I bark out a laugh. “That’s a short list.” Not that mine’s any longer. Well, plus Hunter and Millie, of course. “I’d like to meet Jasper soon.”
He side-eyes me. “Yeah?”
It might just be my imagination, but it seems he bristles a little. “Yeah, I was supposed to before. At that game night. I’m sorry that got canceled.”
He shrugs. “No big deal.”
“I’m gonna ask Luca if I can bring Hunter to the next one.”
That seems to pique his interest. “Hunter? The cop?”
I shake my head slowly. “I mean, yes. But he’s not a cop anymore. I’ve been staying at his place.”
“I know,” Arlo says, lips quirking up. “He seems like a nice guy. From what I could tell, anyway. Just met him the one time—at the hospital. Other than when he comes in here.”
“Yeah, he’s great.”
Arlo’s eyebrows shoot up. “Is he your…”
He trails off, and I nearly choke on my spit. “He’s uh—my…” Friend? No, that’s not right. The guy I’m sleeping with? Ick. “My… Hunter,” I settle on, but even that sounds awful.
Smirking, Arlo nods. “Can’t wait to officially meet ‘your Hunter’ then.”
I think I’m going to enjoy working here a lot.
Chapter 32
Theo
TakingthebrushfromHunter, I step closer to Molls so I can brush her coat. We had a perfect afternoon riding.
The last few days have really drained me, but I figure that’s par for the course with a new job. It’s fun, though, and I’m truly enjoying working with Luca. Surprisingly, I’m also enjoying my time with Arlo.
Luca tends to work more in the kitchen, but I’m on the floor with Arlo a lot. He’s a spitfire, and young too. Younger thanLuca, Austin, and Hunter. He seems weary, though. Exhausted by life and trying his best to act like he’s not.
No one else seems to notice it, but I do. Whatever secrets he’s carrying are wearing him down.
“What are you thinking about over there?” Hunter asks, distracting me from my task.
“Huh?” I ask, looking up to find him brushing Lucky.
He nods toward me. “You’ve got that little crease between your eyebrows.”
“I get a crease between my eyebrows?”
Humming, he smiles. “Sure do. Especially when you’re thinking real hard.”
I go back to brushing Molls. “I’m just thinking about the diner and Luca and Arlo.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying working there.”
“Me too.”
The truth is, Silverpine feels like home to me. And each time I find something new for myself here—Hunter, Luca and Arlo, the diner—something new inside of me slots into place.
Sure, it’s full of small-town charm, and all the people I’ve met have been incredibly kind, but it’s also just… I feel more likemewhen I’m here. I haven’t really felt like me in a long time. Sometimes I’m not even sure I know who I am. Not outside of Damien and depression. The last time I remember feeling like myself was when I was a teenager, and now... Now, I feel like I’m finally starting to figure out who I am.
Kinda pathetic, really, but here we are anyway.
