WILD, A spicy, friend's to lovers, age gap, small town romance by Skye Jordan

Author:Skye Jordan [Jordan, Skye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cygnet Books, Inc
Published: 2024-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

16

Avery felt like shit all day. Not only did her guilt and shame grow over the hours following the incident with JT, but Trace’s I’ve-had-it-with-you dismissal had cut Avery deep.

She sat on a stool at the café’s bar, scrolling through menu examples online, with residual hurt throbbing inside her like a physical wound.

She’d finished all her daily baking, painted until her arms felt like they’d fall off, sorted through employment applications for waitstaff and kitchen staff, and was now trying to find a few menus she liked to run past Delaney for her opinion.

Trace hadn’t come in for lunch like he usually did. In fact, he hadn’t come in at all. He and JT stayed outside from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., when Trace opened the door to poke his head in and tell her, “The rest of the shingles are in. I’m taking JT to Santa Rosa to pick them up instead of waiting for them to be delivered. We won’t be back for a few hours.”

He hadn’t waited for her response before closing the door and walking away.

Avery exhaled and dropped her chin in her hand. Disappointment tugged at her chest. They were either hot or cold now. All that fun, comfortable middle ground they’d shared before the sex had vanished. Now she felt like she’d lost a friend, a lover, and something more. Something indescribable and intangible. Something she hadn’t realized filled her heart until it was gone.

Avery chose three different menu finalists and e-mailed them to Delaney.

Her cell rang, and Avery pulled it from her back pocket, checking the time before she answered. Already 7:00 p.m.

She didn’t recognize the number but rubbed her eyes and answered, “Hello.”

“I’m lookin’ for my boys.” An older man’s voice rumbled over the phone, clearly angry. “Did Zane drag Trace by the bar again? You know if you serve those boys, you’re serving minors. You can go to jail for that. Get one of those boys on the phone.”

Avery’s mouth dropped open. Her mind slipped gears. “Mr. Hutton? This is Avery Hart. Do you remember me? I make those apple turnovers you like.” When she got silence, she went on. “Trace went into Santa Rosa to pick up some roof shingles. I haven’t seen Zane, but I think he’s working.”

“What the hell are you talkin’ about, girl? If you’re in cahoots with those boys, you can bet I’ll be telling your parents all about it. I’m having a hard enough time keeping Zane out of trouble as it is, even with his brother running shotgun. Now send them home.”

He yelled the last and hung up with a click so loud, Avery jerked her phone away from her ear. That was an awesome benefit to old-style phones. You could still really hang up on someone.

Avery toggled her pencil between her fingers, wondering whether she should tell someone about the call. Pearl had told Avery the music therapy had improved George’s disposition, but if that was true, she couldn’t imagine what he’d been like before.

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