She flinched. She’d basically cut off all association with Kyle, which wasn’t right. They’d been friends for so long, had promised each other they’d be friends for life. “I can’t believe he confessed the truth. He definitely didn’t want anyone to find out. I think, after marrying Noelle and getting divorced so soon after, he’s embarrassed enough.”
He got up to pour himself a glass of orange juice. “What he went through wasn’t easy. I can see why he wouldn’t want to tell anyone about this latest...whatever. But that’s how worried he is about you,” he said, raising his voice to be heard from the kitchen. “He’s afraid you two doing the deed is at the root of the problem. He wanted us to know in case there’s something we could do to assure you that we won’t hate you because of it.”
“Oh, dear, I need to talk to him.”
“You need to talk to everyone,” Bax said, returning. “And, like I just mentioned, you’re going to have the chance to do that very soon.”
“Tomorrow.”
“That’s right.”
She took another sip of her water.
“Who’s coming?”
He took his place at the table. “Eve, Riley, Cheyenne, Dylan, me, Noah, Kyle. The whole gang. Except Gail, of course, because she’s in L.A. And Ted. He’s on a tight deadline.”
The mention of Ted reminded Callie of his comment about Scott from last week’s coffee date. “You didn’t mention Sophia.”
“She wasn’t on the call.”
“She didn’t say anything at coffee yesterday?”
The ice in his glass clinked as he took a sip. “She wasn’t there.”
“But she always comes.”
“Not if Skip’s in town.”
“He’s never in town on a Friday morning. If he comes home, it’s usually late.”
He shrugged. “Then I don’t know.”
She turned her glass, wiping the condensation. “I think it’s what Ted said last week, don’t you?”
“Could be. She’s been trying to be friends with us for so long. Maybe she’s given up.”
“How did Ted react to her absence?”
Baxter finished his juice. “It definitely seemed to bother him. He’s been acting like he hates having her crash the party every week, but his eyes went to the door every time someone opened it as if he was hoping to see her walk in. And he got sullen and quiet about halfway through when she didn’t show.”
“He shouldn’t have been such a jerk to her,” she said.
“It’s complicated with them, as you know.”
“Everything’s complicated right now.” She put her glass in the sink and dug her keys out of her purse. “What am I going to tell Levi when my friends come over and demand to know what’s wrong with me?”
He drummed his fingers on the table as though the answer was obvious.
“What?”
“At some point, you might consider the truth.”
But then Levi would not only leave, he’d hate her for lying to him. What if she could beat her disease instead? What if she could get a transplant and live?
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll consider that next time I want the man I love to walk out on me.”
* * *
Levi found a motorcycle helmet at a garage sale as he passed through town on his way home. He thought it might be a little big for Callie, but he was willing to risk the twenty-five dollars. It didn’t have to fit perfectly to protect her. At least he’d be able to take her for a ride.
After paying the ten-year-old who was collecting the money, he strapped the helmet on behind him and took off. But he didn’t get far. Before he reached the outskirts of town, he saw police lights flashing in the small mirror attached to his handlebars.
“Shit,” he muttered. What now? He hadn’t been speeding. There was too much traffic for that.
He pulled to the side of the road, put down the kickstand and waited for the officer to approach him.
“In a hurry?”
It was Chief Stacy. Levi removed his helmet and met the steely gaze of Whiskey Creek’s head of police. “Not particularly.” He motioned to the road. “Are you saying I was speeding despite these stop-and-go tourists puttering through town?”
Stacy seemed to realize that would be too unbelievable. “No. You might not be aware of it, but you ran a red light back there.”
Levi scowled at him. “I’m not aware of it because I didn’t do it.”
“Sorry. Saw you with my own eyes.”
“Must’ve been someone else, Chief. There’re only two stoplights in this town, and I’m well aware of both of them.”
“You can say what you want.” His lips curved into an arrogant smile. “But it’s your word against mine.”
When Levi swung his leg over his bike, Stacy’s hand hovered above the gun at his hip. “Just stay where you are.”
“Or what?” Levi said. “You’ll shoot me? For getting off my bike?”
“That’s no small temptation.”
“Why? What have I ever done to you?”
“If I remember right, I asked you to move on.”
“You mean you asked me to leave town.”
His hand remained poised to grab his sidearm. “Now you’re splitting hairs.”
“I guess I’m not overly susceptible to suggestions you have no business making. I haven’t done anything wrong, and I’m not leaving, not until I know Callie is safe.”
“You don’t have to worry about Callie. I can protect her.”
Levi felt like dropping Stacy right where he stood. He knew he could do it before Stacy could draw that damn gun. But he also knew he had enough problems. In the past, he’d been far more reckless than he was now, because back then he hadn’t cared if he lived or died. “The way you protected her from the fire?”
“That won’t happen again. Denny and Powell are gone.” He puffed out his chest. “Problem solved.”
Levi couldn’t believe it. “They’re what?”
“You heard me.”
But they’d been around just a few days ago. And they were supposed to be in Whiskey Creek for the entire summer. “Where did they go?”
“Let’s just say...they suddenly found it in their best interest to rent elsewhere.”
So that was it. “You mean you invited them to move on, too.”