My palm stung and I realized I was clenching my fist, digging my fingernails into my hand. Maybe I should have started a cat fight in the café.
But I had a feeling Bootleg Justice was coming for Misty Lynn. Somehow.
21
MAYA
We got to the lake and sat on top of an empty picnic table, our feet on the bench. A warm breeze blew across the water, making little ripples and eddies on the surface.
It reminded me of the last time I’d been at this beach, sitting with the girls. I’d been looking out over the water, just like this, with no idea my life was about to change forever.
I let Cash’s leash out all the way so he could run around with Billy Ray. Their playful snarls were adorable. The other girls weren’t here yet and the smells coming out of the takeout bags behind me made my mouth water.
“By the way,” Scarlett said, breaking the short silence, “have y’all been reading the book for June’s book club?”
“I bought it, but I haven’t started it yet,” Shelby said. “I have some catching up to do.”
“Okay, because it’s not what I expected when June said we all needed to read it. I mean, it’s Juney. And y’all, this book is something else.”
“Really? What’s it about?” Shelby asked.
“Well—”
“Maya,” Gibson called from somewhere behind me.
I turned and lifted my hand to wave, but he ran toward us like a storm thundering across the plains.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“No, I’m not fucking okay.” He stopped next to the picnic table, breathing hard. “I didn’t know where you were.”
“I’m fine—I’ve been with Shelby and Scarlett. I texted you.”
Billy Ray jumped up, putting his font paws on Gibson, while his tail wagged furiously. Gibson reached down to absently scratch his head, but his brow was deeply furrowed, his eyes intense. Cash caught up, his tail rivaling Billy Ray’s.
“We need to get home.”
“Now? Don’t you want to stay and enjoy some puppy love?”
“No,” he snapped.
Billy Ray jumped back, retreating behind Shelby.
I stared at Gibson. What the hell was his problem? “What’s wrong with you?”
“Wow, calm down, Gibs,” Scarlett said.
He ignored his sister, his eyes on me. “We’ll talk at home.”
His voice was strained, like he was trying to keep himself under control. But I wasn’t sensing anger simmering beneath the surface. Was that fear in his eyes?
“All right,” I said, jumping down from the table. I retracted Cash’s leash. “Thanks for hanging out.”
“Is everything okay?” Shelby asked.
I slipped my hand into Gibson’s and he squeezed back—hard. “Yeah. I’ll text you guys later.”
Shelby nodded, but eyed Gibson like she wasn’t sure what to think. Scarlett looked worried. I was, too. There was something wrong. He wasn’t just irritated that he’d had to look for me. He was upset about something.
We walked back to his truck in silence. Cash trotted next to him rather than trying to rush ahead, as if he could tell something wasn’t right. Gibson kept glancing over his shoulder, like he thought someone might be following.
Maybe someone was. Or had been. Had he seen someone? The Kendalls? Who else would have him so on edge?
Cash and I got into Gibson’s truck and I locked the door. He got in and did the same. My heart beat rapidly and a trickle of fear worked its way down my spine. I wanted to know what was going on, but I seemed to have lost the ability to speak.
He didn’t take the shortest route back. We detoured on side streets, taking a crisscrossing path until we finally left town and made our way up the winding road to his house. The truck bounced on the long gravel drive, the crunch of the rocks the only sound. The silence between us was disconcerting, but I couldn’t bring myself to break it.
We parked and went inside. A tired Cash went straight for the couch, curling up in the corner and putting his head on his paws. Gibson locked the door behind us, but I compulsively checked it several times before I felt like I could walk away. I checked the lock on the back door while Gibson closed the curtains.
“You’re freaking me out right now,” I said, finally. “What’s going on?”
“Some guy in town started asking me questions,” he said. “I think he was trying to find out why I’d been brought in by the sheriff before you came back.”
I could feel the color drain from my face. “What did he say?”