Page 70 of One Spicy Summer

“What do you mean?”

“I think whoever she hangs with... hits her.” He said it low, like it hurt to even say the words. “She’s been coming here since I opened. And with every passing day, it’s like... her light dims a little more.”

“Who the fuck is she hanging around with?”

Roman shrugs. “She’s always alone.”

“Do you know where I can find her?”

“Sorry, man. I don’t.”

“Fuck!” The urge to smash something floods my body, violent and hot.

Roman eyes me carefully. “Why do you wanna know? Who is she to you?”

“An old friend.” I walk toward the counter. “You got a pen and paper?”

He slaps them down in front of me. “Here.”

I scribble my number down. “If she comes back, call me.”

Roman studies the paper like he isn’t sure he should. “You’re not planning to hurt her, are you?”

I scoff. “Come on, Roman. I’ve been coming here long enough. You know better.”

“Maybe,” he says, squinting at me. “You look like the type to put a man in the ground for crossing you.”

I laugh, dark and humorless. “You’re not wrong. So don’t ever cross me.” Roman's mouth drops open, but I was already heading for the door.

Where the hell are you, Presley?

Hours later, I was almost done with the first draft of Chuck’s new store.

Pulling up the AutoCAD program on my MacBook, I work methodically, but my mind keeps drifting.

Chuck’s store would be a hit, sitting just off the interstate, pulling in travelers from the small town thirty miles north. In Texas, if something wasn’t broken yet, it soon would be. And we damn sure loved to fix it. I snap a few shots of the design with my Kodak, scan them onto my laptop, and just as I was about to hit ‘send’ on the email to Chuck, my phone rings.

Unknown number.

Snatching it up, I answer. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Roman from Every Tang Korean. Baby Bird’s here.” Adrenaline spikes through my veins.

“Don’t let her leave. I’m on my way.”

I hit the intercom button. “Julie, I’m stepping out. Order lunch for both of us.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thanks, Jules. Be on the lookout for a call from Chuck, too.” Keys in hand, I run downstairs, jump into my truck, and tear ass down the streets.Screw the speed limit. Just a suggestion anyway, right?

I get to the store in record time, practically throwing the car into park before I storm toward the door.

But the second I open it, I freeze.

Fear.Excitement.Dread.It all hits me at once, rooting me to the spot.

Get your shit together.

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