Page 8 of Never Fear (Whiskey Ridge)
I hummed my response, setting the dishes in the sink. I hated to admit that he’d partially succeeded in instilling fear in me, but I unfortunately understood why he did it. I was avoiding the issue at hand because I didn’t want to face the fact that someone had actually threatened me with a simple damn note.
Austin was right. I needed to start being more careful if I wanted to stay alive. He’d snuck up on me so easily, but the moment I’d realized it was him, the adrenaline coursing through my veins turned into something else entirely. I hated how I’d almost felt safe with him. Hated the other thoughts that had sprung to mind when he did it, too.
That was, until he fucking choked me.
But I hadn’t panicked because of his hand at my throat, withholding my air. I’d freaked because, in that moment, I realized how easy it would’ve been for anyone to take my life. Austin wouldn’t seriously hurt me. Iknewthat. But someone else would. Someone with a hit on my life.
Brynne leaned a hip against the metal prep table as I rinsed the ceramic plates. “Sounds like he’s taken some notes from Booker.”
“Must’ve been some shitty CliffsNotes, because it didn’t work.” I set the dishes in the dishwasher and shut it, then turned to find Brynne studying me with a cocked brow.
“What?”
“Really? It didn’t?” She looked like she didn’t believe me for a second.
“No,” I said, a tad too quickly. “What kind of man wears a mask, anyway? Halloween was weeks ago.”
She tilted her chin down, head angled sideways. “You know them.”
“No, I don’t.” I grabbed a rag from the table she leaned against, drying my hands. “And I don’t want to.”
“Really,” she deadpanned.
“Really,” I repeated, holding her stare.
She shrugged, pushing off the table. I followed her out to the diner.
“I don’t know, McKenna. You two have some sort of riff going on, and that only ends in?—”
“Stop talking,” I interrupted, striding past her to grab my phone from where I’d left it beside the register. “It’ll never be like that.”
“Mm-hmm.” Brynne moved back to her table to check in on her customers. The only other worker here aside from the cook was a fellow waitress, Tasha, who Brynne was closing with.
After checking the time on my phone, I met Brynne back behind the bar. “My time here is up.”
She groaned. “Do you have to leave?”
My fingers worked at the knot on my apron. “Yes, and thank fuck for that. My feet hurt.”
“Yeah, yeah. Complain all you want. I’ll just be here suffering for the next three hours,” Brynne whined.
I paused beside her on my way back to the kitchen and patted her shoulder, giving her my best sympathetic pout. “I’m so sorry you have to endure such torture.”
She scrunched her nose at me before I continued on my way. I stuffed my apron in the small locker and grabbed my car keys and jacket, slipping it on before heading out the back. I supposed I should start parking in front of the diner on the street, but I hated parallel parking. I’d probably rather die than have someone see me attempt it.
Keeping an eye on my surroundings for any sign of Austin, I crossed the lot and made it to my driver’s side door. I guessed he wasn’t showing his—masked—face tonight. Thank fuck, because I was not in the mood to deal with his stupid little antics.
As soon as I was behind the wheel, I locked the doors and turned on the engine to blast the heater. As I rubbed my hands together, my phone buzzed from where I’d set it in the cupholder. A text from Grace popped up when I glanced at my phone.
Grace: Can you come over?
I checked the time again. Six o’clock, and it was already pitch black outside. My cousin lived on the outskirts of Whiskey Ridge, which meant the roads would likely be icy thanks to the freezing temperatures and sticky dew in the air. But I had winter tires. Plus, she was family. Just like with Brynne, I’d always show up for her.
I just got off work. Give me thirty?
Grace: Yeah no rush
Now that the vehicle was mostly warmed up, I set my phone back in the cupholder and shifted into drive, heading out of the parking lot. I could go home, change into something more comfortable, and then head to Grace’s.
