Page 24 of The Runaway

“Some things never change,” she mutters.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you always cared too much about what people thought.”

“Do you really think that?”

She laughs. “Only a little. If you must know, I am a nervous driver, so I don’t talk much when I’m on the road—nothin’ to do with you. But if you want to help, you could tell me what’s on your mind.”

I take a deep breath. “Okay, well, I’m sorry about high school. Things changed—well, kind of spiraled my senior year and I didn’t know how to deal with everyone. I went from being the richest to the poorest and an orphan. I know this is going to sound stupid but all I wanted was for someone to tell me that it was all a big nightmare and I was going to wake up soon and everything would be okay. So…every time someone offered their condolences, it was like they were reminding me that I was all alone.”

She frowns, keeping her eyes on the road.

“I didn’t like people seeing me that way. I’m sorry I was mean to you.”

She tosses me an easy smirk that tells me I don’t need to do that with her.

With a sigh, I settle back in my seat, looking out at the familiar street.

She gives it exactly one minute before asking, “So how’d you meet Troy Mayfield?”

I’ve been waiting for that.

After two hours of shopping and a greasy lunch at the Burger Palace, we’re back in Charlie’s car.

“Where to, new friend?”

“Um…I guess Elliot’s cottage.”

“Oh, you mean Chase’s place?”

“His place?”

“Yeah, it was his, then he left it for his little brother when he moved to the city. Elliot left it to Chase—and nearly everything in it.”

“Wasn’t Elliot in his twenties? He already had a will?”

“Oh, they all do. After their mom passed, Aiden Reeves made them all create a will. There are too many assets to not.”

“I see. Well, I’m staying there until there’s a room free at the Inn. But I’m going to clean the place up a bit while I’m there. I’m kind of excited about it. Plus, it gives me something to do so I don’t feel entirely useless.”

She perks. “Can I help?”

“You want to help me clean?” I shrug. “I think I’m going to like you. But I need to pick up keys from Chase first. Do you think you could call him to see where he is?”

Her face falls. “He’s… going to be at the Inn. That’s where the Reeves brothers typically hang out on the weekends unless Chase has a game or practice.”

“Great. Let’s go there.”

Her eyes widen. “I’ll just drop you off.”

“I thought you wanted to help me.”

“I do…but I…I don’t go to the Inn.”

“Oh, are you like banned? Did you get super stupid drunk? That happened to a friend of mine in college and neither of us were allowed back to the hottest spot downtown after that.”

“No. I’m not banned.” She blinks away. “I just don’t go there.”

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