Page 31 of Claws and Feathers

Daphne nodded, her shoulder-length hair fluttering over her shoulders. “Of course. Want me to stay in with you? We can find a new show to binge and drink a scary amount of cheap wine?”

Abby shook her head, even though the proposal sounded fantastic. Daphne had sacrificed far too much of her free time making sure Abby wasn’t alone. In between her shifts at the hair salon and ‘Best Friend Duty’, Daphne deserved a little fun. “Go out. A quiet night to myself sounds nice. I can plan out my interior design schemes.”

“Girl, you know I’m all in for that. Let’s –”

A knock on the front door interrupted the conversation.

Abby stood up from her place on the floor. “I can get it.”

“Hell no. It could be the Publishers Clearing House with my big, fat check.” She fluffed her hair as she hopped off the bed. “Am I camera-ready?”

Abby snorted. “You always are.”

Daphne winked at her, then dashed to the front door. She returned a few seconds later looking disappointed. “It was literally no one.”

Abby frowned and peeked out through the blinds. She saw Kate McAllister standing on the porch with crossed arms and venom shooting from her eyes. “Daph, did you just shut the door in her face?”

“What? As if one McAllister hanging around here all the time isn’t enough?” Daphne said in defense.

Abby groaned, shooting an irritated eye roll at her friend before racing to the front door. She whipped it open to find Kate already making her way down the graveled walkway. “Hey, wait.” The screen door squeaked on its hinges as she stepped outside.

Kate turned around, her hands stuffed into her cargo pockets and an irritated look on her face. “I wasreallyhoping she wasn’t home.”

“Sorry.” Abby offered a sheepish smile, tightening her long ponytail as she approached Kate. “Trying to make friends with my best friend’s sworn nemesis will be much easier when I’m not living in her house.”

Kate chuckled, her body language relaxing. “No reason to be sorry. It’s not your drama.” She took a tentative step forward and bounced on the toes of her shoes. “I came by to see how you were doing. My brother said you’ve been avoiding him.”

Abby’s eyes averted to the orange and yellow lilies lining the side of the garage. She fumbled for her words, feeling mildly guilty for letting Cooper sit alone in his patrol car the last few days. She hadn’t bothered to say hello or invite him inside. He was certainly not to blame for her own insecurities, or for Maya’s unprofessional slap in the face, but Abby couldn’t find the courage to talk to him just yet.

The hot summer sun blazed down on them and Abby finally glanced back up at Kate. She was squinting her eyes against the sunlight, her hand rising to her forehead to block the glare. “Avoiding is an intense word,” Abby said. “I prefer ‘keeping a friendly distance’.”

Kate casually strolled towards Abby, her petite frame drowning in her oversized pants and t-shirt. She was a tomboy, but she was strikingly pretty. “He’s not with her, you know.”

Abby pretended to have no idea what Kate was referring to. “What?”

“Maya. He’s not with that hoochie.”

“Oh, well, that’s none of my business.” Abby fiddled with her ponytail as her eyes darted around the front yard.

“Whether it is or isn’t, those are the facts. I don’t know all the details, but I know enough. And I know my brother,” Kate said with conviction. “When he’s checked out, he’s checked out. And he’s been checked out of Maya’s mind games for a long time.”

Abby swallowed.Then why did she open his front door with no pants on?She was too much of a coward to ask.

“Look,” Kate continued. “Maybe it’s not my place, but sometimes I enjoy sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. I’m obnoxious like that.” She grinned, her white teeth and prominent smile lighting up her face. “Cooper cares about you. This is more than just a case to him, you know?”

Abby’s insides danced at Kate’s words. Her heart fluttered pathetically in her chest. “You’re sweet, but I think you’re reading into things.”

“Actually, I’mnotsweet. I’m quite literally the opposite,” Kate told her. “I call it like I see it. You can be pissed at Maya. She’s an awful person, and she deserves whatever you throw at her. But cut my brother a little slack. He’s sacrificing a lot of his free time for you.”

Ouch.Abby wouldn’t be opposed to melting away into the sidewalk cracks. In fact, she welcomed it. She looked up at the sun, beckoning it to work its fiery magic.

“Sorry,” Kate declared with a wince. “That came off a lot bitchier than it sounded in my head. It’s a curse.”

“I deserve it,” Abby sighed. “This whole Maya thing just threw me for a loop, and I’m not sure how to navigate through the awkwardness. To be honest, I’m not really sure how to ‘people’ in general. I’ve never been good at it.”

Kate shrugged. “You and me both. That’s why I have one friend and he’s related to me.” She hesitated for a moment, tapping her white sneaker against the pavement. “Hey, we’re having a game night this weekend. You should come.”

Abby’s head jerked up in surprise. “Game night? With you and Cooper?”

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