says, throwing some popcorn into her mouth as we sit on my living room floor.
“Spill what?” I ask nervously, eyes darting between Sarah and Wren, afraid they can tell something is up.
“I want all the deets on Sheriff Hottie.”
“Ew.” Wren sputters, wiping the wine that’s dribbling down her chin. “Please do not call him that.”
I giggle and think about what transpired this morning. “Hey, Wren? How come you never said anything about West not liking coffee? You’ve watched him order one every morning.”
Wren throws her head back laughing, and Sarah looks between the two of us confused.
“Wait what?” she says.
“He finally told you?” Wren asks with a hint of amusement.
“Well, actually, it was Cade that let it slip,” I tell her.
“Can you two slow down? I’m so lost,” Sarah says with her eyes narrowed at us.
Wren laughs and turns to her. “West hates coffee.”
Sarah’s eyes rise. “But he’s been ordering one every single day since we opened.”
Wren’s eyes pop, and she sets down her glass of wine. “Hold up. You mean this has been going on for years?”
“Yes.” Sarah drawls out the word, eyeing Wren, still not sure what’s going on.
I giggle, and Wren lets out a full-belly laugh with snorts.
“Oh. Oh God. This is golden. Jade, my brother is in so deep.” She continues her fit of laughter, and Sarah throws a chip at her.
“Let me get this straight,” she says, looking between me and Wren. “Are you saying that this man has been in the bakery every day since opening, ordering something he doesn’t even like?”
I recount to them the story West told me this morning, and when I finish, both girls have giant smiles on their faces.
“That’s actually really sweet,” Sarah says. “Gosh, Wren, why can’t all your brothers be like that?”
