Cop-Off (Love Burns #2)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The sun was on its way down. Cat and Libby hadn’t moved from their deck chairs for at least an hour. That was one of the perks of having a boyfriend, she supposed—there was always someone to refill your drink.

Despite her mini breakdown earlier, it had been a good day. Jack was getting along with all the guys, and she’d even had a chance to spend some quality time getting to know Mrs McBride.

“Are you seeing that?” Libby nudged her elbow.

“What?” Cat scanned her surroundings.

Everyone was still in the same place as the last time she’d looked up. Cody and Zach were drinking beer around the barbecue where even more burgers were being grilled. Benny, Luke and Hunter were sat around in a bro circle, probably cracking jokes. And Rachel, Dylan and Jack were playing cards on the picnic bench.

“Hunter and Rachel. They’ve been exchanging looks all day. Do you think somethings going on?”

Something was definitely going on. “Yeah, I think they’re banging.”

Her friend’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? Since when? And why didn’t you tell me?”

Cat shrugged. “Well, I don’t know for sure, Lib. I’ve not caught them exchanging bodily fluids or anything. But Hunter came into the bakery a while back, and their whole exchange was just odd. Sly glances and all that. I figured they were just banging and didn’t wanna tell anyone.”

“Well, if they didn’t want anyone to know, Hunter really should stop looking at her like a man possessed. Seriously, look, he’s doing it again.”

Cat did as her friend asked and glanced over at Hunter. She couldn’t help but chuckle. He really did resemble a man possessed. It didn’t help that his default look was already broody. He had the whole tall, dark and mysterious thing going on, too. Although, he was only mysterious because he barely uttered a word.

“I think he’s just jealous of Jack.,” Cat surmised. “That happens a lot. It was only a few days ago your man was actually growling at him, remember?”

“Yeah,” Libby agreed and slumped back into her chair. “Probably. I can’t believe Rachel didn’t tell me, though. I hope she doesn’t think she can’t talk to me about things like that.” Suddenly Cat felt her friend jolt up in her seat again. “Oh God, am I a horrible friend? You know, one of those awful women who ditches their girlfriends whenever they land a man?”

Cat’s eyes rolled. “Jesus Christ, Lib. Chill, will you? You’re not a horrible friend. You’ve not ditched me or Rachel for Zach. And of course, she knows she can talk to you. Have you ever thought that they just want some privacy? You know, to work out what’s going on before broadcasting it to the world? I mean, it makes sense, you guys are all in the same friend group after all...and things like that can get messy quickly.”

“You and Cody didn’t seem to care about getting messy.” Libby giggled.

“Yeah well, what can I say, I don’t do subtle.”

“You can say that again.”

***

It was Jack’s last day, and he was causing quite a stir at Molly’s diner.

“Will you stop flirting with that poor girl,” Cat scolded.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sis.” Jack gave her his signature smirk.

He knew exactly what Cat was talking about. Since the moment they’d taken their seat in Daisy’s section, Jack hadn’t let up. Not only did the looks he was giving her border on perverted, but every time he turned on the charm, the poor, sweet, innocent girl went bright red and skurried off.

“This isn’t the city, Jack. You can’t just seduce unsuspecting women without consequences. Especially not women like Daisy. Also, have you forgotten that I have to live here? I’d rather not be known as the sister of the manwhore, thank you very much.”

“What do you mean ‘women like Daisy’?” Jack looked genuinely confused.

“That’s what you took from that statement?” Cat sighed into her coffee cup. “I mean, Daisy is a young, sweet, shy country girl who grew up on an actual farm. The last thing she needs is some douchecanoe city boy with commitment issues trying it on with her.”

Jack’s knife and fork clattered against his plate. “Uh, rude much, sis? I am not a douchecanoe , whatever that is. And since when do I have commitment issues?”

Who knew her brother could be offended by anything she said? “Oh yeah, when was your last relationship?”

“When was yours? Before Cody.”

There was no point answering that. Her brother knew exactly when her last relationship was and exactly who it was with. “Just leave Daisy alone.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” Cat went back to sipping the hot liquid and Jack went back to eating his pancakes.

She was touchier than usual today. And they both knew why. Jack was flying back tomorrow, and he still wanted her to join him. That wasn’t happening and she’d told him as much last night. While he promised he understood her reason why, he hadn’t been able to conceal his disappointment. And the last thing she wanted was to disappoint her brother.

Coffee finally finished, she leaned back into the red, cushioned booth, ignoring the squeak it made when she did. Looking around the diner, she internally smiled. This was her home now. This tiny town in the middle of nowhere with a town center that consisted only of antique shops, one bakery and a diner. Even the grocery store and the one and only bar were a drive away. And she loved it.

She once thought living somewhere so small would make her feel lonely. Isolated, even. But she couldn’t have been more wrong. If anything, it was the opposite. In the cities she’d lived in, everyone was faceless. But here, here you were part of something bigger. A community.

“Did you make that coffee Irish without offering me some?” Jack’s comment pulled her from her musings.

Cat’s head quickly flicked back to her brother. “What?”

“You’re looking around the room like some doughy-eyed drunk.”

“Charming.”

“So? Which is it? You got a flask tucked into your jean pocket or you care to share what that goofy smile was about?”

So goddamn nosy. “If you must know, I was thinking about how much I love it here.” Jack was frowning now but she carried on. “I feel at peace. For the first time in years, I feel like everything is going to be okay.”

Her brother’s hand snaked across the table, his big hand covering hers. “It will be, sis. It will be.”

Here’s hoping.

***

Cat was on a mission. Laundry. Shower. Then back to work. After Jack had left, she’d fallen back into her routine of spending every night at Cody’s. She’d even been working from there during the day. But today and tonight she was back at the apartment, and she was going to try and sort her life out.

The lease on the apartment was coming up for renewal and she had to make a decision. Did she want to sign a year lease or take Cody up on his offer and move in with him? She was well aware what a big step that was, and how early on in their relationship she was having to make that kind of decision. But for once she needed to trust herself. Trust her gut.

Laundry loaded, she stripped off her clothes and reacquainted herself with her very own shower and all the pretty-smelling products she didn’t get to use at Cody’s. But truth be told, she’d take morning showers with her man over a fruity exfoliator any day.

Once she’d scrubbed herself silly and was satisfied she’d used every lotion and potion she owned, she returned to her bedroom to throw on some clean clothes. Thankfully, she still had some. She forwent drying her hair though, and opted for letting it do its thing and dry naturally. She didn’t want to waste time when she had a brand-new romance in her inbox, begging to be read.

Soda poured, laptop open and her butt on the sofa, she got to work.

Damn, this is some steamy shit.

She knew there was a reason she loved this author. Only one chapter in and she was practically fanning herself.

Sadly, she was pulled out of fantasy land when her phone started ringing beside her, forcing her to pull her eyes away from the screen. As soon as she saw Jack’s name flash up, her stomach dropped. It had been three weeks since he’d returned back home and since then, his daily texts had stopped. She hadn’t received any updates on her dad or even so much as a missed call. She should have known it wouldn’t last.

Swiping to answer, she greeted him with a cautious, “Hello.”

“Hi, sis.” Her brother’s voice was cracked. She could tell right away something was up.

“What’s going on?”

“He’s gone. Dad’s gone.”

And just like that, her world collapsed.