Page 99 of Love Takes Home

“What’s going on?”

“What are you doing right now?”

“I’m in the middle of inking someone’s back. Why?”

“Roger called and said someone destroyed my classroom and I need you to meet me at the school, please.” Is the ‘please’ a touch desperate? Maybe. Do I care? Nope.

“Shit. How close are you?”

“Probably twenty minutes.”

“Fuck. I need like an hour. Can’t just walk away from this right now.”

“I understand. What’s Elle doing?”

“She’s meeting with a client.”

“Of course she is,” I can’t help the irritation in my voice.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, call Tiny.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

I hang up on him and call Tiny. I hear the sounds of tools in the background. This doesn’t sound good, either.

“Hello?” he answers. “What’s wrong?”

“Roger called and said someone destroyed my classroom and I need to go see the damage. I need to take pictures and document it before anyone else gets in there.”

“Aww, shit, Gin. I’m in Rockton. I’ll leave now. I can be there in forty-five.”

“I don’t think I can wait. I need to see it. Where’s Lottie?”

“She got called in for an emergency at the clinic. Car accident and she’s operating on Mrs. Cooper’s lab.”

“Shit, that sucks.”

“Where’s Joker?”

“He got called in for an emergency and hasn’t made it back to town.”

“Can you wait for me? I’ll be there in forty if I speed.” I hear the engine of his truck fire up.

“I don’t think I can wait. I feel like this is something I have to do, and the sooner the better.”

“Have you tried everyone else?”

“Dad’s in court, Davis has Aaron, Elle’s with a client, Ranger’s in the middle of inking someone, you and Trish are both in Rockton, and Lottie’s at the clinic. Yep, that’s everyone.”

“What about your teacher friends?” I hear his truck accelerate as he speeds up.

“They are all out of town. I think Linda and Quinn are in Diamond Cove and Paula is in Baltimore for fall break. Last chance for a vacation before Christmas.”

“Fuck. Okay, just try to hang on for someone to get there if you can. You can’t go in there half-cocked in case something’s going on. You need to calm down.”

“Did you really just tell me to calm down?”

“Wrong terminology! Can you take a breath for me?”

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