Page 92 of The Daredevil

“Oh, okay.” Natalie offered a warm smile.

The last few times I had seen Grayson, he seemed preoccupied. Everyone had issues to deal with in private. I could attest to that.

It occurred to me I hadn’t been paying attention to the food and motivation reminder I’d set up on my phone. When it came up during my chats with Royce, I’d swiped it away. In the past, I’d always looked at it, even if I didn’t follow the directions. It was simply a reminder.

Perhaps I didn’t need it anymore. Besides, I’d spent more time playing the silly game on my phone. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing that I’d abandoned my reminders to play games.

Kiera handed out pieces of thin cardboard to slip between the shirt layers so it wouldn’t bleed to the back. “You can also use fabric markers.” She dropped a container filled with an assortment of markers on the table.

We all got busy decorating our shirts.

An idea sparked in my head as I reached for a paintbrush. Giggling to myself, I painted over the letter stencils. Twenty minutes later, I stepped back and studied my creation with SMART A.S.S. splashed across the front of the shirt. If I weren’t creating for Royce, the words would have been entirely different—something safe for other people to auction. But since I was making this for him, I had no limits.

I am free with him.

Natalie stepped beside me. “What does A. S. S. stand for?”

“Achieve. Strive. Success.” I beamed.

“Oh, I love it,” Audri said. Her shirt had a simple straight line and a statement written on top of it. “Line Segment: Bringing Two Points Together—Me and You.”

“Yours is so cool,” I said.

Kiera lifted hers. “Mine has floral designs.”

“Mine has abstract figures.” Natalie showed hers off.

“Wow! We should start a T-shirt collection!” Audri exclaimed. “These are all so fabulous.”

When I finished my five shirts, I wanted to wear them.

“That’s a nice play on words.” Natalie gestured to my shirt with “Nerd Lava” on it.

“Royce is a volcanologist. He’d appreciate it.”

“Youarea nerd lover and so adorkable.” Kiera grinned.

“Adorkable should be on your shirt.” I laughed.

“You mean smart and sexy.” She fluttered her eyes at me.

When we were finished, the coordinator took photos of our shirts, giving each of them a number for the auction. We all took snapshots of our shirts before going our separate ways and planning to meet again soon. The craft session with my friends was exactly what I needed to feel at ease again.

Outside, I took a moment to inhale the fresh air. I’d always loved the chilly air of fall. I missed going to see the foliage this year. The warm colors always mesmerized me. Nature was a true wonder. It was its own painting, offering peace to those who knew how to appreciate it.

As I drove home, I noticed a black sedan with tinted windows had been behind me for several lights. Maybe I’d watched too many crime dramas and was becoming paranoid. When it finally turned the corner, I released a sigh.

Suddenly craving some chicken pot pie, I parked my car in the garage and walked over to Esther’s Kitchen, a small restaurant run by two older ladies. They only had two eating tables. Most people ordered takeout. After getting my order, I exited the restaurant and from the corner of my eye, I saw the black car again. I couldn’t see the driver because the windshield also had a tint.

Nerves stirred in me. After the fiasco with Fiona and Brittany, I couldn’t be too careful. Was Brittany in Rhode Island? Though Royce said Fiona wouldn’t bother me anymore, I was still hesitant. How could I trust Fiona? What were the chances that my former enemy was friends with my current enemy? The world worked in weird ways.

I had to be extra careful.

I pretended I didn’t see the black car and crossed the street. When a car honked, my heart jumped. I whirled around, turning toward the sound, and bumped into a man, causing him to drop his bag of groceries. A woman rushed out from a building and slid into the passenger side of the honking car, and it drove off.

Blowing out a sigh of relief, I crouched to help him pick up his groceries. “I’m so sorry.”

He wore a beanie with gray hair peeking out and had sharp blue eyes and a friendly smile.

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