Chapter 23
The day crawls by, humid and sluggish, each second sticking to my skin. Will’s out again, doing laps in the beater while Ashley runs through her usual unhinged routine. JT’s working in the bar at one of the booths, headphones on, probably erasing someone’s identity for fun.
I’ve been staring at my phone in the back office, fully convinced it’s withholding information on purpose.
Then her name pops up.
[Legs]: Any updates on our favorite lunatic.
I lean back in my office chair, smirking before my fingers fly.
[Hex]: Bat Shit’s been busy. Still trailing your ex, desperate for a callback she’s never getting. Hits his dealership, waits in the gym parking lot for him to come out, then drives off like it’s all very casual.
She doesn’t respond, so I continue—
[Hex]: But she follows you too. Shop. School drop-off. Sits in her car just watching your life as if it’s her favorite tv series.
A pause. Then bubbles.
[Legs]: What does she do for work? How does she even have time for this full-time crazy gig?
I grin. Teed up.
[Hex]: Credit card fraud. Identity theft. Bank scams. Classic amateur hustle.
[Legs]: You’re kidding?
[Hex]: Nah. She’s been using three maxed-out cards tied to someone named Carol Wansley. Real Carol lives in Arizona. She’s got no idea her fake twin’s been buying gummy hair vitamins and monogrammed loungewear for the last six months.
[Legs]: Holy shit. So you’re saying I’m being stalked by a broke, delusional con artist with thinning hair?
[Hex]: The thinnest. Extensions are struggling.
[Legs]: Stop.
[Legs]: You’re gonna make me laugh out loud in front of a client.
The thought of her at work, trying to stifle a smile over my words, hits me in the feels.
[Legs]: You wanna stop by?
[Legs]: If you're around.
[Legs]: See the shop… officially?
I stare at the message, half-convinced it’ll vanish if I blink. I never thought I’d be invited into her space. Not the shop. Not the center of the world she built with her own two hands.
Yeah, I want to see it. I want to see her in it.
My hand tightens around the phone. I’m already standing, grabbing my keys like I’m sixteen and she just asked me to sneak out.
Fuck yes, I want to see her shop.
[Hex]: You sure? I don’t want to distract you while you’re doing important arts and crafts.
[Legs]: Don’t disrespect my profession, Alvarez.
[Hex]: I would never.
[Hex]: You know I’d love nothing more than to watch you work with your hands.
[Hex]: I’d let you paint every inch of my body if you wanted to.
[Legs]: I think you may have it bad.
I smirk, already moving toward the door.
[Hex]: If this is bad, baby… I hope I never feel good again.
She doesn’t respond right away, but I can picture her reading it. Probably biting her lip, trying not to smile too wide.
Sable is opening the door.
And I’m walking right through it.