Page 43 of Echoes of You

She shook herself out of whatever memory held her captive. “Thanks.” Her gaze cut to me. “Never put up with anyone treating you with even a hint of cruelty. It’s always a sign of bad things to come.”

I studied the woman next to me. She was right. And I’d rather be alone for the rest of my days than put up with that again. There was freedom in that. For so long, I’d desperately wanted a family of my own. To belong to someone. But the truth was, I already had it. In the Hartleys, with Wren, and with Nash. And I would only build more of that now that I was home. It might not look like the families on TV or in the picture books I’d read at the library. But it was sweeter than that because it wasreal.

A smile spread across my lips. “I think we’re going to be good friends.”

Aspen grinned back at me. “I think so, too.”

* * *

I archedmy back as I flipped the sign on the door toClosed. Aspen had left a couple of hours ago to pick up Cady, and I was fighting the urge to sink to the floor and take a nap. My feet hurt, my back ached, and my ribs were in agony.

“The sooner you wipe down these tables, the sooner you’ll be out of here.”

And now I’d stooped to talking to myself, too. Whatever it took to make it through the day.

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and turned it on, bracing myself. The second it powered up, a million dings sounded. My stomach sank. Sixty-three new text messages.

Nash’s words about Adam wanting a reaction echoed in my head. Fingers shaking, I blocked the number. Then I pressed the edit button and deleted every single message without reading any.

I stood there, staring at my phone. The device that I suddenly realized had been holding me hostage—a tool of Adam’s torture.

He didn’t get to win. Not anymore. I pulled up my music app and selected a sixties soul station.My Girlspilled from the tiny speaker, and I let out a breath.

I wouldn’t allow anyone or anything to steal the happiness I’d found in coming home. Not Adam. Not my dad possibly getting out of prison. Not jerky customers. I had a house. A job with amazing coworkers and free food that tasted incredible. Friends that had my back. I was building a life for myself, and it was going to be a wonderful one.

I let The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown carry me through my cleanup. It didn’t take that long at all. I switched off the music and slipped my phone into my purse. Tugging the strap over my shoulder, I headed for the door.

The afternoon sun fought back the chill that typically filled the air. If I wasn’t so exhausted, I would’ve opted for a long walk when I got home. Instead, I planned to soak in the tub and maybe splurge on a movie to watch. Maybe I could force Nash into watching something with zombies with me.

Rounding the corner, I moved toward my SUV. My steps faltered as I took it in. Something about the image in front of me was wrong. But it took me getting up close to realize what it was. Someone had slashed all four of my tires.

14

NASH

“Little Williams,”I bellowed as I strode toward Wren’s desk in dispatch.

“Must you continue calling me that? We’ve been over this. I’m not particularly little, and there’s no Big Williams.”

“Sorry, once a nickname has been appointed, it can’t be undone.”

She rolled her eyes. “Why are you over here bothering me? Don’t you have work to do?”

I straightened my shoulders. “If you must know, I’m investigating a crime.”

Wren arched a brow. “And that crime is?”

“Someone stole my last donut out of the break room.” My gaze narrowed on her, taking in every hint of a reaction. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

Wren’s eyes slid to the side, and my jaw dropped. “It was you!”

She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

“Did you not see the writing on the danged box that said it was mine?”

Wren drummed her fingers on the desk. “Hmmmm, did I seeDo Not Eat, The Penalty Is Death? OrNash’s Donuts, Eat And I’ll Put Ex-Lax In Your Coffee? Or my personal favorite,These Are Poisoned, You’ve Been Warned?”

“Next time, I am going to poison them just to get back at you bunch of traitors. I only got four of those donuts today.Four. That is not enough for a growing boy.”

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