Page 99 of Almost Enough

Me:

Left keys with Jake. He’ll be there until 7. Can’t tonight. Rain check?

Three dots appear, disappear, then appear again.

Whitley:

Everything okay?

No. Not even close.

Me:

Yeah. Just something I need to take care of.

It’s vague. She’ll see right through it. But she doesn’t push.

Whitley:

Okay. Let me know if you need anything. Seriously.

Fuck. I want to say you. I need you. I want to drive straight to her place and forget the call and lose myself in her laugh.

But wanting something doesn’t mean you get to have it. And I feel guilty for even thinking it.

Me:

I will.

I hit send and tuck my phone away. Whitley trusts me. Probably more than she should.

I’m already lying to her by omission, but I’ve seen what happens when your problems start bleeding into someone else’s peace. I’ve been on the receiving end, and I won’t let her be the collateral damage.

twenty-nine

. . .

Whitley

Ihop out of Violet’s car, already scanning for Beau’s truck even though I know it won’t be here.

Jake is, though. He wipes his hands on a rag as I approach, his usual easygoing grin in place. “Whitley! Got you all fixed up.”

“Thanks, Jake.” I glance back at the bay. “Beau headed out, right?”

“Took off about an hour ago. Seemed like he had somewhere to be.”

Somewhere to be. Not someone to see. Right?

“Everything okay?” I ask, trying to sound casual. I fail.

He hesitates just a beat. “Yeah, I think so.”

That tells me exactly nothing.

I shift awkwardly and pull out my wallet. “What do I owe?”

He waves it off. “Nothing.”