Page 50 of A Rose of Steel
“Okay.” He made a solemn face, indicating he was going to be serious and cooperate.
“You’re not here in Roble to spy on my Auntie?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“What about me?” I said.
“What about you?” he repeated.
“Are you here to spy on me?”
“Not officially.”
“What does that mean?”
He smiled. “I plead the fifth. Next question, please.”
“Are you working undercover on a sting operation?”
“A sting operation?” He frowned and shook his head. “Why would I be here on a sting operation?”
“See,” I said. “You didn’t answer the question. You’re always sidestepping things.”
“I’m going to answer it, I just wondered where that came from.”
“It came from me. My mouth. My brain.”
“Oh. Well, for you, your mouth and brain, the answer is no.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“I’m hanging out with you until your roadside service arrives.”
“I mean in Roble.”
“Just like you,” he said and blew out a breath. “I’m running away from my life.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
I’d been up since the crack of dawn.
It was the day of the Bumper’s funeral, but Auntie didn’t want to waste one minute of daylight. She wanted to go over to Angel’s Grace to start getting it ready for the awards dinner during homecoming weekend. And her shrill voice flooding the air up the steps and into my room served as a zealous, annoying alarm clock.
“Why do you have to do it this morning?” I said, yawning. I stumbled into the kitchen to get a caffeine rush to kick start my day. “And what are you doing here?” Rhett was sitting at the table, doing his usual. Eating.
“Good morning to you, too,” he said, a lump of food in his jaw.
“Be nice to Rhett,” Auntie said. She was standing at the stove, stirring in a pot. “He came to help.”
“What other reason would he be here?” I asked. “Isn’t that his job?”
“Romaine Gabriela Sadie Heloise Wilder!” Auntie said. “By all that is Holy, I did not raise you to be so rude. Or, condescending.”
“It’s okay, Babet. I know she appreciates me.”
I couldn’t help but to smile because that was true.
“What are you two up to?” she said.
