Page 136 of Bone’s Choice

“Hazel,” Rowdy laughed.

My coffee cup stopped halfway to the table.

Taco shot him a dirty look before walking toward the kitchen. “I’m putting my shit away.”

“Make sure you put your name on it,” Rowdy called.

Taco flipped him off without looking back.

I glanced at Rowdy and finally set my cup down. “Why was Hazel at the farmers market?”

The grin on his face got bigger. I immediately regretted asking. “Buying shit, I assume.”

“No shit.”

“You asked.”

“Who was she with?”

Rowdy pulled out the chair across from me and dropped into it. “You taking attendance?”

“Answer the fucking question.”

“Crystal and Kori.”

I knew both of them from Bing’s. Not well, but I’d seen them plenty of times over the years. Marshfield wasn’t huge, and Bing’s wasn’t exactly a new bar.

“They friends now?”

Rowdy shrugged. “Looked like it.”

That was good. Not that I gave a shit who Hazel hung out with.

Except I did. A little.

She’d moved here without knowing anybody other than the aunt who’d left her the house, and that woman was dead. Mom had latched onto Hazel within about thirty seconds, but Mom could make friends with a fucking tree.

Knowing Hazel was making friends of her own was good.

That was all.

I reached for my coffee.

Rowdy was still looking at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Then stop looking at me.”

He chuckled.

Taco came back out of the kitchen.

“Your jam safe?” Rowdy asked.

“My jam was never in danger.”