Page 22 of Some Like It Fox

Is she mentioning a meaningless hookup because that’s what we were?

“That’s not really my style.”

“Hmm.” Her eyes flick in Eve’s direction again. “You might need to let her know that.”

“Are you jealous?” The question tumbles out before I can stop it.

She meets my gaze head-on, her brows furrowing. “I have no right to be.”

You could have the right.I swallow the words before they can expose me.

It would never work. I live in Whitby, she lives wherever the wind takes her. Jake and Finley have made enough comments about Taylor’s adventurous spirit and nomadic tendencies, the way she’s always on the move, always seeking the next party.

The song ends and she gives me a sad smile, slipping out of my arms. “Maybe I’ll see you.”

And before I can utter another word, she disappears into the crowd.

ChapterSeven

Four monthslater

Taylor

Finley answers after the first ring. “Taylor? Is everything okay?”

I sit down on the curb, stretching my legs out in front of me into the empty street. The light above me flickers and then clicks on. It’s nearly eight, the sun descending over the horizon, but there’s still enough light to read the sign on the corner,Pearl’s Garage Service & Repairs.

“I’m good. I’m really glad you got me that roadside assistance package with towing for my birthday. Did I thank you for that? Thank you for that.”

There’s a burst of chatter in the background, a chorus of high-pitched voices laughing and talking simultaneously. “What happened? Where are you?” Finley raises her voice over the noise.

“The bus broke down. I’m outside of Pearl’s shop.”

Pearl is the town mechanic. She can’t be a day under seventy, always dyes her hair bright pink, speaks at a decibel just below an ambulance siren, and has worn the same blue coveralls with the nametag of “Frank” since sometime in the last century.

“Oh, good. You’re nearby. We’ll come get you. Jake, can you make a run to Pearl’s? Taylor is there.”

Jake rumbles something, too far away for me to make out the words.

“Hang on a sec,” Finley says. “Let me get out of the mess hall. We’re keeping the kids occupied until the sun sets for the night activities. It’s like herding kittens who have been injected with caffeine and laughing gas.” A few seconds later, a door shuts and the noise cuts off and Finley exhales. “Sorry for the noise. It’s been a long day and we’re slammed over the next week. We have two groups, one with teens and another, larger group of middle schoolers.”

I pick at a stray thread on my overnight bag. “I’m sorry to cause any inconvenience.”

“Nonsense. You could never be inconvenient. I didn’t mean that as a complaint. We have more than enough staff to handle everything here. Honestly, I know you would rather be on the road, but I selfishly hope it takes Pearl more than a little time to fix your van because I miss you.”

Guilt squeezes me by the throat. “I miss you too. You might get your wish. I have a feeling I’m going to need a lot of funds to pay for these repairs. I’ll go see Veronica tomorrow.” Veronica owns a bar and grill outside of town. She was friends with Dad before he passed. We’ve known her our whole lives. She always lets me pick up shifts when I’m in town and need some extra cash.

“Sounds good. Jake is on his way. He’ll be there soon.”

“Thanks, Finley.”

“See you soon. Love you.”

We hang up and I slip my phone in my bag and gaze down Main Street, taking a deep breath of the mountain air, filling my lungs with the fresh scent of pine and dirt—plus the underlying notes of oil and rubber from the garage behind me. Still, a definite improvement from where I spent the past week, at a festival inhaling the odors of stale beer and urine, combined with a heady mixture of the great unwashed.

The last time I was here, Main Street was drenched in Christmas spirit. Now flower baskets overflowing with spring colors adorn each lamppost lining the street, sprinkling Whitby with little pops of purples, reds, and yellows.

Two blocks away, a couple spills out onto the sidewalk outside the Eager Beaver Diner, laughing and holding hands.

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