Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
The scent of sugar hits me in the face when I open the door to the bakery. My stomach grumbles, reminding me that I haven't bothered to eat anything since the casserole Riley brought to my house yesterday morning.
"Hey," Adalynn says. "Picking up for yourself or the whole crew?"
"The crew," I tell her with a quick smile. "Have you seen Riley?"
She tilts her head to the side, but I see the smile she's trying to hide.
"Does she know you're looking for her?"
It's my turn to tilt my head. "What has she told you?"
"Any preference for flavors?" she asks, avoiding my question, but it makes it very clear that at some point Riley has mentioned me to her.
"Just a mix is fine," I tell her, quickly realizing it's some sort of girl code or something, and she isn't going to tell me a damn thing that might break her confidence with Riley.
I'd commend her for her loyalty, but right now, it just gets on my nerves.
"If you see her, will you tell her I asked about her?" I say as I pull my wallet out of my back pocket.
"Will do."
"Keep the change," I say as I hand over a twenty-dollar bill, hoping it'll help persuade her to reach out to my girl and tell her I need to speak with her.
The donuts are forgotten the second I sit them on the passenger seat. There's only one thing I'm worried about today.
The tension in my body eases when I take a side street off Main and another right. Riley's car is parked in Sage's driveway.
Instead of climbing out of my truck and banging on the door, insisting that she speak with me, I pull out my phone and call Ronnie.
"How did you know I was about to call you?" the man asks instead of saying hello when the call connects.
"What's wrong?"
We aren't the type of friends to call each other on the drive to work. We spend nearly ten hours a day with each other, and whatever we need to say can be done during that time.
"We had some shit go down last night," he mutters. "We're just running a little late. No big deal."
"Need the day off?"
It's a consolation offer because I don't know that I'm going to get much work done today myself.
"Naw. We'll just be like half an hour late."
"I'd say go ahead and head over to the Drocer house then. We got the things we needed to wrap that job up."
"Umm."
"Ronnie," I chastise, knowing from his tone that whatever happened last night probably has to do with the daughter that has moved in there.
"We might need the day off then. Is that a job that Ethan and the other guys can handle wrapping up?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose in annoyance. "If need be."
"Then I think that might be best."
"Fine," I grumble.
It wouldn't be the first time the twins' antics kept them from being welcome at certain places in town, and as easily as I could get mad at them both about their downtime interfering with their ability to work, that's the last damn thing on my mind right now.
"I need something from you."
"Anything, boss."
"I need you to get me Sage Douglas's number."
"No," he says, his response quick and easy.
"What do you mean no?" I hiss, annoyance lacing my voice.
"I think you have a great thing going with Riley, and I just might kick your ass if you even think about hurting her. Better yet. Let me call Adalynn to get that number. If you're not going to pursue anything with Riley, then I think Donnie and I—"
"Finish that sentence, and you'll need to find a new job."
Silence fills the line.
"Her number," I say after a long beat.
"Give me a few minutes," he says, and the line goes dead.
If waking up in her bed without her coming home is creepy, then I've crossed over into something even worse, sitting in my truck down the block from Sage's house and staring at her car.
It takes ten minutes before my phone chimes with a text, but to Ronnie's credit, he managed to get Sage's number.
Without hesitation, I type it in and save it to my contacts before calling.
"Hello," she says, picking up after the fourth ring.
I can tell by the scratch in her voice that I woke her up. Any other day, I'd feel bad about it, but today, I just need confirmation that Riley is okay.
"Just tell me she's safe," I say rather than explaining who I am like a normal person might do.
"Mac?"
"Who else would it be, Sage?" I ask, instantly regretting the tone of my voice.
She's silent, and I use the opportunity to apologize.
"Sorry," I mutter, fully meaning it. "I'm worried about her."
"She's safe. Well, as safe as she can be on my awful couch. She may need traction when she wakes up."