Page 45 of The Tomorrows After You
“Looks like I gotta pay a visit to the Valley for a domestic.”Herolledhis eyes beforelookingat me.“Can I give you a ride home?”
“Oh, that’s okay, I can walk.” Jeremy didn’t know I was staying with Riot and I didn’t feel like explaining myself to him.
“Nonsense, I insist. Your uncle’s estate isn’t that much out of the way.”
“I’m not staying withJacob,” I grumbled.
Jeremyfurrowedhis brow.“Okay, so where can I take you? Do you need a place to stay? Because my house could use the touch of a woman.”Hegrinnedhis million-dollar grin.
“I’m settled in.” I took a long sip of ice water. “I’m renting out the screen room on the Asher property.”
Jeremy froze.
“No way.” He shook his head like he had a say in the matter. “No way you’re staying with Riot Asher, Nicolette. I won’t allow it.”
It was my turn to freeze. I sat up straighter and gave him a scathing pointed look.Excuse me?
He softened. “I mean that it’s not safe.Heis not safe. His looney tunesbrotheris not safe.”
“But it’s safe enough for Katie Plainbottom? I can handle myself.”Irritationcrawleddown my spine like a spider and Ithrewdown two twenty-dollar bills, eager to get out of the diner.“But I appreciate your concern,”Isaiddespite my tone making it clear I didn’t. Istoodup, and hegrabbedmy hand.
“I’msorry, okay? Iforgotyou hate the wholewhite knight thing. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay there. Hemurderedhis own mother, whowasnothing but a saint. I hate to think of you in that kind of danger.”
My shoulders made an exaggerated shrug. “It’s not your choice. And it was voluntary manslaughter.”
“What?” he asked.
“He didn’t get convicted of murder. The official sentence was voluntary manslaughter.”
Jeremy gave me a flat look before his eyes lit up. “You’re doing a story on him…” He gave me a wicked grin, and I felt my heart rate surge.
“No. No, I’m not,” I stammered quickly, forcing a chuckle. “I have no interest involuntary manslaughtercases. Especially ones that were nearly twelve years ago.”
Jeremy squinted a doubtful eye. “Sure.” He put his hands up but didn’t look convinced. “But I’m still going to give you a ride there.”
14
Riot
Childlike eagerness pulsed through me, anticipating Nicolette’s return from the Farmer’s Market so I could hear how everything sold. Getting all those pieces loaded up and out of the backyard provided me with a sense of cleansing. The extra space gave me a small surge of inspiration. I was working on a new line of birds when a vehicle rumbled to a stop in the driveway.
When Nicolette said she’d gotten a ride home, I had been curious who she’d run into but I assumed it was Chelsea or one of the committee members. When I peeked around the corner, a shot of fear ripped through me, spotting Blackwell’s police cruiser parked in my driveway.
Did he know I had left the county to take Nicolette to the hospital? It was a stupid chance to take but it was right on the border, and she needed the ride. Did someone tell him I’d had a beer at Benny’s? There were no policies against it but I knew it was frowned upon.Fuck,Nicolette made me forget myself. Made me forget what I was supposed to be working toward.
As Nicolette hopped out of the passenger side, a small wave of relief eased my tension but quickly simmered into something darker. An unfamiliar feeling withered around the knot in my gut. She gave him a friendly wave, bouncing toward the house. He grinned back at her, lowering his sunglasses.
He wasn’t here for me. That meant he was here for her. Was she interested in him? That would be bad news. Only because that meant Jeremy would be around more often, of course.
A few minutes later, the smack of her screen doorjoltedme, and Itriedto shake the dark cloud thatmatchedthe size of the dust cloud that Jeremy’s cruisermade,gunningdown my road.
Whatwaswrong with me? A minute ago, Iwaschompingat thebitto see how the Farmer’s Marketwent, now I couldn’t look her in the eye.
“I have to give it to you, Asher. I thought you were one cocky son-of-a-bitch, but you sold out within two hours!” Nicolette came bounding up to me, a wad of cash in her hands. “I didn’t move on a single price.” Pride radiated from her and my chest tightened.
I nodded and muttered “thanks,” burying my attention into the piece on my bench. She stood, shifting her weight back and forth, waiting for more from me but I kept working.
“Who peed in your cornflakes?” she asked, frowning.
