Page 66 of Until We Break

I pulled my car keys from my pocket, but the instant I opened the driver-side door I realized my mistake. It smelled like rotten sour milk.

“Oh God.” I had left the tablecloth in the backseat and the morning sun had heated the inside of the car like a toaster oven. I rolled down the windows, knowing I wasn’t going to be able to drive with that smell. Caleb had distracted me last night beyondreason. When we pulled into the Blue Heron, the only thing either of us was thinking about was getting our hands on each other. We’d tripped over the steps, barged through the porch, and barreled into each other’s arms once we were inside. I never once thought about the tablecloth.

I had to get the linen to a cleaners. I clutched the wheel as I drove through the island, praying that the smell wouldn’t linger in my backseat. It was foul. My quick Google search revealed there was one place I could take it, The Clean Queen.

I hauled the smelly fabric inside. The girl at the counter turned around.

“Josie?”

“Margot? Hi.”

I hadn’t seen her since the night she took me to the Coast Guard bonfire. I’d dipped out of the party without telling her I had a ride. Shit. I was already a bad friend or acquaintance. I shoved the tablecloth onto the check-in counter.

“Oh God, this smells horrible. What happened to it?”

I exhaled. “I full glass of spilled milk combined with the hot sun in a parked car.” I grimaced.

“Hmm.” She lifted it and hung it on a hanger. “It’s pretty.”

“Vintage,” I explained. “I’m guessing it’s expensive. I need to get it cleaned for someone. Do you think you could help me with it?”

Josie looked it over. Even with her T-shirt sleeves rolled up, her bright blond hair in a messy bun, and the perspiration on her forehead, she was still gorgeous. She eyed it.

“I think so. It’s more of an odor problem now. I’ll talk to my mom about it.”

“Your mom?”

She laughed. “Yes, she’s the owner. The literal ‘clean queen’.”

“Ohh.” I hadn’t put it together until now. “This is your family’s business.”

“My mom’s business,” she corrected. “I always ask her when it comes to special situations like these.” I watched as Josie wrote up a ticket and carefully attached it to the fabric. She put it on a rack labeled,hand-care.

“So about the party…” My words trailed. “I’m sorry I disappeared like that, especially after you invited me.” I shook my head. I shouldn’t have done that.

Josie’s eyebrows rose. “I saw you leave with Caleb.”

“You did?”

“If I hadn’t, I would have started a search party. Wasn’t going to let you be eaten by sharks.” She smiled. “Seems like you hit it off with him.”

“It wasn’t the first time we’d met,” I admitted. “It’s a long story but turned out it was a good thing he was there.”

“I kind of know your backstory.” She stuffed some dress shirts in a paper bag and tossed them into a bin.

“You do?” I was afraid I was part of more island gossip.

“Yeah. I grew up next to Caleb and Jacob. I’m the long-lost little sister they never wanted,” she teased. “Have you met the O-Connors?”

“I know they all were in the Coast Guard. Is there something I should know?” I hadn’t met them the first time we were together.

“No. No. I’ve known them my whole life. They’re great.”

“All right. Will you call when the tablecloth is ready?”

“Of course.” Her smile returned. “I don’t know how many days it will be, but my mom is great with these kinds of things. I’m taking the jet skis out again later. The slips are open after the storm?”

“Yes. They are good. I didn’t have any damage at the marina. Feel free to use the ramps for the jet skis, even if I’m not around.” I backed out of the dry cleaners, shoving my sunglasses over my eyes. “Thanks again.”

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