“How is it possible to be this tired and sore when I’ve been doing this for years. You’d think my body would be used to it.”
“Are we talking about your sex life with that mountain of a man you call a husband or your career?” Charlie quips, dumping her mess into the trash next to her station with a loud thump of the broom against the bin to get rid of the stuck strands.
I let out a very unladylike snort at her assumption, my head tipping back against the warm leather of my chair.
“Oh, boy. What’s that sound for? Trouble in paradise?”
Harlow and Lexi are still the only two that I’ve told about Trenton. But the situation isn’t going away. Sooner or later, Charlie will know. Shit, the whole town will know. We’ll end up the source of gossip for all the old biddies. Whispered over lukewarm coffee and pie after church service. Our lives picked apart for their entertainment.
I draw in a deep breath, readying my lungs for the long-winded story when my phone blares to life, vibrating on my table, nearly knocking into my iced coffee. The cup rattles against the wood, condensation slipping down the plastic.
“Give me a sec.” I hold up my finger, and she disappears into the back room.
“Hey, Lo. What’s up?”
“Where are you?” she asks, a tone of worry bleeding through her direct question.
“Uhm, I’m at work. Why? What’s going on?”
“I’m guessing Vik’s still in the dog house?” She sighs.
“Can you just tell me what’s happening? There’s no need to rehash my marriage troubles.”
“The guys got picked up last night. I’m assuming you missed your husband not coming home because you’re still squeezing into bed with Haley?”
“What!?” I squeal, shooting up from my relaxed spot on my chair, and it swivels out of my way.
“Si, Vik, and Chopper. They were hauled in after a raid on the warehouse last night.”
“Oh my god!”
“Ghost is working on it. Vik used his phone call to get in touch with him, but asked Si to pass along the message. They didn’t find anything, babe. It was after Covington left, so thespace was cleared out. But you know this Sheriff, he’s been gunning for anything to take our guys down. Ghost is going over the bullshit charges and is confident he’ll have them out by tomorrow at the latest.”
“Okay.” It’s all my brain can settle on at the moment. The word feels small compared to the unexpected worry brewing inside my chest. With everything going on between us, my cold shoulder, and new sleeping arrangement, I didn’t know the handover was happening.
My chest tightens. The hurt I’ve been so consumed by over the last couple of weeks suddenly melts away with the concern rising for my husband. Of course, he didn’t call me. I wouldn’t expect him to, but he still made sure to get word to me, even though we’re not exactly on speaking terms at the moment.
Maybe I’ve taken this further than it needed to be. When I think about it hard enough, I’m not even mad about the situation. Trenton is a great kid. Haley’s already attached like a barnacle, glued to his side with that bright, trusting smile of hers.
I can see the yearning in his eyes for a steady home every time we kick back and relax in the evenings, the way he lingers in the doorway like he’s waiting for permission to belong. He’s desperate for a safe space and parents to look out for him and love him.
God, he reminds me so much of myself, and that’s the real problem. It’s not that Trenton came out of left field, or that Vik never told me something he never really knew. It’s…
“Josie, you there, babe?”
Harlow breaks me from my internal spiral. “Yeah, yeah, I’m here. So, Ghost is on it. Okay, good. Yeah, that’s good.”
“Mhmm,” Harlow drawls. “You sure you’re okay?”
“It’s been a few fucking weeks, Lo.” I let a defeated laughslip past my defenses, my free hand pressing into my temple, where an ache is starting to pulse.
“You know what I think you need?”
“Honestly, I’m terrified for whatever is about to come out of your mouth.”
“Pft, I’m not that bad.”
There’s a long pause, then both of us break the silence with gut-deep laughter that fills the quiet salon.