Page 19 of Push

Ifhe ever came home.

I tried to ignore the knot in my stomach. Did Noah and I matter so little to Toby? It was three-thirty in the afternoon, and he still hadn’t called or sent a single message.

Eventually, he’d have to come home and face the music…wouldn’t he?

Panic curled tight around my lungs, and I sucked in a breath, desperate to slow my pounding heart.

Wouldn’the?

Marnie followed me outside and pulled up to a stop on the driveway. “What’s left to do?” Her hands went to her hips. “Do you need me to hang up more bunting? Have we got enough signs and stickers?”

I scanned the rows of tables set up on the lawn. Between my organizational skills and Marnie’s creativity, my yard sale looked fancier than the layout of most shops at the mall. Toby’s life was on display, everything ready to sell for bargain basement prices, and as the signs proudly stated, every last dollar would be donated to our local women’s shelter.

“Yeah, I think everything’s sorted.” I let the box drop from my hip to the empty spot on the table. “Price stickers are on. I downloaded the app for payments and set up a spot for refreshments and kids to play. Hopefully, that will keep everyone happy.”

“What about the heavy stuff? The lawn mower? All of Toby’s mountain biking crap?”

“Sorted.” I pointed across the lawn to the display labeled with a sign stuck in the grass that said, “Take a Hike.” Perfection. “Ian hauled it all out before I sent him to work.”

Marnie frowned. “I didn’t think we’d ever get rid of him.”

“He stayed way past his use-by date. Honestly, him being here…” I cocked my head, trying to articulate the strange prickle of nerves down my spine. “Maybe I’m struggling with the timing. He’s known for weeks that Toby was fooling around and never breathed a word. It seems like he only grew a conscience after he heard about the accident.”

“Sometimes, people need an event like that to pull their head out of their ass. I can’t stand the guy, but… I get his reasoning. They’ve been friends their whole lives. Telling you the truth jeopardizes that.”

I sighed. “I don’t know. Something’s off.” And I hated not having all the answers.

Marnie nodded, thoughtful. “You think Ian wants to root you?”

“Mar!” I sputtered out a surprised laugh. “That word is rather…graphic.”

“Sorry, but I’m functioning on your shitty espresso after staying up all night worrying. I can’t be held accountable for my language.”

“Even a lawyer can’t argue with that logic.”

“So, is that what you’re thinking?” Marnie pressed. “Because that’s what I’m thinking. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. I don’t like how Ian watches you when he thinks no one’s paying attention.”

“Mar, come on. I’m an unemployed thirty-year-old with a belly pooch and a nine-month-old hanging off my hip.”

“Hey, all I’m hearing is smokin’ hot mama.”

I rolled my eyes but tossed the idea around in my mind. Ian and I were close. How could we not be after knowing each other for more than a decade? We had a lot in common. We both loved books and had escaped crappy childhoods we avoided talking about, but…

“Come on, there’s no way Ian’s interested in me,” I said. “You’ve seen the women he chases.”

“I sure have. Haveyou?”A questioning eyebrow crept upward. “Blonde hair, blue eyes. Sound familiar?”

“Mar, that’s…” Creepy? Weird? On the wrong track? I shook my head.

“Just promise me you’ll keep your guard up. You’re the smartest person I’ve ever known, but you don’t know men like I do. You skipped all the awkward first dates and one-night stands and attached yourself to a teen heartthrob before the world ate you up and spat you out the other side.”

“Dating’s that good, huh?”

“Babe, it’s hell out there.”

I laughed. “Okay, okay. My radar’s up. If Ian’s planning an attempt to get in my pants, he won’t get a sneak attack past me. I’m ready.” I followed all my false bravado by slicing the air with my best karate chop.

Marnie’s scowl faded into a wide smile. “Good. You might want to keep those moves coming.” She nodded her head at the picket fence lining my front yard. “There’s a ravenous mob gathering.”

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