3. Rory
RORY
When my alarm rings, I roll over to turn it off, but my whole body screams in protest.
It all comes rushing back to me—falling in the pothole, having Vance witness my humiliation, getting evicted.
Ducking under the covers, I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping I can start this day over. It took me ages to find this apartment. It’s small, but it’s clean and it’s mine.
At least, it was.
Will I be able to find something I can afford in a month? Something near work? Because my car isn’t the most reliable, but I love my mom’s old Volkswagen Beetle, and I’m never replacing my sweet Bluebell. So I made a point to find a place close to the library to ensure I’d never be late.
My phone rings on my bedside table. My dad.
I slump back in bed and fling my arm over my face. The ringing stops and starts again.
Would he be this persistent if I was the one getting married and Taylor refused to attend?
The third time it starts ringing, I give in. