Page 20 of Take Me to the Valley

“Nope. I'm good,” she says, and she hugs Cody before he leaves.

“Are you sure you are okay staying with me when I get out?” I ask her when it's just the two of us.

“I promise I am. Actually, I’m looking forward to spending some time with Skye.”

I can feel the drugs working, and things get a bit fuzzy. But one thought keeps circling in my head.

I hope you don't see meas family.

Chapter 10

Calista

Evan's words still echo in my head as I head back to Whiskey River.

I hope you don't see me as family.

“I don't think he realized he said it out loud. He was drifting off because of the pain meds and he was asleep right after he said it.” I tell Kaylee, who is riding home with me. Cody had me take his truck since Mom and Dad left before me. Kaylee had stuck around and was waiting with us, too.

That was the first thing I told her when I got in the car, and she screamed so loud I almost crashed the truck.

“I really think that man likes you more than a sister. The way people described how he was looking at you in the coffee shop,” she sighs with a smile.

“Oh, you know how people over-exaggerate.” I dismiss it because it's true.

“Talk to him about it,” she shrugs, like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

“Oh yeah. Hey Evan, while you are healing from being shot in my best friend's backyard, remember what you said when you were high on pain meds? What did you mean by that?” I say in a sarcastic tone.

“Fine. Fine. I get it. Just give it time and pay attention. If he likes you, you will be able to tell, especially since you guys will live together for a few weeks,” she says with a smirk.

It's then her phone rings.

“I think it is the station,” she says, answering the call.

I only hear her side, but it's a bunch of ‘okay’ and ‘seriously’ until she says, “Well, when can I get back in?” Then there's another pause.

“Can I at least take my car?” Then another pause.

“Fine.”

She hangs up the phone and tosses her face into her hands in frustration.

“I can't get into my house because it's a crime scene. They had to pause the search until they heard about Evan, and they are still going through everything. The Chief packed me a bag of clothes. I can pick up my bag at the station, and I can get my car. But I just can't go into the house.”

“Okay, well, that's fine. You can stay at my place. I won't be there, and there is plenty of food. It's right downtown. If I keep my car with my parents, you can have my parking space. I will let my landlord know.”

“Did you hear me? The Chief packed a bag of my clothes!” she squeals.

“Okay, spell it out like I'm a toddler. It's been a really long day,” I say.

“He. Touched. My. Underwear.” She overpronounces each word.

“Okay, I can fix that.” I take the next right and pull into the closest superstore. “Let's get you some clean ones.”

We get out of the truck, and she hugs me tightly. We’re on the same wavelength, which is why we’re such good friends.

I hate big stores like this because we go in for one thing and walk out with eleven items an hour later. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened. Once we’re back to the car, I check my phone before I pull out of the parking lot. There’s a text from a number I don't have saved.

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