“Better the town pariah than an easy target. Let me know. I can help you install them. Might save you some money.”
I appreciated the offer, but right now, I just couldn’t fathom the town’s reaction to feeling like they were being spied on.
“Thanks, Remi.”
“Hey, anytime.”
I followed him to the front of the store where Mav was talking to JR. As soon as I got closer, the conversation quickly wrapped up.
“I’ll get some plywood to cover up the window until you can get it fixed,” JR said.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. Let me know how much it is?—”
“It’s fine,” he cut me off.
I appreciated all the help. Even though a lot of the town thought I was an evil bitch, some still stuck by me, including Mav and Remi. Though that didn’t say much as far as the town was concerned. They were supposed to serve and protect.
“Hey,” Delaney smiled, walking over. “I have to get back to the shop. I’ll bring some wine tonight.”
“That’s okay. I think I just want to clean up and then close early. I’m gonna go to bed early.”
“Ellie—”
“Seriously, I just want to forget this day ever happened.”
She gave me a hug and headed out. Not long after, everyone else left, too. Everyone else had to get back to work, which left me alone in the store with creepy vibes.
I hated that someone threw that rock and broke my window, defiling the sanctity of my store. But even more than that, I hated how much it rattled me. Who would go to such lengths just to make me feel like shit? To scare me?”
There were a hundred suspects, but I couldn’t see any of them actually acting on it. Everyone loved Bailey, which meant everyone was on her side. I wished I inspired that much loyalty out of the town.
Instead, I was the gossip, the heartbreaker, and the fat girl. Even though I didn’t gossip and never had.
“Whoa, what the hell happened?”
I spun around, nearly jumping out of my skin at the voice. Billie Bennet stepped into the shop, her eyes wide as she took in the damage.
“Somebody’s idea of a practical joke,” I said, not wanting to drag her into what was happening with her sister.
“That’s a shitty practical joke.”
I grabbed the broom and got to work cleaning up the mess.
“Is the store still open?”
“You want to shop?”
A huge smile took over her face as she waved her hands in a flourish around her body. “You are looking at the new high school history teacher, starting in August!”
“That’s amazing,” I grinned as hard as I could muster, hoping I was appropriately happy for her.
But there was some tiny part of me that was pissed. It wasn’t that I had anything against Billie or the Bennet family. In fact, at one point in my life, I considered them almost friends. But then I pretended to sleep with Liam, and my life blew up.
Now, as she stood in front of me, happy as could be, I couldn’t help but feel mad jealousy toward her that her life was turning out so freaking perfect while mine was going in the toilet. And all because I was trying to help her sister.
“So, I need a new wardrobe for school, and I thought I would do my shopping here.”
“Well, you’re welcome to look around while I clean up. If you need any help with anything, just let me know.”
