Page 29 of Snowbound

But he doesn’t stop. “We’re all here for you, you know, in the town. You just ask any one of us for anything, and any of us would give you it. You know that, right?”

“Ring me up, will you?”

Tim sighs and decides to give up on trying to get through to me. Good. He’s a friendly enough guy, but I don’t need anything. Not from anyone. I’m perfectly fine minding my own business.

As he scans the last of my items, he changes the topic and asks, “How’s the young lady working out? Keeping on your toes, I’d be reckoning.”

“Something like that.” I chuckle. At least this is something I can talk about more easily. “I must have spoken to you since I brought Phoebe on.”

He frowns. “Maybe a couple of times, but I feel like we barely see you at all since you got back.”

A rush of embarrassment flows through me. I need to get out of here.

I swipe my card and stuff the tools into bags. “I’ll see you later, Tim.”

“Sure will. Don’t be a stranger,” he says, and I turn to leave.

“What was all that about?” Carly asks as we leave the store.

“I’ve known Tim since he was a kid. His parents moved up here when he was a teenager. He inherited the hardware store from them. I used to get on well with his dad before he passed.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

I don’t say anything because I have nothing to say. It was sad, but it happened. Life is one of those things you just have to move on with.

Carly gives me a curious look, like cogs are turning in her head. “What did he mean about helping you? Did something happen?”

My throat dries up. This is a line of questioning I don’t want her to pursue. Since I got back from the Air Force, I have drifted away from people. That much is true, but I don’t want to talk about my time in the military. I certainly don’t want to talk about it with her.

Fortunately, we get interrupted before Carly can push any further.

“Oh, my God. Gabe Fox, what are you doing out on the street?”

I clench my fists and force a smile as Ruth comes running over to us. “And who is your friend?” She grins as she looks Carly up and down. A light comes on in her eyes, and I know I have to squash this thought before it takes on a life of its own.

I’ve known Ruth since school. She and her boyfriend, John, were in my class, and we used to hang out a lot. I guess it’s my fault, but I haven’t spoken to them in a while, either.

John rushes over after her and beams at me. “Hey, Gabe, how’s it going?”

He eyes up Carly as well, and I say, “Hey, guys. Carly, these are my school friends, Ruth and John. Ruth and John, this is the girl who broke down the other night.”

“So we’ve gotta believe the rumors, then?” says Ruth, raising both eyebrows.

“No, you don’t,” I snap.

“This is the longest conversation we’ve had with you in months,” says John, and that rush of shame washes through me again.

We used to be so close, the three of us. I was kind of a jock in school, so I think the two of them used to enjoy my protection as a nerdy girl and a gangly, carrot-top ginger boy. None of that ever mattered to me, though. They were fun. We used to get up to all sorts of trouble.

I used to be a fun person.

Ruth shoots John a look. “Well, we’re so happy to see you. And to meet your new friend.”

“She’s not my friend,” I say quickly.

John steps in before Ruth can keep pushing. “Anyway. We have some news for you. We wanted to tell you in person, but we weren’t sure when we were going to get a chance.”

“We’ve been trying to invite you over for dinner,” interrupts Ruth, and I grit my teeth, trying not to react.

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