‘not mad’ thing,” she announced, waving a yogurt cup at me. “I did something a little bit on the stupid side today, and you’re fine with it?”
I turned to face her. “Stupid is a little harsh, don’t you think?” I said mildly.
Her gaze traveled down my body, lingering on the interesting parts.
Not wanting to miss out on the conversation, Billy Ray trotted in behind her and sat down on the bath mat.
“I tried to track down a known con artist and then intimidated a really nice older lady because I had a hunch.”
“From the sounds of it, your hunch has some basis to it.” I ducked my head back under the water to rinse the shampoo.
She watched me for almost an entire minute, eyes narrowed and calculating. I twisted off the faucet and stepped out. In the bathroom the size of a postage stamp, we were almost touching.
I reached around her for a towel and heard her intake of breath.
“I know what you’re doing,” she said, spooning yogurt into her mouth, her expression a picture of suspicion.
“What am I doing besides drying off?”
“You’re proving to me that telling the truth to people I care about doesn’t necessarily have to have the consequences I fear.”
Smart, smart girl.
“Is that what I’m doing?” I asked innocently.
“Jonah!”
“Shelby!”
“I’d rather you be honest with me,” she said. Then she laughed. “Darn you, June Tucker,” she muttered.
“You’d rather I be honest?” I repeated.
“Yes!” It looked like Shelby’s answer surprised her, and that took the edge off my frustration. “I was honest with you. Now it’s your turn. Jonah, I took our puppy and our friend plus a pig on a road trip with the intention of interrogating two strangers. One of which was under investigation for fraud until she mysteriously ended up dead. Then I made a grandma cry after taking cookies from her under false pretenses.”
“At least you didn’t go alone,” I said mildly.
“Jonah Bodine!” She stomped her foot, and Billy Ray let out a joyful bark, certain it was a game.
“Shelby Thompson. What do you want me to say?”
“The truth. What are you thinking right now?”
“I’m thinking that I’m glad you grabbed a yogurt instead of some garbage candy for your snack. I’m thinking you look so pretty right now that it’s hard to concentrate on how much I want to yell at you.”
“Thank you! Go ahead and yell,” she shouted.
I obliged. “What in the hell were you thinking, Shelby? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you or June? That con artist could have been more than a fraud, and you know it. She could have been dangerous. It was irresponsible, and you should have told me. You could have talked me into going with you. You know I would have.”
“You would have tried to talk me out of it and then complained the whole time about what a dumb idea it was!”
“That’s exactly what I would have done!” I agreed at full volume.
“I really like you! Your opinion matters to me. I didn’t want you disappointed that I couldn’t just let this go or hand it off. It was a sealed record, but someone with the right authority had to have looked at it and disregarded it. I felt that there was something there, and I wanted to find out!”
“I understand that!” I yelled back. “And I like you, too. A lot. That’s why it matters to me when you do something rash without clueing me in! I’m here because I care about you. So don’t do more stupid shit without at least talking me into supporting you first, got it?”
“Fine! This is the healthiest fight I’ve ever had in my entire adulthood,” she admitted, lowering her voice almost to normal conversational level.
“This is adulthood. Kinda makes you wonder how your family would react if you finally told them about your health, doesn’t it?” I shot back.
“Stop distracting me with your dancing pectorals and put some clothes on,” Shelby insisted. She turned for the door. Billy Ray looked forlorn like he couldn’t decide which parent to stay with. She paused. “And I’m going to tell them. After my triathlon.”
“Aren’t they going home before then?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“A phone call works just as well as face-to-face.” She sniffed.
“Does it?” I made my pecs dance. Shelby’s gaze was drawn hypnotically to my chest.
She shook her head and turned her back on me. “Please put some clothes on and come with me to the sheriff’s office.”