Page 71 of Gather the Storm

I knew better than to argue about the muffin. Cassie rarely gave away free anything — something I respected her for — so when she gave you a freebie, it was because she really wanted to.

She ran my card and came back with the receipt. “How’s it going with the guys?”

“Fine.” I hadn’t told either of them about my make-out sessions with Wolf or my steamy moment with Otis by the Mustang. I didn’t know if it was because I was ashamed or because talking about it would make it seem real. “Jace is still a dick — big surprise — but Wolf and Otis aren’t so bad.”

“Have they said anything?” Cassie leaned in and lowered her voice. “About Blake?”

I shook my head. “I asked Wolf but he said they won’t talk about it.”

Cassie and Sarai didn’t need to know I planned on digging into Blake’s murder to assume the question would come up now that I was living with the Beasts.

“Is it weird?” Sarai asked. “Living with them after… everything that happened?”

I chose my words carefully. It wasn’t normal for me to hide things from Cassie and Sarai. “Not as weird as I expected.”

“Can we come up and see you?” Cassie asked. “I miss you!”

“Same,” Sarai said. “Plus, I have to admit I’m curious about Jace, Wolf, and Otis. They were such big shots in high school.”

“Sure,” I said. “Just give me a week or two to get settled. We can have a sleepover.”

I wanted them to come visit, but right now it was hard to imagine them around Blake’s best friends.

The bell on the door rang and I looked over my shoulder in time to see Ruth step into the coffee shop.

Her expression was happy and relaxed as she approached the counter wearing one of my old white sundresses and sandals and carrying her school bag, her dark hair loose around her shoulders even though it was starting to get warm.

Then she spotted me coming toward her and her face froze like a deer caught in headlights.

Someone was definitely not happy to see me.

Chapter 36

Daisy

Isaw Ruth contemplate her options — continue into the coffee shop and be forced to talk to me or turn around and leave — then continue toward the counter.

“Wow, she’s really pissed,” Sarai said.

“I’ll get her usual so you guys can talk,” Cassie said.

“Thanks,” I said.

I walked toward my sister as she got in line behind an older man wearing a hat and bow tie despite the heat. “Nice job trying to avoid me.”

She glanced over at me, then turned back to the Cassie’s Cuppa menu that hung behind the counter like she didn’t have it memorized. “I’m not avoiding you.”

“Yeah okay,” I said. “You looked like you were about to make a run for it when you saw me.”

“Maybe I just changed my mind about coming to Cassie’s,” she said.

Had I been this annoying at fifteen? Probably. “Let’s sit and talk. Cassie’s already getting your coffee.”

“I have to go to school,” she said.

“It’s the last week before summer break,” I said. “You can be a few minutes late.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

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