“I’m not angry either,” I lied and grimaced.
Tornado left his head resting in place until some of the tension dissipated from between my shoulder blades.He prodded my chest again, and I distracted him with an apple before he could take this little therapy session any further.
By the time I’d checked on all three of my horses and got back to the house, it had gone quiet. No beatboxing, no giggling, no other questionable sounds.
At least until the next morning.
I left my room, on my way to meet Sinan, when a loud rumble in Esra’s room stopped me in my tracks. Something had fallen. I waited a second for a cry of help or anything; instead the door swung open, and Lucas was shoved out. He stumbled, not even fully balanced before the door banged shut again. I stayed just long enough to register that his clothes were a mess, but they were last night’s clothes. He blinked at me in confusion, clearly still half-asleep, and I shouldered past him and down the stairs.
None. Of. My. Business.
The dating pool in Wild Fields was small.
People had limited options.
Sleeping with Lucas was better than hooking up with random park guests. They were both single as far as I knew, so zero drama and zero bad publicity.
I’d gotten her home, just like I’d promised Sinan.
Her early-morning bedside manner could be improved upon, but again, none of my business.
I climbed into my truck and gripped the steering wheel, looking back at the house with narrowed eyes. None of my business, unless I’d fucked up. I’d left. They’d been drinking and I’d left. Lucas wasn’t a bad guy, but the Lucas I knew might not be the same Lucas a drunk girl got to see. The way she’d shoved him from her room– had that been regret or resentment? Fuck.
I mentally replayed the moment again and again as I drove through town. I’d been too focused on Lucas to even glance Esra’s way. He’d been too baffled, I decided. If something had happened, he wouldn’t have been that dumbfounded to be kicked out of her room.
Still, at the first red light, I pulled out my phone and texted Sanny.
Noah:Check on your sister. She seemed upset when I left.
Sinan:Did you steal her chocolate again?
For once I wished this was just about food disappearing from the kitchen.
Chapter Fourteen
KIT HOLLIDAY
SHERIFF OF BRAVETOWN
Kit Holliday is the heroic sheriff of our small town. He keeps the peace and protects the citizens from outlaws. If you keep an eye out for his white hat and shiny gold badge, you might spot him on his daily patrol.
ESRA
My head buzzed. Usually it pounded more like a marching band the morning after getting drunk, but today it buzzed like a vibrator on one of those Morse code settings. Ugh. I tried to pull my pillow over my face to muffle the sensation, but it was stuck.
“Shit, sorry, hold on,” someone said. “She’s right here.”
“Hmm? What?” I turned, only to find Lucas lying next to me. His eyes were half-closed but he slapped my phone up against my ear.
“Esra? Who is that man?” Mom shrieked.
Oh. My. God.
“Hold on,” I croaked into the phone as pure adrenaline surged through me. I hit the mute button and whirled on Lucas. “Why the fuck are you answering my phone?”
“Sorry. Thought it was mine. Reflex,” he mumbled, totally unfazed.
“Get out.” I pushed my hands into the mattress and shoved against his stupid long body with both feet. Lucas slid off the mattress, dropping to the floor like a sack of flour. “Get the fuck out. Where do you get off?”
