Page 61 of East

“They asked that?” I rub at my forehead. “Shit. They really do think you’re a suspect.”

“You were right. I shouldn’t have said anything without a lawyer present. I don’t want them using this information—or my past—against me.”

“Did you ever use a tractor growing up?”

She thins her lips. “Yes. I started when I was fifteen.”

I narrow my eyes. “Fifteen? That’s way too young to be operating a tractor.”

“It was just me and my stepmother, Emmy, on the farm. So it was up to me… For a while, at least.” Her gaze grows distant. “Eventually, she… She remarried.”

The color drains from Thea’s face at those last words.

Why? I’m not sure.

One thing is clear, though.

There’s more to this story. And I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have a happy ending.

But now is not the time to dredge up Thea’s past.

I tighten my hold on her shoulders. “Borrowing a pair of shoes you didn’t even know belonged to the guy is hardly enough evidence to put you away. Any lawyer worth his salt will know that’s circumstantial.”

“I don’t know…” She crosses her arms. “The way that detective looked at me… It just seemed like she had more on me. But once I stopped answering questions, she couldn’t go any further.”

“No matter what, I’ll support you and help you get through this.”

She cocks her head. “You’re offering to put your head on the chopping block for a woman you just met?”

I shrug. “I guess I like you, Thea.”

Her cheeks pink. “I like you too, Aus. You’re very sweet to help me out. But I hate to put so much pressure on you, especially so early on in our…” She sighs. “I’m not exactly sure what it is we’ve got going on here. But whatever it is, I don’t want to put any undue burden on it.”

“It’s hardly a burden.” I lean in and brush my lips against hers. They’re salty from the tears, but no less warm and soft than they were the first time I kissed them.

I’m about to go in for a second kiss when I catch a clock on the opposite wall. It’s nearly ten. The Jade Sanctum is about to open.

Once again, I’m running late.

But I can’t leave Thea. Not right now.

“Can you excuse me for just a second?” I ask. “I need to make a quick phone call.”

She nods slowly. I take out my phone and dial Leo’s number.

“Yeah?” he answers.

“Hey. In light of everything, let’s just close down Jade for the night.”

A pause. “Are you serious, Aus?”

“Yeah. It’s too late to get a sub barkeep for Kin, plus it wouldn’t be fair to ask Wick to come in after what happened to his brother.”

“Can we afford this? I’ve seen the ledgers. We’ve been in the red for months.”

“You leave that to me. Your job is to wait tables. Or rather, tonight, your job is to sit on your ass at home. Think you can manage that?”

“To tell the truth, Aus, I need the money from tonight. Rent just went up again. I’m barely making ends meet.”