“So if I want your insight into my sister’s case, make sure to offer food for your time. Got it.” I grin while I say it, hoping to keep the joking mood going, but the way his eyes shift up from what he was doing to mine makes me think he can see right through me. “Is that what Macey gave you?” I change my tone in hopes things won’t get awkward.
“And some stuff I gathered on my own. I can see why the investigators are leaning toward it being someone Hayzel knew.” He leaves the folder closed on the counter. Part of me wants to stop what I’m doing and examine every detail to see if there’s anything I didn’t already know.
“What makes you say that?” My eyes dip down to the file, partly because I’m curious to know what’s inside, and partly because his gaze feels too intense.
“Some of the facts present in the case and random acts of violence aren’t as common as you might think. Did you travel here alone?”
My eyes jerk up to his. My instinct is to lie, to deny the fact that I’m here alone with him, but that’s just the more cautious part of me that sees ulterior motives in every situation. Besides, if there is anyone I could trust, itshouldbe him. “Yeah, why?” My honest answer doesn’t surprise me, but the question after it does.
Landry’s eyes fall from mine to look down at my hands on the counter briefly before meeting my gaze again. “Your husband didn’t come with you?”
At the mere mention of a husband and the obvious nature of his assumption, I move my pinky finger to snag the largediamond on my ring finger and twist it back and forth. It was our mother’s wedding ring. I’ve been wearing it since I found it in Hayzel’s jewelry box. I just slipped it on my finger and never took it off. I’ve thought about removing it a few times, but there wasn’t really a reason to. It’s not like I wanted to advertise the fact that I was single, and strangely, it makes me feel closer to both Hayzel and Mom. “Not married.”
“Engaged?”
I shake my head in denial. I’m not ready to offer him, a near stranger, who is already way too perceptive, an explanation as to why I’m wearing it.
The oven timer goes off, giving me the perfect excuse to escape the topic. I turn to face the stove, nearly overshooting it by half because the floor is slick against my socks. Landry makes a surprised sound I ignore while fumbling for the cute little anchor oven mitts. It’s a graceless retreat, but I get a short reprieve from his probing stare.
Hot air wafts from the oven and rolls over my face as I bend to pull the sheet pan out. “Looks ready,” I say, feeling the need to fill the silence while grabbing a couple plates from the cupboard.
“Can I help with anything?”
I startle when I realize that not only has he moved around the counter, but he’s also standing pretty close to me. He takes a small step backward when he sees me jump, and I immediately feel bad. “There’s a bowl of sliced cucumbers in the fridge.”
Landry’s movements are smooth as he transitions toward the refrigerator.
“I made some garlic sauce too, the container with the blue lid. Sorry I’m a little jumpy,” I say so he doesn’t think he’s putting me on edge. I mean, he is, but it isn’t his fault.
“I’m invading your space, no need to be sorry.”
“Not really invading when I pretty much begged you to come. I just… It’s usually just me and Livy, and sometimes Parker, butyou aren’t them.” It’s easier to give him the explanation while his back is to me, but he’s no less distracting this way. In fact, when he looks over his shoulder unexpectedly, I’m pretty sure I got caught checking out his ass.
“Who’s Livy?” He kindly doesn’t react to my slipup.
“Our best friend.”
“Our, as in…”
I nod. “Mine and Hayzel’s. Mostly Hayzel’s, until after.”
“Olivia Donnoly,” he mutters, which shouldn’t surprise me because he said he read up on Hayzel’s case, but it does. Liv was questioned after Hayzel’s death, but she lived an hour away from us at the time. She did visit Hayzel a couple of times at school, but they had already started to grow apart. Livy blames herself for that. Her and Parker’s relationship was new, and she was living at home with her parents, commuting to a local private college. It was just the natural progression of them growing up. I’m sure they would have found each other again and been thick as thieves if they’d gotten the chance.
I hadn’t talked to Livy myself in over three months while I was away at school. After I moved to be with Hayzel, we picked up where we left off. In truth, my sister was the only reason we were ever friends, but that changed after her death. We clung to each other—me to her because she was the last person left who was close to my sister and loved her like I did, and her to me because I reminded her of the best friend she lost.
I’d like to think we’re more than that now, and that we’ve grown to appreciate each other, but some days, I’m not so sure both of us aren’t still just clinging to the past.
“That’s her,” I agree, popping the lid off the cucumbers I sliced and lightly salted earlier. “I didn’t make any sides, but I have some chips,” I offer.
“What?” He clutches his chest. “You mean all I get is homemade bread and this chicken that looks and smells delicious?”
“I did say I had chips,” I remind him.
“I suppose I’ll manage.” He takes the offered dish from my hands with a small smile.
“Next time I’ll go all out with sides and even dessert.” I say it without thinking, but before I can take it back, he pounces on my nicety.
“Now you’ve done it, Harlyn. I’m going to have to hold you to that.”
