Page 38 of An Unfinished Memory

“Nothing’s changed,” I said roughly. My trysts with my ex-wife were a secret. I didn’t care to hear about how my siblings would think me being back in Sutton’s lifewas a bad idea. They’d ask me if I hadn’t fucked up with her enough already, and I’d have to figure out why doing a job that was important to me was messed up.

He slid his gaze away and took a long drink. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and that was likely his goal. He set the mug down and smacked his lips. “Jodi Harbour is back in town.”

I followed the direction of his gaze to a woman with mahogany hair swirling around her face. Jodi was between my age and Eliot’s. Jodi and I had dated for a year in high school, we’d lost touch in college, and whenever she came home, she was easy to talk to, to slip back into that old familiarity with, but there’d been nothing but friendship between us.

As if she heard Eliot, she spotted us and waved. With a smile, she wove through the tables. Her legs were long in blue jeans, and she had on a camisole tank top. The bar’s AC was set on max, but I was sure some nice guy in this place would love to offer to help her get warm.

“Wilder, Eliot. I was hoping I saw someone I knew tonight.” She stood by the extra stool at our table, but didn’t sit, like she was waiting to be invited. Eliot’s gaze bored into me, but I ignored him.

“Hey, Jodi.” I didn’t offer her a seat.

“How’s it going, Jodi?” Eliot asked, ripping his perplexed look away from me.

The conversation with Sutton about Carla played through my mind. I had been determined to keep my dick out of anyone in Buffalo Gully, but I hadn’t encountered someone I thought I could have a real future with.

Jodi and I had history. We got along. She’d been divorced for years, from what I could recall. We’d beenfriends for years. Overall, she’d be a solid choice to seriously chase and move on with from my own divorce.

The burn in the back of my throat strengthened, and my stomach joined in, twisting and roiling.

“And I heard there might be a change in command?” Jodi asked, her smile warm. Was there an invite in her expression, or was I overthinking? “Dad said Sheriff Dahlen might finally be retiring?”

“We’ll see.” Others were making comments, and Ray’s exit was more of a sure thing, but I didn’t care to spend the night discussing my aspirations.

She tapped my wrist with her warm fingers. “I’m sure everyone’s looking forward to seeing you take the position.”

Eliot’s gaze followed her move, and he started smirking. I ignored him.

“I’m ready for it.” It was assumed I’d be appointed in his absence.

“Oh, I know you are,” she gushed. “I always get stories from Mom about you at the school. Let’s see, you do reading time with the kindergarten, then you’re on duty for most games, and you even swing by the track meets.”

I nodded, and she grinned, her eyes twinkling. Dimly, I was aware she was flirting. I also wasn’t sure what to do about it. Did I want to be flirted with?

“Yeah. I like kids.” I chugged my beer. Clarity was hard to swallow. I didn’t want to pursue Jodi, and her flirtatiousness sent panic streaming through my blood vessels. Feelings that didn’t bode well. Was I going to be lovesick, waiting for scraps from Sutton until she quit throwing them?

What was Sutton feeling?

Jodi and Eliot chatted. Eliot nudged me with his boot. “Did you hear? Jodi’s in Sidney now.”

“I can work remotely, and I needed to be closer to my parents.” She was positioned slightly closer to me than to my brother, and when she spoke to me, her proximity bordered on intimate. Stupid small tables.

“That’s nice.” I went to lift my mug but noticed it was empty. Damn. I limited myself to one drink when I went out so I wouldn’t tempt disaster—with people or cars.

Eliot scowled at me when Jodi glanced behind her. “Oh, Heather’s here. I haven’t seen her in years.” She gave me an unsure look. A tendril of guilt curled around my tongue at the confusion in her eyes. “Nice to talk to you. Maybe see you at one of the football games? Dad loves going to those.”

“Maybe,” I said, nailing down the bordering-on-rude vibe I was giving off.

When she was across the bar, Eliot kicked me, landing the toe of his boot just below my kneecap.

“Ow. Asshole,” I said, rubbing my leg.

“I’m not the asshole,” he hissed. “What was that about?”

“I like Jodi,” I whispered. “I’m not looking to fuck her.”

“Why not?”

I snapped my mouth shut. The answer would get me in a lot of trouble. He’d lecture me, then he’d tell my brothers, and they’d be in my business. Aggie might get upset with Sutton.

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