Page 180 of Come Back to Me

Lowering the windows to keep the air flowing in here for Brogan, I study Bast as he studies us in turn.

“Thought you might be out on the range,” I comment, because there’s a twinkle in his eye that tells me he knowswhyI was ‘delayed.’

“Nah. Got your text and figured I’d stick around after lunch.”

Jumping out of the truck and after rounding the fender, I head to Tee’s side, open her door, and wait for her to alight.

Bast shoots me a knowing look, but I ignore him, preferring to let Brogan out to stretch his legs.

“Hi, Bast,” Tee greets.

“Hey, Tee. Thanks for sending that music over. I’m not sure what you did, but it’s helped. Jamie swears it’s half the reason she’s well enough to talk today. He’s been singing that Phoenix song you sent all week.”

“Magic music.” Her cheeks tinge with pink. “I’m glad it helped. Maybe she recognizes it. Your mom’s half the reason my parents took me seriously.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. Mom was good enough to play professionally, but she stopped when she had kids and only took it up again to teach me. As for Dad, he plays bass, but he considers it a hobby. It isn’t useful work according to both of them. Elena talked tothem after one of her musicals. Said that I had too much talent to squander.”

Her wrinkled nose has me tapping it with my pointer finger. “Seems like it’s useful to Elena.”

She bites her lip but shifts attention to Bast, who’s watching us. I might be the cop here, but it’s clear I’m in for an interrogation at some point. “She’s in the living room today, Christy.”

“Tee, please,” she corrects.

As she walks into the house, I whistle at Brogan, who jumps back into the cab.

“New dog?”

“Yeah. He’s called Brogan.”

“You trying to get into her panties?” he asks once I shut the door. “Or already in them?”

“Not illegal, is it?”

He snorts. “You’d know.Officer.” I roll my eyes at his teasing, but he whistles. “She’s hot.”

For some reason, my mind centers on Jamie. Who’s been singing one of her songs all week. A song I haven’t even heard yet.

Jamie who was in her class at school.

And I’m stuck fake un-dating her because I was a fucking idiot.

“Shut up, Bast. You know why I’m here.”

His grimace is immediate. “Sorry.”

I grunt. “Jamie been talking to Tee?”

Glee lights up his expression. “Knew you liked her.”

“Fuck off.”

His smirk is enough to have me shoving his shoulder, but he deigns to answer, “Don’t think there’s anything between them. They never got along in school.”

Did Tee get along with anyone who wasn’t Zee?

Or Marcy Armstrong?

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