Page 78 of Show Me

“Yeah,” I say. “I know.”

But my gaze drifts past her anyway, toward the front door, the windows, the space between the desks. Running through it. Entry points. Sightlines. Timing. Nothing out of place. Nothing I can point to. Which is worse. Or maybe it’s nothing. At this point, we might all be jumping at shadows.

“Lock the back door when you’re done,” I say, already striding for the front.

“It’s always locked,” Dad calls after me.

I don’t answer. As I shove the front door open, cold air cuts through the heat of the shop, sharp and clean. Tools don’t disappear. And people don’t show up by accident.

I pull the door shut behind me with a snap.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Ruby

Callahan’s is loud with music humming, laughter spilling from tables, glass clinking against glass. Normal. Almost comforting. Almost.

Bella and Emily are already in the back booth when I slide in, heads bent together like they’re mid-plan. They both look up at the same time, relief obvious.

“Okay,” Bella says. “We’re not doing the ‘everything’s fine’ thing. Start talking.”

Emily watches me, calm and steady, which makes it worse.

“I’m fine.” A pause. Emily raises a brow. I sigh. “Mostly.”

“That’s not better.” Bella leans forward. “Spill it.”

So I tell them. Not every detail, just enough. Emily knows most of it anyway: the break-in, the box, the locks, the lights, the cameras coming tomorrow, Xavier staying. And me trying not to feel how exposed that all makes me. By the time I finish, their expressions have gone from concern to something sharper.

“You shouldn’t be alone.” Emily signals the waitress to our table.

“I wasn’t.” I’m not sure about tonight. After Xavier left the shop, I didn’t speak with him. But I’ll be fine. “And the house is secure.”

“You can stay with me,” Bella says. “Guest room’s empty.”

“And Jake’s working nights,” Emily interjects. “You’re welcome at my place.”

A small shake of my head. “No.”

Bella frowns. “Ruby-”

“I’m not staying with either of you.” I place my palms flat on the table and lower my voice. “I’m serious. You’ve both got your own lives, and I’m not interrupting that. I can’t turn this into someone else’s problem, and I can’t keep leaning on you when I already feel like enough is at stake.”

“That’s not what this is,” Emily says as the waitress takes our order, including a combination platter of fried food that makes my mouth water and a soda for me.

Once the waitress leaves, I reach across the table and grab their hands. “You’re both in new relationships with the men you’ve been in love with for years. I’m not becoming a third wheel, and I’m not asking you to carry this with me.”

Bella turns her hand over and squeezes mine. Her eyes widen with exaggerated horror. “You have drywall dust under your nails. We can’t have that.”

“That’s the least of my concerns.”

“It shouldn’t be.” Bella shakes her head. “We’ve got to get these cleaned and polished, and you’re not a burden.”

“You’re never a burden.” Emily’s eyes narrow. “You’re our best friend, and we love you.”

“I know.” And I do. That’s not the point. A breath in. Out. “I’m okay.”

Bella leans back, arms crossing. “And Xavier?”