“It’s been a year. Selfishly, I wanted to check in and see how you were doing. You cut everyone out of your life, including me, and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” He looks me in the eye the whole time, and I feel like a shitty friend. We weren’t just partners. We were best friends—practically brothers—and I just cut him out of my life like he was nothing.
“I just needed time,” I mutter.
“I know, man. I’m not trying to guilt-trip you. I was there for everything, and no one blames you for stepping away.”
“I can’t help you, Kellen. If they tell you to come back here again, don’t.” I abruptly stand up and walk to the door, ripping it open and standing aside, wordlessly telling him to leave.
He looks at me, opening and closing his mouth a few times like he wants to say something, before he stands up and walks to the door.
Clapping his hand on my back, he says, “Don’t be a stranger, okay? I miss when Oak and Wood took over the world.”
“We should have punched anyone who called us that. It’s fucking ridiculous.” I crack a smile at our stupid nicknames.
Following him down the hallway, I do a quick look to see only a few people hanging around today, which is a good thing because I need some alone time to get my head together.
“Good to see you, Woodcroft. I’ll make more of an effort to keep in touch.”
He nods before throwing a wave over his shoulder and walking out the front door.
“Just the man I was hoping to talk to. You got a minute, Oakley?” Sheriff Arlo’s voice pulls me away from my spiraling thoughts.
“Uh, sure.” I look over at Brittany, who’s manning the front counter. She waves me off as she wipes the counter down, and I turn to make my way back to my office for the second time this morning.
Silently walking down the hallway, it feels like my two lives are crashing together. I’m not sure what Arlo wants to talk about, but it can’t be good. He isn’t aware of my former life, but I have a gut feeling that will no longer be the case.
“Have a seat,” I say, motioning to the seat Woodcroft just vacated.
“I won’t take up too much of your time. I’m just following up on the rumor mill. There are reports of a suspicious new guy in town, and I’m banking on the fact it’s the gentleman you just conversed with.”
His formal tone almost makes me laugh. I’ve never once heard the man, who looks to be no older than forty, sound anything other than a friend. It doesn’t make me feel great that I’ve lied to a man who’s been nothing but welcoming to me, but it was born out of necessity. Now, it all comes crashing down.
“Let me guess, Mabel and Alice made some outlandish claims?”
“I’m not going to confirm one way or the other,” he says diplomatically, but the small smirk tells me I’m right.
I sigh.Fuck, I don’t want to let the ugliness out, especially not in this quiet town that’s starting to feel more and more like home.
“That was my old partner, Kellen Woodcroft.”
“Partner?”
“U.S. Marshals, primarily working the on the Fugitive Task Force.”
His eyebrows shoot up his forehead.
“Woodcroft was just here to update me on a case, but as I told him, I’m no longer a U.S. Marshal. There is nothing to be concerned about, Sheriff.”
“Yet he came all this way even though you’re, what, retired?” His challenge to me sets my hackles up.
“Not retired, no. Resigned.”
I know if I told anyone my reasoning, he would be the best one to do so with, but I can’t bring myself to say any of it.
“And then you came to Bluebell Falls to open a coffee shop.” He arches an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“So, your partner just came to update you on a case, in which you have no jurisdiction over and no hand in anymore, just for shits and giggles?” A statement, not a question. We’re more similar than I care to admit.
