Page 13 of Butter My Biscuit

“You’d better tell me,” she warns.

“Was just thinking about what Sadie said yesterday when I stopped to get us doughnuts.”

Sadie is the bakery owner who used to babysit me as a kid. She always gives me a hard time about Grace. But then again, who doesn’t?

“Well?”

“It wasn’t nothin’ she hasn’t ever said before.”

She lets out a sigh. “You’re doing that thing where you kinda tell me what someone says, but not really.”

I walk past her. “Let’s get goin’.”

“No, no, no.” She walks toward me, her heels clicking on the floor, then playfully pokes her finger into my chest and presses me against the door. “You’re gonna tell me, mister.” Her face goes from semi-serious to a smirk. “Oh God, you’re wearing that cologne.”

I lift a brow. “I always wear it when I go out.”

“Seriously brought some weird memories.”

“Weird?” I make a face.

“I should’ve saidgoodmemories, but it was weird they came to mind.”

I lift my brows, and she takes a step back, removing the space between us. I wonder what she remembered. Our history is decades long, so no telling.

She narrows her eyes. “You’re distracting. What were we talking about?”

I shrug, and she follows me outside, holding her coat close to her body just in case the wind blows it open. We climb inside the truck, and I immediately turn on the heat. Dark, ominous clouds hang over us, and they meet my turmoil.

“Is it supposed to rain?” she asks, looking out the windshield.

I realize I didn’t check the radar this morning. “Kinda looks like it, doesn’t it?”

She pulls her attention away and navigates us to the destination.

On the way there, my body temperature rises, and I try to find the right words to say before I drop her off.

After one last turn, we arrive at a two-story home with a fountain in the front. The neighborhood is ridiculous with cobblestone driveways and bushes that are stories high.

I lean forward, staring at the double oak doors of this man’s mansion.

Then, she looks at me proudly. “This is it.”

I meet her eyes, finding it hard to let her go. “It is. Good luck. Make sure he wears protection.”

“Oh God, you sound like mymom.”

“If you need me, please call me. Okay? I don’t care where I am or what I’m doing.”

“You’re still going with the parent thing.”

I zero in on her. “I just want you to be careful. I know howsomemen are. I am one, okay?”

“Okay.” She nods, fidgeting with the hem of her coat. “Did you figure out what you’re gonna do tonight?”

“Not yet. It’s gonna be achoose my own adventure, fuck around and find outkinda night.”

“Same.” She licks her lips like she’s going to say something else, but doesn’t.

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