Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Scout
I’m so exhausted I don’t know what to do with myself. I tossed and turned all night long, as I lay there watching the hours on the clock tick by, as if watching a countdown of my last moments of freedom.
I glance down at the time on my phone. If what my father said was true, then I have about eight hours until I have to crawl back home with my tail between my legs, accepting defeat—either that or he drags me back kicking and screaming.
Either way, it seems like I’ll be marrying Jimmy whether I like it or not.
You’d think I’d be more upset…shocked, even. But I had an entirely sleepless night to come to terms with my fate.
Trust me, I did try to think of a way out of this mess, but it’s no use. My father is a very powerful, well-connected man, and there’s no use in trying to go against him. It’d just hurt me more in the long run, and I think I’ve sufficiently pissed him off enough already.
That doesn’t mean I intend on going home early. I may have accepted my fate, but I don’t plan on telling him that until a moment before I have to. The least I can do is make him sweat while he waits.
It may not be much, but it’s my only card left to play, my last act of rebellion.
So, I’ve decided to make today as good as it can be. I’m giving myself one last hurrah. One final day of freedom where I don’t think about my problems, and I spend the whole day doing whatever feels fun.
So naturally, my first stop is Bookstore, which also happens to be conveniently attached to Coffee Shop and Bakery.
I pull open the heavy glass door and step inside. I instantly feel my stress dissipate as the rich scent of freshly ground coffee and warm cinnamon surrounds me.
Coffee Shop, Book Store, and Bakery are all owned by widowed women in their sixties, and since they all share a wall anyway, they decided to connect the businesses by adding a door inside. The three women are more like sisters than friends and work to help each other every chance they get.
Hazel spots me from behind the coffee counter and gives me an excited wave.
“I’m so glad you stopped by.” She finishes steaming the drink in her hand, then wipes the machine clean with her rag.
“I didn’t have a chance to catch up with you the other night at the town meeting before you left on the back of Luka Kingsley’s motorcycle…
” Her words trail off, and I know it’s an invitation to explain.
A moment passes, and then she adds, “Tell me, dear, is there something going on between you two? Is that why you’re back in town?”
Her question catches me off guard, but I’m quick to catch myself. The last thing I need is to seem uncomfortable. Looking guilty will only fuel the rumor mill.
“Now, Hazel, I don’t remember you being one for gossip,” I tease, giving her a knowing look as I turn the question back on her. If there’s anything Hazel hates, it’s being compared to Miss Scarlett. The two may be cordial in public, but there’s definitely more to their story.
She waves me off. “Oh, I was just repeating what everyone in town’s been saying.
I didn’t figure it was anything more than two old friends reconnecting.
” She gives my cheek a playful squeeze. “I figured as much. You’re a good girl and too smart to settle for someone like that…
especially given his criminal history.” She blows out a breath and shakes her head.
“I can’t imagine your daddy would ever allow something like that to happen. ”
Her words sear into my brain like a scalding hot fire poker as a wave of guilt rises in my chest. I think back to the concerns they expressed at the town meeting, how everyone treated him like he’d committed a far worse crime than spray-painting the side of a building.
That just goes to prove how powerful my father is. Not only did he successfully send him to prison, but obviously, his smear campaign worked even better than I realized.
I had no idea things were this bad for him… After all this time, why wouldn’t he try to defend himself? Surely it’s not to protect me.
“Watch out, hot pan coming through!” Lucy calls out as she backs through the swinging metal door, carrying a large metal pan full of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Her eyes light up when she sees me, and I give her a friendly wave.
“Fancy seeing you here. I almost didn’t recognize you the other night,” Lucy says as she uses tongs to move the pastries into the display window. “What brings you back to town? It wouldn’t be?—"
“Oh, stop interrogating the girl,” Hazel scolds, giving her a stern look. “You’re going to scare her off thinking everyone in town’s talking behind her back.”
Lucy’s brows furrow as if confused, but then she must read between the lines because she nods and presses her lips into a tight smile. “Never mind that. We’re just happy to see you again.”
“Is that Scout?” I hear Paige call out before popping around the corner carrying a tall stack of books.
“Thought you’d forgotten all about us.” She waddles toward the door, the heavy books nearly crushing her petite frame.
