Page 48 of Rocky Top

“I thought you were still down in Birmingham,” he muttered.

“Changed my mind,” she said, eyes flicking to me with a once-over that’d strip paint. “Didn’t expect to see you playing house with a little blonde influencer. She your new pet project?”

Before Rocky could speak, I stood up.

“I’m Birdie,” I said, extending a hand with a smile that said bless your heart and screw you in equal measure.

She didn’t take it. Just arched a brow and smirked.

“Cute,” she said. “Bet you make him feel real special.”

“Delilah,” Rocky cut in, voice harder now, the grit scraping up through the gravel. “What do you want?”

She leaned in close, too close, dragging her finger down the patch on his cut. “Just wanted to see if you even missed me.”

“I don’t.”

That shut her up. For about a second.

“I see,” she said, glancing at me again, lips curling like she smelled something sour. “Well, if things don’t work out with barbie here, you know where to find me.”

She turned on her heel and strutted out like the world was her catwalk, leaving a silence thick enough to drown in.

“Delilah, huh?” I raised an eyebrow. “She seems real nice.” I turned to Rocky. “That your ex?”

“Yeah.” He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I called it off.”

“When?”

“Last year.”

Damn. “And now?”

He looked at me. Really looked. “Now I’m sittin’ next to the only woman who’s made me really feel something in years.”

My phone buzzed. It was Eliza. I didn’t think I’d hear from her so soon after her and Knox got engaged.

Eliza:Can you come over? Alone.

Chapter 11

Birdie

Eliza opened the door looking like someone ran over her puppy and reversed to make sure.

I barely got two steps inside before she collapsed into my arms like a wet dish rag. My gut dropped.

“Eliza, what’s wrong, girl?” I asked, pulling off my sunglasses, bracing for the worst. Did Mark rise from the grave? Was Emma in the hospital?

She motioned for the couch, and I followed her to the living room where the TV hummed some home renovation show nobody was watching. I sat, back straight, prepared for anything… except what came outta her mouth.

“Knox told me he’s… a fox shifter.”

I blinked once. Twice. Waited for the punchline.

Nothing.

“Eliza,” I said carefully. “Did you hit your head?”

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