Chapter 19

CHAPTERNINETEEN

It had taken some convincing after my meltdown to get Davis to drop me off at Smutties on his way to work, or to get him to go to work at all. While I was in the shower, which regrettably he hadn’t joined me for, he’d called Wilson to tell him about my brother’s visit. He’d also told him he was taking the day off. He was still on the phone with Letty explaining how we were both still jet-lagged and taking the day to lounge around and he’d drop me by the bookstore the next day.

He’d hung up, poured me a mug of coffee, and looked completely unrepentant about lying to Letty and changing my plans without asking.

After that I’d had my second meltdown, this one thankfully not as embarrassing nor emotionally charged so maybe I’d just ranted. Through this Davis listened, argued his position which was that he wanted me to rest and relax and get used to my new house. I ranted more, explaining that I wasn’t going to bail on Letty the first time she’d invited me to her bookstore. He argued she understood. I explained how I didn’t renege on my promises, and while I didn’t make a pinky-promise, I’d still given my word so I was going and I’d walk if I had to.

Davis gave in. With a harassed sigh, he left me to my coffee while he got dressed to leave.

Now I was standing in Smutties gawking at the twenty boxes of books that had been delivered that morning.

I wanted to tear into those boxes and see the beauty that hid inside.

A very pregnant Letty bent and looked as if she was getting ready to pick up a box that had a red sticker on the side that clearly stated it was HEAVY.

“What are you doing?” I snapped.

“Oh, God, not you, too.”

“Not me, too, what?”

She straightened and held up the box cutter I hadn’t seen.

“I can still open boxes. I’m fat, not—”

“You’re not fat.”

Letty sighed and shook her head.

“I’m totally fucking this up. I’m the fun one. I’m the crazy one. I’m supposed to be welcoming you to the sisterhood and here I am being a total grouch.”

What was it with these people and their honesty?

Seriously, didn’t they try to keep anything close to the chest?

“You’re not being grouchy. I overstepped.”

She stared at me, this time studying me until I wanted to squirm.

“You didn’t overstep, Jane. You thought I was going to pick up the box. I’m being extra grouchy today because I have a thousand things I have to get done and I’m too tired to do them. River’s riding my ass to slow down and I don’t mean that as bitchy as it sounds. My husband loves me and worries, but still, I have a business I have to run but I can’t do that huffing and puffing every five steps because I’m growing Bigfoot in here.” She placed her hands on her belly and gently, reverently, rubbed up and down.

“This morning my brother showed up at Davis’s house and it got ugly. He called me some bad names, Davis didn’t like that too much, and told him if he even looked at me funny he’d put him down. After that I kinda had a nervous breakdown, told Davis he was too perfect, and to kick a cat.”

“Kick a cat?” she breathed.

“Right? Totally psycho. Poor Davis. But it ended okay. I think he told me he loved me—”

“You think?”

I glanced around the kickass bookstore to make sure the three women who’d come in to browse were far enough away they couldn’t hear.

“I told him I was raised by club whores and Satan. That’s my father’s club name and it totally fits. Anyway, I told him that no one has ever loved me and he said, now someone does. So, I think that was him telling me he loved me. Or I could just be going crazy, which at this point is totally possible.” I paused for a breath and finished with, “Oh, and my father basically sold me for fifty thousand dollars, which Davis paid.”

Letty’s head jerked to the side making her long, black ponytail whip her in the face.

She was completely unfazed by the hair whip.

“He sold you for fifty thousand?”

“Yup.”

“What a dick.”

“You got that right. So, you’re stressed and pregnant and not at the top of your game.” I shrugged. “I’m in the middle of a mental break and fake married. I think we should be BFFs.”

Letty smiled wide before she busted out laughing.

“Sorry, Jane, Brooklyn’s got the top BFF spot.”

“Bummer.”

And I meant that. Letty seemed cool.

“But a girl can never have too many sisters.”

I wouldn’t know. I’d never had a best friend or sisters.

“Right,” I murmured and glanced down at the box.

“Jane?”

“Huh?”

“Babe, look at me, yeah?”

God, why was I so awkward?