“You should see the romance section. It’s nearly taken over my whole store.
Sales have been so good, I’m considering pivoting to solely carrying romance.
” She grunts, adjusting the heavy pile of books in her arms, and I rush over to help her.
“Here, let me help you before you hurt yourself.”
She waves me off. “Oh, this is nothing. I’ve been working out hard in the gym.” She flexes a thin, fragile-looking bicep. “I can easily carry twice this much.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Paige. Just use the rolling cart like a sane person before you give yourself another bulging disk,” Lucy huffs, wiping her hands on a towel before chasing after her friend.
“Never a dull moment around here,” Hazel says, blowing out a sigh of exasperation as a wave of new customers begin filing in.
I take it as my moment to escape, politely waving before sneaking off to sift through the shelves of books in the next room over.
The vibes shift from the dimly lit, cozy Coffee Shop to a brighter, more upbeat energy as I make my way through the rows of bookshelves straight toward my favorite genre. The romance section.
I can’t help but smile as I drag my finger along the rows of brightly colored books.
Paige wasn’t kidding. She’s got quite the selection here.
All the books are separated into their respective sub-genres, ranging from cute contemporaries all the way to dark romance.
There’s even a special section dedicated to the most recent Phantom romance novel, which is where Paige and Lucy are currently standing, fighting over where to hang the banner.
I smile to myself as I flip through what I thought was a manga monster romance but quickly realize it is actually an erotic graphic novel.
A warm blush heats my cheeks, and my eyes nearly bulge out of my head at the detailed image of the monster gripping his massive tentacle-like dick as a woman kneels before him.
It’s vulgar and borderline disgusting, but for some reason, I find myself captivated as I stare at it. It’s one thing to read erotic romance…but seeing it feels like something else entirely.
I can’t help but feel in awe of the way the artist was able to bring the image to life, noting all the fine details in the monster’s expression that may go unnoticed by the untrained eye.
The way he looks down at her with such need and desire, it’s carnal and primal, like there’s nothing in the world he needs more than to have her.
It’s certainly not the type of love that was modeled for me growing up, and I’m not quite sure it even exists outside the realm of fiction.
I can’t help but wish the man I marry would look at me like that.
Maybe that’s my naivety talking, but that’s the kind of love I always dreamed of having—not with a monster per se—but to be the object of intense desire.
At least the universe got the monster part right…
Maybe I need to be more specific next time I make a wish.
Then, as if on cue, I nearly throw the book in the air when I hear a familiar voice talking on the phone.
“Yeah, thanks again, Judge Sinclair. Don’t worry, we’ll find her…
Trust me, she’s going to come home. No, that won’t be necessary, I’ll take it from here.
I’ll let you know when I find her… Okay then, goodbye. ”
My heart falls to my stomach, and I feel the blood draining from my face, hearing the sound of Jimmy’s voice. I can’t believe he’s here, and from the way it sounds, he’s looking for me.
I bite my cheek as I consider my options. Sure, I was planning on going home this evening, but I’ll be damned if I am going to be treated like some runaway child who needs to be brought to heel.
Did he talk to Hazel? How does he even know I’m here right now?
Heart pounding in my ears, my eyes scan the room, searching for an escape route. I won’t be able to go through the front entrance because I’ll have to cross in front of him, not to mention anyone else who may see me.
Since the three buildings are connected, my only other option is to go back through Coffee Shop, then I can use Hazel’s front door or make my way over to Bakery, which is probably the least busy during this time of day.
I breathe in a calming breath as I drop to my knees, leaning forward to peer around the bookshelf to see if he’s in view. I’ll need to be fast, but if I can get on the other side of the Phantom display, it’ll be easier to get away unnoticed.
Crawling forward, I shake out my hands, leaving my position behind the monster erotica graphic novels, and dive to the next aisle.
Relief floods me as I successfully cross the aisle going unnoticed, but it’s quickly replaced with panic when I hear Jimmy’s voice, even closer now. “Excuse me. I’m looking for Scout Sinclair. Have you seen her in here today?”
A moment passes when I finally hear Lucy’s voice. “Nope. I haven’t seen her.”