Page 49 of Hold the Line

She settled back in her seat with a sigh as I pulled out of the driveway. “I’d love that. My house is loud, but not that kind of loud. If I want to listen to music, I have to wear headphones. There aredefinitelyno live concerts.”

I glanced over at her. “But is it a good kind of loud?”

She pursed her mouth, considering. “I guess so. I mean, it had been loud when I was little too, when I’d lived with my real parents, but that had mostly been screaming and slamming things.” A knot formed in my throat. “My foster family is nothing like that. They’re loud because someone’s always talking or laughing, and Linda, my foster mom, likes to run the vacuum a lot. We’re kinda messy, and we have two dogs. So, yeah, it’s loud, but the good kind.”

The knot unfurled. That kind of loud I was intimately familiar with, and it was definitely the good kind.

Hailey’s eyes were on me as I drove. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Well…I was wondering what happened with the guy you were dating. He doesn’t pick you up anymore, and…don’t get mad, but you’ve seemed pretty sad lately. Did you break up?”

I sighed, wishing I hadn’t agreed to answer her without finding out her question.

“It didn’t work out,” I hedged. “I’m sad about it because I really liked him.”

“So he dumped you?”

A surprised laugh burst out of me. “No one dumped anyone. It just didn’t work out.”

“Did you break up with him then? I thought you liked him. You said he was nice.”

“Hailey…” I groaned softly.

“I’m sorry if I’m being nosy.” She twisted in her seat. “I’ve been a little worried about you, and I guess Deke too. He’s got to be sad he lost you.”

“I understand.” Fortunately, I pulled up to the curb outside of her house, ending the inquisition. “I’m a little bit of a Nosy Nellie too. But you’re right, I’m disappointed things didn’t work out, so right now, it’s easier if I don’t talk about it, okay?”

“Of course.” Hailey’s gaze was sympathetic as it swept over me. “I hope there’s some way you guys can work it out. You smiled a lot more when he was around.”

With that, she hopped out of my car like she hadn’t just landed a solid punch to my gut.

If I had thought I’d be able to move on peacefully, I’d obviously forgotten what living in a small town was like. After the morning rush, I disappeared into the kitchen to bake more cookies. I’d gotten one batch in the oven when Camille stuck her head in the door.

“Hey, Phe. Tilly McMannis is asking for you. She’s doing some work on her laptop and said it’s no rush.”

My brows drew together. “Tilly? What could she want?”

Camille shrugged. “She didn’t say. Should I tell her you’re too busy?”

“No, that’s okay.” I waved her off. “The cookies are baking, so I have a minute.”

I didn’t know Tilly well. She’d been ahead of me in school and we hadn’t shared friends, but I’d always had a good impression of her. She and her husband, Chris, had been together forever. They were an odd couple that somehow fit. Her, with her neat bob and headbands, sweet sweaters and corduroy slacks, and Chris, with his mountain-man beard and rugged work clothes. Whenever I saw them together, he doted on her—opening doors, holding her hand, swinging her gently around the dance floor.

She smiled at me and closed her laptop as I approached her table. “Hi, Phoebe. How are you?”

“I’m great.” I nodded toward her computer. Tilly worked in the accounting department at the ranch. “Are you working?”

“No, not really.” She stacked her hands on top of it. “It’s my day off. I was trying to clear out my email inbox, which is pretty much an impossible feat.”

“That’s why I don’t bother trying.” I pulled out the chair across from hers and perched on the edge. “Camille said you needed to speak to me?”

“Yes. I’m sorry if you were busy. I would have called, but I don’t have your number.”

I waited for her to continue, which she did.

“Well…” she blew out a heavy breath, “I want to talk to you about Deke. I’m sure you know he’s Chris’s best friend and a good friend of mine.”

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