“Some guy I went to school with. Nothing to worry about.”
“And he followed you to Calla Bay, where you’re visiting your sister?” I placed our plates on the table and pulled out my chair to sit. Aurora shrugged. “He doesn’t sound like someone not to worry about.”
“Did you tell him that I’m staying here?” She shoveled eggs into her mouth, trying to look casual, but the tightness around her eyes told a different story.
“No. I played it off like I didn’t know what he was talking about. But I think my hair gave us away. Still, I didn’t confirm anything.”
She let out a heavy breath, her shoulders sagging with relief. “Thanks. If you see him again, can you just keep telling him I’m not here?”
“Rory.” I pulled her attention to me. “Is this guy dangerous? What’s going on?”
“No. He’s harmless. He’s just not great at being rejected, and I don’t want to deal with it.”
I raised my brows, but that was all she was going to say on the matter. We finished eating our breakfast, the dinging of a text notification breaking the silence that had fallen.
Luke: Morning. Do you have any plans today?
Luke’s name on my phone brightened my mood instantly.
Me: No. I’m off today and tomorrow. A whole weekend free!
Luke: No Eddie this weekend?
Why did I read that with a jealous undertone? It wasn’t. He was just curious. Luke knew that I was seeing him and was probably surprised that a free weekend didn’t include plans with the guy I was dating. That was the problem with text messages; the tone was missed, and someone (me) could end up misreading the situation.
Me: We went out last night.
Luke: Where did he take you?
Me: Millie’s.
Me: Speaking of which, I saw something odd.
After the encounter with the smarmy guy at my front door, I almost forgot about my date and running into Captain Langston and Officer Monroe.
Luke: Come with me today. I want to walk the Karrigan scene again. I could use someone to talk things out with and you can tell me about what you saw.
The fluttering sensation in my chest came as no surprise. It happened every time Luke was around me. I immediately started picking out my outfit in my head before I shut down that runaway train. Luke was a married man. He was one of my best friends, but that was all. He didn’t care what I was wearing, especially to go walk through an old crime scene.
Me: Yeah, of course.
“Scarlett,” Aurora called. She had been saying something, but I completely missed it.
“What? Sorry.” I cringed.
“Things must be going good with Eddie if he’s making you grin like that,” she laughed. I didn’t bother correcting her. “Anyway, I was trying to ask if you’d give me a ride to my car. I got a ride home yesterday, so my car is still at the bar.”
“Look at you, making good choices,” I teased. “Yeah, I just have to get ready. I was heading out anyway.”
Aurora went off to get dressed while I busied myself at the kitchen sink, rinsing our breakfast plates.
Luke: I can pick you up in 30 if that works.
Me: Perfect!
“Be ready in thirty minutes. Luke is going to pick us up,” Icalled to Aurora.
She popped her head out of the bedroom door, her eyes wide and a scandalized grin on her face. “That was Luke on the phone. Not Eddie.”
