Page 87 of Entangled with a Mountain Man

After dropping the girls off, I head to the women's shelter. Steph's waiting for me, a knowing look in her eyes.

"You look like death warmed over, sugar," she says, pulling me into a hug.

I laugh weakly. "Thanks. You sure know how to make a girl feel special."

We get to work, sorting through donations and making up beds. The familiar routine is comforting, but I can't seem to shake this bone-deep fatigue.

"Kenzie?" Steph's voice breaks through my fog. "You've been folding that same shirt for five minutes."

I blink, looking down at the crumpled mess in my hands. "Oh. Sorry, I guess I zoned out."

She studies me for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "When's the last time you got a good night's sleep?"

I shrug, avoiding her gaze. "The girls have been restless lately. And Everett's been traveling and working late nights..."

"Mhmm," she hums, not buying it. "And how long have you been feeling this run down?"

"I don't know. A week? Maybe two?" I admit, sinking onto one of the freshly made beds. "It's probably just stress. You know, adjusting to everything."

Miss Steph sits beside me, her hand warm on my shoulder. "Honey, I think you need to take a break. Go lie down for a bit. I've got things covered here."

I want to argue, to push through and prove I can handle it. But the thought of closing my eyes for a few minutes is more tempting than one of Miss Millie's milkshakes with Oreos.

"Maybe just a quick nap," I concede.

As I curl up on one of the shelter's narrow beds, I wonder why I'm so wiped out. It's not like I'm doing anything different. Just the usual chaos I call "my life" with the twins, helping at the shelter, trying to avoid Paige and her mean girl posse, Everett popping in and out of town...

My eyes drift shut, and I'm out before finishing the thought.

When I wake up, the sun's shifted in the sky. I blink, disoriented. How long was I out?

"Well, look who's rejoined the land of the living," Mel's voice cuts through my confusion.

I sit up, rubbing my eyes. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon," she says, grinning. "Mamma said you were dead to the world. Feeling better?"

I stretch, surprised to find that I do feel a bit more human. "Yeah, actually. I guess I needed that."

"Good," Mel nods. "Because you look like you could use some real food. Millie's?"

My stomach growls at the mention of food. "God, yes. I'm starving."

Mel drives us to the diner, and she fills me in on the latest ranch gossip. But I'm only half-listening. My mind is already on the cheeseburger and milkshake with Oreos I'm craving.

"Kenzie," Mel waves a hand in front of my face. "You still with me?"

I blink, realizing we're already at the diner. "Sorry. I was just thinking about fried pickles."

Mel raises an eyebrow. "Fried pickles? Since when are you into those?"

I shrug, sliding into our usual booth. "I don't know. They just sound good."

Betty comes over notepad in hand. "What'll it be, girls?"

"The usual for me," Mel says. "And apparently, Kenzie wants to clean out the kitchen."

I roll my eyes. "Very funny. I'll have a cheeseburger, extra pickles, fries, a chocolate milkshake with Oreos, and a side of fried pickles. Oh, and a slice of apple pie."

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