Page 16 of Sergeant O'
“I don’t know! Probably because Iknowher.”
“It’s Haven Springs, Bri. You know everyone.”
“Fine. How about because we’re going to be godparents to Conor. Which means I’m going to see her socially, too. For the next eighteen years.”
“Again, it’s Haven Springs. You’re going to see everyone socially at some point.”
“It’s not the same.”
Lainey started to protest some more, but Adam simply said, “Babe,” then shook his head.
I was relieved that he was encouraging her to drop it but was also pissed because I knew they weren’t convinced that I didn’t have a thing for Jade.
But then again, I kinda did, so...
Chapter Seven
Jade
I pulled my sunglasses from my backpack and slipped them on as I headed toward the employee entrance. This time of year, it was light when I went to work, and light when I left—even if it was on time, not an hour and a half past when I was supposed to clock out, like today.
Blackout curtains were a lifesaver.
Although, since this was the beginning of my weekend, I’d try to stay up when I got home and take a nap in the afternoon, with the hope of sleeping tonight.
I wanted to go see my BFF, Sophie, in Charleston tomorrow. She and I had gone to high school together but hadn’t really become friends until we were in the same nursing program at Clemson. It was nice having someone who knew what living in Haven Springs was like and what working in an understaffed department did to your social life.
I hadn’t decided if I’d stay the night at her place or come home. It'd probably depend on how Penny, my tortoiseshell cat, was behaving. Some days she acted like she couldn’t care less about me, and others she’d be extra needy—usually when I started getting ready for work. It was like she knew how to guilt trip me into giving her extra treats before leaving.
I’d adopted her as a kitten from the shelter right after I bought my two-bedroom bungalow. She’s been the longest grownup relationship I’ve had. For the first year, she had more furniture than I did.
It hadn’t been that I couldn’t afford it, I just hadn’t had the time—or energy—to decorate my house. I’d had a bed, loveseat, and milk crates for tables, and the previous owners left the bar stools for the kitchen island. I didn’t need anything else.
Of course, when Lainey stayed with me during her summer break between her sophomore and junior years at UNC, she was having none of that. On my first day off, she dragged me to three different furniture stores in Charleston and insisted on making me buy all-new-everything for every room in the house.
Fortunately, the store had a four-years, no interest credit plan.
Last month had been my final payment, which meant I had a nice chunk of change to use if I wanted to go out of town.
I was so lost in thought about my weekend plans, that I didn’t notice Lainey and Adam until I practically ran into them on the sidewalk under the awning.
It took me a second to process it was my sister.
“What are you guys doing here? This is the employee parking lot.”
“We’re taking Brian home.”
“You need to park out front. That’s where they’ll wheel him out to.”
Adam’s face was solemn when he replied, “I take it you haven’t been out front.”
“No. What’s going on?”
“Lainey’s kidnapping somehow got picked up and is now ‘trending’. There are reporters camped out at the main entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of Brian. Angus is going in through the front and causing a diversion while we sneak Brian out the back in Granny O’Brien’s Cadillac.”
“You guys are so sneaky. I love it!”
I meant that in more ways than one, considering the two had been sneaking around for almost a month.
