“You now know most bars aren’t your thing and you have a new show to watch.”
“You know what?” she said, her smile returning. “That’s one way to look at it.”
“Have a good night, Piper.” I waved as she turned to her car. After making sure she got into it safely, I walked to my own, glad I could help one more person.
But the feeling of missing someone else hit me before too long. I could see why Clyde had given me a time limit. Because even though everything had gone to shit, being away from Grace felt like I was missing a limb.
35
GRACE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor: @Mollie Wilson, look at this video of chickens on a trampoline! Do you think yours would like this?
Comments:
Mollie Wilson:Um, I’ve never seen chickens move like that. Idk if that’s real ...
Jade Clark:It’s definitely not, lol.
Kerry Winsor:WHAT! But it’s so cute! Who doesn’t love a little bouncing???
Atticus Thompson:Most animals don’t ... Humans are the weird ones here.
Kerry Winsor:You could train them!
Mollie Wilson:How about YOU train them? You can train Hennifer. She’s our most ... opinionated chicken.
Jade Clark:You’ll take a video of that, right?
Mollie Wilson:Absolutely.
“Mollie,I swear tofuck, if you’re coming in to show off another baby onesie, I’llscream.”
I loved the woman, but she’d taken to crochet way too well. Just a week later and she was miles ahead of me, even as I tried my hardest to figure it out. I even had yarn in my hands when the door opened, and I couldn’t make a chain to save my life.
“I’m not Mollie,” a deeper voice said. “And I feel like I missed out on some things.”
My gaze snapped up, and standing in front of me was a too-familiar figure with a cowboy hat and unfairly buff arms. God, he looked good. And I missed him. “Dean. You’re back.”
“I am. Did you miss me?”
I had, but seeing him again twisted the knife that had been lodged in my chest ever since he’d gone. I hadn’t known what he was up to or who he was with. I’d pushed the feeling away. I had no right to feel this way after I was the one who’d set them up. Of all the things I’d ever done, that might have been the dumbest one yet.
“A little. I’ve been busy losing my mind, though.” I held up yarn.
“My mom crochets. Maybe she could?—”
“Teach me? Yeah, she tried. I fear I’m incompetent.”
“She’s been here?”
“Yeah, she was here a few days ago. She said she wanted to hang out with someone.”
He nodded, but his face fell. “I need to call her. I was pretty busy.”
“Was it fun?”