Page 111 of The Best Kind of Bad

She nods her chin towards Jerry. He’s laughing loudly at something Chad said. “I can’t say for sure it was him. But based on the evidence I do have…”

I sigh. “Well, shit.”

She nods. “Yeah. Shit indeed.”

The knowledge slots into place. I can’t say I’m relieved, because my heart is hurting for Marnie. But I can now say with confidence Marnie Novak will never sell, rent, or saybooto Jerry Lind.

“You want to get out of here?” I ask, squeezing the arch of her foot.

Her lips curve up. “Yes. But first, cake.”

I laugh. “They do have a legendary red velvet.”

“So I’ve heard.” She wiggles her foot in my hand. “And you know us bakers. We need to know who our competition is.”

73.

Marnie

We manage to salvage the rest of the night, but the lesson has been learned.

Small towns aren’t all farmer’s markets and neighborly kindness. There’s a dark side, too. Old wounds and jealousy. Kind spirits and mean ones.

It sticks with me, dogging my thoughts.

I’m sitting at the kitchen table when Jerry’s pickup pulls up outside.

Maybe we need to install a tall fence. Or plant a wall of trees.

Seems like people know when Dusty isn’t home. And that leaves me vulnerable, apparently.

I glance over at Ed. His tail thumps happily on the rug. “Some guard dog.”

I get up and step outside, letting Ed tumble out behind me. He sits on my foot and I cross my arms, squinting up at Jerry. “Jerry.”

He stops in front of me, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Marnie.”

“To what do I owe the honor?”

He takes a deep breath and lets it out in a whoosh. “I’m not sure if I should have come, but I couldn’t sleep last night.”

My lips twist. I do not need to know about Jerry Lind’s sleep schedule.

He studies my face. “I had to come. For Naomi’s sake. If she were here, I think she’d want someone to be honest with you.”

“Now you know what my mom would want?”

He winces. “I knew her better than you can imagine. I loved her once.”

Those words hang between us. Jagged and rusty.

He swallows. “You’re hard to look at.”

My eyebrows climb. “Excuse me?”

He shakes himself, just as surprised as I am but his admission. “It’s just… if Naomi and I had…” He stumbles over his words. Pausing, he gathers himself, standing taller. “Never mind that. It’s not why I’m here.”

“Why are you here?”

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