Page 40 of Love Finds Home

I give up and tell her what I saw. “I followed her home last night.”

Barbie raises her brow at me, and motioning for me to continue.

“When she got home, something freaked her out and she left and came here.”

“And then?”

“I went back to her place to see what was there. There were black flower petals on her porch.”

“That’s it?” Barbie asks, and I nod. “Was there a note? Did you look?”

“Of course I looked. And no, there wasn’t a note. This isn’t my first rodeo.”

“It is with someone you care about.”

“Who says I care about her?” I ask, my heart rate increasing at the thought.

“Oh, my God, boss. I don’t know what to do with you. Are you really that blind and stupid?”

Yes, yes, I am.

My face must betray me because Barbie laughs.

“I’ll see if I can find anything out, but there’s no guarantee she’ll talk to me, you know,” she points out.

“Yeah, I know.”

“You’re worried.”

“She’s Tiny’s sister.” That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

“Uh-huh. You know you’re full of shit, right?”

“Whatever. Don’t you have some work to do?”

I know she’s about to read me the riot act when the front door opens and my first client of the day walks in. It’s double duty, ink and a job. She’s getting a broken heart on her shoulder and wants me to find out if her husband is cheating on her. These jobs are easy. The answer is always yes, they are fucking around on you. If you suspect it, they’re doing it. But it’s easy money for me and goes a long way for them in divorce court.

It’s almost two in the afternoon when Elle comes down the back steps into the shop and goes to Barbie. She asks if she can use her charger, which Barbie offers and Elle plugs her phone in and sits beside her. At least they are talking. I don’t know what’s said, but Elle sits in Barbie’s chair and starts sketching. Everything in me wants to know what she’s drawing, but I don’t feel like I have any right to ask.

Barbie catches my eye and winks, the bitch, but it makes me chuckle. Elle seems lost in her own world, on the pages of her pad. But she has that look on her face again. The lost look that invaded my dreams last night. Honestly, she looks like she needs a friend, a fuck, and a good hug. I can only provide one of those. Hopefully, Barb will provide the other two.

Chapter 15

The Texting Chapter Pt. 1

The Guys

Ranger: So what was up with last night?

Tiny: What do you mean what was?

Joker: You saw her after she got that phone call.

Tiny: She didn’t say anything to me

Joker: No shit, dip shit.

Tiny: What’s that supposed to mean

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