Blitz (Blast Brothers #3) - Sabrina Stark Page 0,59
knew. Some of this, I didn't. All of it was of no interest compared to the other questions rolling around in my brain.
Who was Bryce?
What had he done?
And here was the real question. Why did I care?
As far as Bryce, I knew that he was her ex. But that told me almost nothing. Was their breakup a recent thing? Or was it something from a while back?
And what had he done to piss off her dad?
Here was another question. Why was Mina acting so different?
Yeah, she was the same girl I'd met all those weeks ago, but she was talking non-stop, as if her life depended on it.
Was she nervous? Or was she worried that if she left me an opening, I'd call bullshit on her broken promise to tell me what she was thinking?
I should call bullshit.
Normally, I would.
She had it coming.
She'd reneged on our deal.
I knew it. And from the look in her eyes, she knew it, too.
She was still talking up a storm when we headed for the big cinderblock building. Yesterday, Mina had gotten the keys from the committee so we could take a look inside. But when we reached the main door, it was already open – not just unlocked, but propped open a few inches with a rubber doorstop.
Mina paused to look. "Well, that's odd."
When she made a move to go inside, anyway, I said, "Hang on. Lemme go first."
She hesitated. "Why?"
"Just in case."
"In case what?"
I gave her a look. "In case whatever."
"Oh, come on," she laughed. "I'm sure it's fine."
"Me, too," I said. "But I'm still going first."
Finally, she moved aside, and I entered the building. The lights were already on, and I heard female voices coming from somewhere in the distance.
From behind me, Mina said, "Oh, someone's in the kitchen, that's all."
She moved beside me and pointed to the far end of the building, where a wide metallic shutter was pulled down low over a long white countertop.
She said, "The kitchen's over there, behind those shutters. Whoever's in there, they're probably just setting up for a wedding."
I could think of a million better places to be married, assuming I ever did such a crazy thing. "A wedding, huh?"
"Well, actually the reception," Mina said. "Probably, they'll be married in a church. But this is where they'll have dinner and dancing afterward." As she spoke, her tone grew wistful. "I just love big weddings, don't you?"
Nope. I didn't love any weddings – big or small. To me, marriage had always seemed a risky proposition – giving up too much to get too little.
When I answered with only a shrug, Mina added, "Oh, and they also have Bingo here on Tuesday nights."
As she said it, an attractive redhead, maybe in her fifties, appeared in the kitchen doorway. When she saw us, she frowned.
When I looked to Mina, she was frowning, too.
Judging from their expressions, neither one of them was happy to see the other.
Huh. What was that about?
Chapter 41
Mina
Damn it. Of all the people to run into, why on Earth did it have to be Ginger Hawthorne? I had never liked her.
And of course, the feeling was more than mutual.
If I hadn't known this already, the look on her face would've made it crystal clear. She was looking at me the way I'd looked at Uncle Joe's festering foot.
But then, she plastered on a bright smile and called out, "Oh, Mina. Hi!"
I knew that smile. It was the same frenemy smile she used on my mom. I snuck a quick glance at Chase before plastering on a smile of my own. "Oh, hi!" Under my breath, I added, "Funny seeing you here."
It was even funnier a moment later when Ginger asked if I wouldn't mind "popping into the kitchen for a little chat."
Crap.
I didn't want to. But I didn't see where I had much choice. Ginger wasn't above causing a giant scene to get what she wanted.
Ask any waitress in the tri-county area. They'll tell you.
I looked to Chase. "Would you excuse me for a moment? Maybe take a quick look around while I talk to Ginger?"
Chase looked from me to Ginger, who was still waiting in the kitchen doorway.
As he did, I tried to see Ginger through the eyes of a stranger. She looked very stylish in a silky black blouse, a short black skirt, little black ankle boots, and a colorful silk scarf draped over her slender shoulders. Her longish red hair looked salon fresh, and her makeup was perfect as always.