I locked eyes with Letty. Nothing but warmth and understanding shone.

“I mean that.”

Before I could make more of an ass out of myself the door chime rang. I glanced over my shoulder to see Mia walking in.

I’d met her last night and her fiancé Cole. The woman was very pretty but there was a confidence about her that made her stand out. She’d also been overly apologetic about lying to me about Wilson. It wasn’t her fault I’d run. I could’ve told the truth when she’d asked if I was in danger. It was water under the bridge as far as I was concerned but when her eyes came to me they were guarded. So maybe it wasn’t or maybe she was having second thoughts about welcoming me into the group.

“How grouchy are you today?” she asked as she approached.

Letty flipped her off.

“That grouchy.”

“Awesome,” she said then looked over at me. “Hey, new friend, want to go get a cup of coffee with me?”

Wait.

Was she talking to me?

Was I the new friend?

Were we friends?

“Don’t freak her out. She’s had a bad morning. Her dickwad brother showed up, got Davis all riled up, he told her he loved her but didn’t say the words outright but he so totally loves his fake wife and she found out her dad sold her for fifty grand.”

“Whoa. That’s not a bad morning, that’s a dumpster fire. All the more reason to get coffee.”

Just to say, Letty’s warning about not freaking me out was belated; therefore, it was too late. I was freaking out.

It only got worse when Letty slammed her hands on her hips and very irately griped, “Why are you trying to steal Jane for coffee?”

“I’m not trying to steal her.”

“Liar,” Letty straight out accused. “You’re stealing her.”

“Fine. I am. You have Brook. Sadie and Sloane are thick as thieves. I get Jane. I’m new, she’s new, and I want her.”

What? Mia was new? What did that mean? Last night all the women were super close. I’d have bet they’d all been friends since childhood.

For the second time that day I found my head bopping back and forth watching a verbal tennis match.

With one last glance between the two of them I butted in, “I’m in serious need of coffee. I will love you forever if you bring me a large black but I think we should stay here and help Letty unpack these boxes.”

Mia gave Letty a triumphant smile.

“Sure thing. I’ll be back. Letty, tall decaf, extra caramel or is it a vanilla week?”

“Hazelnut,” she hmphed. “And if Sadie has any cinnamon rolls left I’ll take two of those.”

Mia was completely unperturbed by Letty’s snappy answer. She smiled and turned to leave.

“Wait, I need to give you money,” I called out to Mia.

“My treat. You can grab the next one.”

I was ridiculously happy at the thought of there being a next time.

I turned back to Letty and asked, “Where should I start?”

“You don’t have to unpack books. We can sit and chat. I promise as soon as I get a cinnamon roll in me I’ll be fine.”

“Letty, I’m unemployed now. You have me all day or until Davis gets done with work and comes back to pick me up. Put me to work.”

Letty’s head tipped to the side and she smiled.

“Unemployed?”

“Well, yeah, I quit my job to go on the run.”

“You’re hired.”

“Hired?”

“Yup. You start today. Mrs. Simpson works half days, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. But she can’t be here alone. I have another part-timer, Laurie. She’s super cool and only works when her kids are in preschool. She’s in Tuesdays and Thursdays. And I just hired Patty—she’s in on the weekends only. We’re only eight to six except on the weekends and we stay open from eight to eight, but like I said, Patty has that covered. So your hours would be eight to six Monday through Friday, cool?”

Cool?

Letty was offering me a job.

All she knew about me was my brother was the president of an MC, a criminal, and someone her police officer husband was trying to take down, and I was fake married to a friend of hers.

That was it.

Oh, and she knew I went to elementary school with Sadie.

“Yeah, cool.”

The chime went off and Mia came back holding a tray of coffees and a white paper bag.

“That was quick,” I noted.

“Sadie knows better than to keep a-ready-to-pop Letty waiting. What’d I miss?”

“Jane’s working at Smutties. Today’s her first day,” Letty happily chirped.

Mia looked from Letty to me then back to Letty and when she did her eyes got squinty.

“I knew I should’ve taken her with me.”

I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening but I knew it felt good.

It felt real.

It felt almost as beautiful as waking up next to Davis.

Almost…