Page 88 of Dashing for Love

“Only because I told Sue I felt sorry for you!” Tom sputters.

“Are you lying about my wife?” Color rises on Jerry’s cheeks. “My beloved? Outside, sir!”

“Ach, get over yourself.” Tom waves Jerry’s threats away and looks back at me. “We’re here if you need us.”

I pat both their hands as Jerry continues to mutter. “Thank you both. You’re very kind.”

More customers begin to arrive, and I lose myself in the shift, thankful for how busy it gets and even more grateful that Matty himself doesn’t show up.

Ox and Reid do, however, and I send yet another prayer of gratitude to the diner gods when they go to the counter instead of sitting at the open table. All I have to do is avoid them, and all will be well.

“Goldie.” Ox’s voice is soft and gentle as I walk past, and against my better judgment, I turn to him.

“Hi, Ox. You doing okay?”

“I’ve been better.”

I peer closer. He actually doesn’t look so well. Smudges of purple beneath his eyes hint at a lack of sleep, and he’s got days-old stubble. “What’s going on?”

Reid touches my elbow and looks at Ox. “She needs to work, Ox. This isn’t the time.”

Ox shakes his head, his hulking form seeming to deflate before my eyes. “I know, but I—” He stops and looks up at me. “I’m so sorry, Goldie. It’s all my fault.”

I look between him and Reid, confused. “I don’t understand.”

Reid blows out a breath. “It’s not your fault, Ox. If it’s anyone’s, it’s probably mine. I’m the one who asked him if it was serious.”

My body goes hot. “Youwhat?”

“I’m the one who said it was Liv Stinson!” Ox exclaims.

I swivel my glare to Ox. “You…what?” I repeat, gritting my teeth. Fucking Liv Stinson.

“Reid made Matty spill everything at the bar, and we might have all said some things we regret,” Ox says, his words fumbling out. “And now you’re here looking sad, Matty won’t talk to us, Willa’s irritated no one will tell her what’s going on, and it’s our fault.”

Horrified, I look at Reid. “Youstillhaven’t said anything?”

“I told you I wouldn’t. It’s obvious I messed things up enough; no way was I going to go tell your sister your business. Especially when it seems like things are…bad.”

I don’t know if I should laugh, cry, or scream.

Idoknow that the tears are coming.

I whirl away from them and untie my apron, shoving it at Mom. “I’m sorry,” I choke. “But I can’t.”

“What in the world?” Mom asks, her eyes wide and searching as she takes the apron. “Honey?”

I don’t answer, barging into the kitchen and moving through it to the back office. Only when I’m in there and the door is shut do I let go. Tears stream down my face as I try to make sense of what Reid and Ox just said.

No. It doesn’t matter. Whatever they said or didn’t say, the fact is that Matty made his own decision.

A knock comes at the door and Willa comes in, a chef’s knife in her hand. “What’s going on?” she demands.

I make a feeble attempt at wiping the tears away, and wave at her hand. “Put down the knife and I’ll tell you.”

She startles and looks down. “Oh,” she says sheepishly. “I didn’t know I still had it.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” I murmur.

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