Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77719 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77719 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Wes glanced at the guy who was listening to something one of the other men with him was saying, looking carefree. I had to think, if I was in his shoes, I’d struggle to ever feel that way and hold onto those moments with both hands.
“His parents dumped her on him because it was too much work looking after her.”
Frowning, I looked around the bar to see if he’d brought her with him. “Who’s looking after her?”
“He has a carer who watches her during the day and if he needs to go out at night.”
“I’d let him in. With more people around him, he’ll have more support, and it seems like the dude could do with as much as he can get.”
“Decision made, then.”
All of their situations weren’t much different from Sienna’s, and Wes knew that.
“Why ask for my opinion?”
“I hate making decisions on my own, and you’re here,” he replied straight-faced.
Bursting out laughing, I gestured with my water toward the men. “Might wanna go and put them out of their misery and let them know they’re prospecting, then.”
Pivoting so his legs were out of the booth, Wes stood up. “Keep an eye on July until I’m done.”
He didn’t even have to ask me to do that. “Always.”
He’d only taken three steps away from the table when he turned back. “And for the love of God, don’t let her convince you to tattoo her. She’s been talking about it but she wants to get one of those medical symbols with a cat and a dog head coming out of it somehow.”
I wouldn’t tattoo anyone after they’d consumed alcohol, but I definitely wouldn’t tattoo July after it. If her husband wasn’t bad enough, her dad and uncles were downright terrifying.
On the back of that thought came another one. I could get July’s uncle, Nico, to find out where Hazel was now. At least if we had that information, we’d have warning and be able to move Sienna if she started her fuckery up again.
I still hadn’t asked him to look into why the police never questioned me after Hazel stabbed her either, and even though there was a theory about her mom and the officer who dealt with it, I wasn’t altogether sure it was the truth. And that’s what we needed to piece it together.
Pulling out my phone, I sent off a text to him, giving him a brief outline of what was going on, and asked him to meet me at her place tomorrow if he was free. We could talk while I helped put up the fence, and he could also ask her all the questions he needed to.
His response came through unusually quick for him with a yes, before the girls came out of the bathrooms. I was just putting my phone away again when the girls stopped beside me, Sienna’s cheeks almost matching her hair, and Maddie and July looking perplexed.
Getting up, I motioned for Sienna to get into the booth and gestured at Vin, the bartender, to bring more drinks.
“Y’all okay?”
Pasting a bright smile on her face, Maddie said, “Peachy,” as she nudged July.
“What?” July asked, looking at the woman. When Maddie looked at me meaningfully, she glanced around the bar, avoiding making eye contact with me. “Oh, yeah. We’re just fan dabby dosey.”
That wasn’t like July at all.
Looking suspiciously at the mute person sitting at the table, I sat down beside Sienna and nudged her gently. “You okay?”
Staring blindly at the table, she mumbled, “I should have had alcohol.”
“Now that’s an—” July started but stopped again when I glared at her. “Bad, really bad, idea.”
Knowing I’d never find out what the problem was tonight, I did something I’d only done a few times in my life, and most of which had been with Sienna. I made conversation.
Unfortunately, I did it by mentioning her new tattoo to July. This led to a discussion about the tattoo itself—with no explanation of what it was covering up, thankfully—and then moved onto me drawing out a design for July. And yes, it included what Wes had only moments ago told me not to do. A Caduceus, but instead of snake heads at the top of their bodies, there was a cat and dog’s head.
By the time we left an hour later, I was hugged enthusiastically by a very happy July, glared at by an unimpressed Wes, and had to drag Maddie away from Darwin after they exchanged numbers. Sienna was quiet the whole time, but it wasn’t in a way that said she needed to leave now. More like she was thinking about something.
As we pulled up in front of her house, I finally asked, “Did you have a good time? You don’t have to say yes if it’s not the truth.”
A hand smacking me on the shoulder from the back seats made me jump. “I had a great night. Thanks for taking us out and bringing us home,” Maddie said before she got out and slammed the door behind her.