Page 57 of Safe With Me
“Offered the assistant manager triple time to stay late.” Andy scratched his chin, gaze on the screen.
Heels clicked on the hardwood floor, and I glanced over my shoulder. Hannah had on heels and ripped jeans with an off-white camisole that dipped between her breasts. Her velvet cardigan was the color of forest moss and made her eyes brighter, almost gold. One look, and shit, I couldn’t breathe.
She was so damned gorgeous, like a sunrise through mist over a field.
I was on my feet in a second. “You look pretty.”
Andy snorted, and I didn’t miss Grace’s smile. I sounded like a lovestruck third grader.
Amused pleasure glinted in Hannah’s eyes. “Thank you.”
By the time we walked out to Grace’s SUV, my face cooled. I held the back door for Hannah, ready to slide in next to her and be close, but Grace pushed me toward shotgun. “I want us to look at the menu on the way over.”
Figuring they shared Hannah’s penchant for scrolling menu choices and photos before we went somewhere new, I swallowed my disappointment and climbed into the front passenger seat. Their soft conversation about the food, interspersed with tidbits about Grace and Andy’s kids, wafted forward, blending with the Clemson game playing low on the radio. Familiar landmarks flashed by as we headed east on 37 – the funeral home, the new county jail, the Ag Center – before fields and far-flung houses became the scenery.
“I’m going to host Thanksgiving,” Grace said, leaning toward Hannah. “Daddy and Tilda are coming.”
I tensed. They always went to their daddy’s house for the holidays, and Mrs. Tilda put on a spread. Shit, now Hannah faced the holidays without Elizabeth. Either Elizabeth wouldn’t show her face at Grace’s or Hannah would refuse to go if hersister deigned to show up. Unless maybe Grace hadn’t invited her. She was in a bad spot, too, caught between her sisters, although I bet she wasn’t putting up with Elizabeth’s foolishness.
“I haven’t even thought about Thanksgiving.” Sadness tinged Hannah’s voice, and I closed my eyes. “Other than Scott’s holiday party.”
“You got an invite? Well, I guess you would.”
“Uh, yeah. I’m probably going to go. It would look bad if I didn’t.” Hannah touched my shoulder. “Okay with you if we go?”
“Yeah.” I’d go anywhere with her.
“Is Thanksgiving dinner at Gracie’s okay?”
“Not like I’m going to say no in front of her.” Behind his hand, Andy snorted, and I grinned at Hannah over my shoulder. “It’s good.”
Normally, I spent the day by myself. Aunt Patty, Trace’s mom, always invited me, but I usually made sandwiches and watched football all day. Big family get-togethers only slammed home that my family wasn’t there.
This year was guaranteed to be tough for Hannah, grieving Elizabeth. I wanted to be there for her if she wanted me.
Lord knows, I wanted her to want me.
Andy found a spot in the lot across from the beer garden about the time Jase pulled up. Sara and Trace climbed out of his back seat while Jase jogged around to open the passenger door. Holding the door for Hannah, I watched as he held out a hand to steady a slightly familiar brunette as she stepped down from the truck.
Surprise jolted through me. He was seeing someone? Damn dog hadn’t said a word.
“Oh.” Grace let out the soft exclamation as she and Andy reached our side of the SUV.
“Shit,” Andy growled.
She nudged him, hard. “Be nice.”
“I ain’t fixing to be ugly.” Andy’s mouth firmed to a thin line. I frowned, glancing from him to the brunette with her arm tucked through Jase’s. Recognition sank in – Tyler Grant, the receptionist from the Ford place. She’d dated Colt Calvert, Andy’s closest buddy, for like a year. They’d ended on a little bit of a nasty note.
Small town life was a bitch – everybody knew your business and you never knew who you were going to run into.
“Glad we didn’t invite Colt along,” Andy muttered.
“Hey.” Sara grabbed Hannah in a tight hug, and we tossed greetings around like confetti for a couple of minutes, Jase making sure everybody knew Tyler.
I pressed Jase’s hand in a hard shake. “What’s new, man?”
Lips twisted in a self-conscious grin, Jase rubbed his spare hand over his neck. “Not a lot.”
