Page 22 of When It Burns

Margaret lets out the first laugh I’ve heard from her today. “Y’all are the best. Also, I need some context from your text earlier today. Did you mean what I think you meant?” she asks with a blush.

“Damn sure did. He’s a real momma’s boy, and Mrs. Gloria thinks he hung the moon. But she also thinks he’s the most innocent lil thing to exist. Little does she know he has three piercings on his dick. I think she’d faint if she found out,” Hannah says with a loud laugh.

Margaret and I laugh along with her until Margaret pauses. “Oh my god, how do you know that? Did y’all hook up?”

At that Hannah and I make eye contact and dissolve further into a fit of giggles. “Hell no!” Hannah barks out a bit louder than necessary. “The four of us went out line dancing one night at the Boot Scooter right after we all moved back home. Seth had too much to drink, and he and Will made a dumb bet. The boys heard us discussing one of our books we’d read with a guy that had a dick piercing, and they decided the loser had to get one. Well, when Seth lost, he got Will to agree to triple or nothing. He lost again, and we found ourselves in a sketchy tattoo parlor in Saddle Ridge.”

Margaret squeals with laughter before exclaiming, “Oh my God, that’s epic.”

“It was quite the night,” I say with a giggle.

“Anyway, Seth said he’d help you with whatever you need. He said he would help without my threats, but it doesn’t hurt to keep him on his toes.” Hannah says with a shrug. “He is going to get with you about a budget for the project and start drawing up some plans so they’re ready whenever you get the green light to start working.”

Margaret sobers and looks close to tears of gratitude. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe y’all are being so nice to me. I didn’t know what to expect when I decided to move to Springside, but oh my God, y'all are the best. I would feel enough stress about making this perfect anyway, but I used what was left of my parent’s life insurance money on this project. I know it’s silly, but it feels like if it’s not perfect, I am disgracing their legacy or something.”

Hannah and I exchange a silent look before I start, “Oh my gosh, Margaret, no way. They’d be so proud! You are going to have the most amazing business. One bite of those cookies and the whole town will be eating out of your hand.”

“Of course they will,” Hannah jumps in. “I am so sorry you’re dealing with this, but I know your parents would be so incredibly happy that you’re living your dream!”

Margaret looks at us, and I notice she has tears in her eyes. “God I am a mess. I’m sorry. Clearly, it’s been forever since I had girlfriends, and Theo just shuts down when I try to talk to him about them. I just really miss them. It’s been fourteen years, and sometimes it still feels like yesterday.”

I reach out my hand to lay it over hers. “Well, you have us now. And we’re here if you need to talk.”

Margaret smiles lightly and squeezes my hand. “Y’all really are the best. I try not to dwell on the past but this whole process just has me thinking about them more than usual. Dad and my brother Jake would have spent every spare moment working on the building with Theo while Mom and I tried new recipes. She’s the one who taught me to bake, and she made the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever tasted. Maybe one day, I’ll figure out a way to live up to their memory.”

My heart breaks for my new friend, and Hannah gives Margaret a small smile. “I know what you mean. I know our situations are different, but my parents left years ago, and I haven’t heard from them since. Caroline has had to pull me out of a funk so many times I can’t even count. We can’t bring your family back just like we can’t make mine care about me, but we just have to keep going. Better days ahead, right?”

“Better days ahead,” I chime in lightly and Margaret smiles.

“You’re right. Okay, enough of that for now. But speaking of my family, Caroline, did I notice you and my brother hitting it off this weekend?” she asks me.

I let out a surprised giggle before gaining my composure. I don’t know what to say. I kept waiting for him to make a move, but it seems pretty obvious he’s not into me. He’s clearly just trying to make sure we’re on the right track after the fire drill fiasco. I am sure I have way too many curves for someone that looks like him. “Oh my gosh, stop. He was just being nice.”

“Uhh, have you met my brother? I love him to death but nice isn’t exactly the adjective that I’d use when it comes to him,” Margaret exclaims.

“What she said. I have decided not to hold the fire drill incident against him, but I saw y’all eye fucking each other all day on Saturday. Those were not sympathy eye fucks,” Hannah chimes in.

I try to quell the rush of hope I feel in my chest that they think he might be interested in me and feign indifference. “I think y’all are full of it. So, who needs more margs?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THEO

By the time Tuesday afternoon rolls around, I am exhausted. The day has been brutally hot thanks to some A/C issues, and I leave the station craving a beer and a hot shower. I’d spent the day at work going through a log of local businesses and trying to make sure the fire protocols were up to my standards. Zach had stopped in to check on me, but other than that it has been a quiet day. But after football practice in the Alabama heat, I’m covered in sweat and dust. I am throwing my stuff into the backseat of my truck when my phone pings with a text.

Margaret: Hey, are you on the way home yet?

Me: Yeah, just got to the truck.

Margaret: Okay I need you to reroute. Hannah needs our help.

Me: With what?

Margaret: I’m not positive, but she sent out an SOS for help at her farm. Caroline texted me separately and said this never happens, so we think it must be something serious. Hannah’s pride won't let her ask Will for help, and Seth had to go to Crestview to get some things for the project he’s working on. I told them I would bring you for some muscle. I’m on the way there now.

I blow out a breath. So much for that shower and beer I had been dreaming about. But this does mean I’ll get to see Caroline, so maybe it won’t be all bad.

Me: Text me the address.

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