“Ple-e-ease.” He winks. “Ruby lives two houses down. She’s friends with Bella and Emily. There are always girls around. Ten to one odds that they’ll bring over refreshments if they know we’re working.”
“Yeah, right. Emily wouldn’t bring over water to put me out if I were on fire.”
“Son.” Xavier grabs my shoulder with a wink. “I think you’re wrong, and I’m willing to bet you a twelve-pack on it.”
I don’t bother arguing with him. He didn’t hear how relieved she was that Kaleb showed up when I was staying with her mother.
Chapter Fourteen
Emily
Saturday
When I drive past Jake’s place, I force my gaze to remain on the road. The last thing I want is for him to see me driving by. Somehow, we’d end up in an argument. I’d do something wrong. He’d say something stupid. It’s better if we avoid interacting unless we’re at work.
Keep your eyes on the road. You’re going to Ruby’s place, and that’s it.
My teeth clamp together. There are at least a half dozen vehicles in Jake’s driveway and lining the street in front of his house. I recognized most of the cars and pickups. Bella’s brothers and their roommates. He’s probably having a welcome home party.
Without another backward glance, I ease in front of Ruby’s house and park behind Bella’s car.
Ruby’s place is small. It’s a two-bedroom, single-story fixer-upper on the edge of town. But it’s right up her alley. There’s a huge fenced-in backyard for her pets.
Somehow, the EMT gods have been on my side, keeping our two sides of the emergency situations separate. There was one call on Wednesday where we were both at a medical emergency at Brookhaven Market. Luckily, Dale did the talking while I addressed the patient’s needs.
For once, I was more than thankful for Dale and I’s driving and patient contact arrangements. But it didn’t stop the hair on the back of my neck from standing as I worked. I didn’t need to turn around to know that Jake was glaring daggers at the back of my head. And this time, I don’t even know what I did wrong.
Of course, I was worried about leaving him with my mom while I went to work. She’s my responsibility, not his. He has better things to do than clean up after me. Especially since I’m trying to prove I’m a responsible adult.
The moment I step inside the house, I moan at the fresh scent of cookies as music blasts through the house and then smile at the white pot-belly pig with black spots that’s rushing toward me. Squirt is the four-month-old runt of Ruby’s two adult pot-bellied pigs, Samson and Delilia. The little guy squeals as his hooves click on the wooden flooring.
“Hello, buddy.” I pick him up and pat his head. Snorting is his only answer as he wiggles against me. Not to get away, but to encourage me to scratch his ears. He’s a big baby with a black and white bandana around his neck.
“Em, is that you?” Ruby peeks her head around the door. “I see you’ve found Squirt.” She grins, her signature ruby red lipstick, emphasizing her adoration for her odd choice of pets.
“Yes, it’s me.”
When she steps into view, her outfit is hidden by a white apron with the words ‘Baking because murder is wrong’ covering the front. “Or he found you.”
“We found each other.” I rub his ear between my fingers and deposit him back onto the floor. “See you later, Squirt.”
Most of the time, her pets stay outside or on the back porch, where she has a space designated for them on the screened-in porch. But occasionally, they get free rein of the house. Squirt twitches his curly tail and scampers to the kitchen.
“Hey, Bella.”
Bella lifts a finger in greeting as she pulls a tray of cookies out of the oven. She’s wearing a cute pink top paired with white shorts, showcasing her tan legs, while I’m wearing black leggings and a plain white athletic T-shirt.
“You’re just in time to help us deliver cookies to Jake’s house.” Bella’s smile is a little less enthusiastic as if she’s already preparing for my reaction.
“What?” I stop in the middle of the kitchen floor in front of the island that holds several containers.
The old white wooden cabinets are scuffed, but they match the small kitchen table on the opposite wall, giving the room a cozy feel. The house is rustic, but there’s a lot of potential for when she gets the updates started.
Bella drops the tray onto the stovetop. “We decided to bring cookies to the guys. They’re all helping Jake with his bedroom renovation. They got there at six this morning and haven’t left yet.”
“We also made sandwiches, which are cooling in the refrigerator.” Ruby tips her head toward the matching white appliance.
“And we made fresh lemonade and sweet tea.” Bella pokes the ‘off’ button on the stove. “I’m betting they’re starving by now.”
