stared back at her, a deer in the headlights.
Because she knew Kayla would continue to worry, Bristol decided to get right to the point. “Why didn’t you tell us you got your degree?”
A hint of pink infused Kayla’s pale cheeks, made all the more noticeable by the black hair that hung down to her shoulders.
“It’s a … uh … recent development.” Kayla slowly lowered herself into the chair.
“I didn’t even know you were in school. And that makes me a horrible friend, I will admit.”
“It does not.” Kayla gave a weak laugh, her eyes lowering, focusing on her fidgeting hands in her lap. “I was taking classes online. It took longer than I wanted, but I got it done. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“It’s a huge deal,” she insisted. “We should’ve gone out to celebrate.”
Kayla shrugged one shoulder. Always modest, this one.
Although Renee had already told her, Bristol asked, “What’s your degree in?”
“Early childhood development. I’ve been working in a daycare in Round Rock for a while now.”
Bristol leaned forward, smiled. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve been thrilled to hire you.”
Kayla’s eyes lifted and there was the familiar wariness in them. “Because you’ve done enough to help me. Last thing I want is for you to think I’m a mooch.”
Inside those dark gray eyes, Bristol still saw a hint of the woman they’d met years ago, the one who had been abused by a longtime boyfriend. Four years younger than her and a Coyote Ridge transplant since the age of thirteen, Kayla had been brought into their informal girls club a few years ago when they’d all been having margarita night at Moonshiners. That night, Bianca had chased off Kayla’s heavy-handed boyfriend and they’d befriended the woman. Since her breakup with that jackass, Kayla had been breaking out of her shell bit by bit. Yes, she was still a little on the shy side, but she’d come a long way.
“Well, I know for a fact you’re not a mooch. And I wouldn’t be the one doing a favor here. You’d be doing me a huge one.”
Kayla’s eyebrows dipped down. “How so?”
“I am in desperate need of someone who can help me run this place. Not only a teacher,” she explained, “but someone who can assist with the other stuff, too.”
Bristol could see the hope glittering in those pretty gray eyes.
“With a degree, the pay’s a little better than a teacher,” she continued. “And I figure, as we progress, we’ll work out compensation according to your job duties.”
“You … want me to work here?”
“I do, Kayla. I really, really do.” She grinned. “Would you be open to that?”
Her friend’s smile formed slowly but it grew wider as her eyes sparkled. “I’d… Oh, God. That would be fantastic. My car’s about to crap out on me, but this is close enough for me to walk if I have to.” Kayla inhaled deeply. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. Just let me know when you can start and—”
“Two weeks,” Kayla blurted. “I just need to give my notice.”
“That’s perfect.” Bristol opened the bottom drawer in her desk, pulled out the required paperwork, and slid it over. “If you want, you can get started on this before then. I do have to run a background check, as you know.”
“Nothing to worry about on that front.”
Bristol grinned, feeling genuinely happy for the first time since she woke up that morning. “I look forward to having you here in two weeks. In the meantime, I’m going to see if I can find another teacher to replace the one I need to let go.”
She took a deep breath, released it.
Maybe her life wasn’t going into the crapper after all.
Two hours later, Bristol was recanting that thought.
At some point between last night’s debacle and the stress of today, she had completely forgotten that she’d promised to go to Moonshiners with Bianca. Her best friend had texted to remind her about the pre-auction celebration and made it very clear Bristol was not allowed to back out.
Now, as she was walking to her car, having closed up the daycare for the weekend, Bianca’s last text was rattling around in her head. Ever since she’d talked to Bianca a few hours ago and given a noncommittal answer, she’d been checking in to make sure Bristol wasn’t planning on holing up in her house and ignoring everyone.
It was exactly what she wanted to do.
Unfortunately, Bianca was relentless when she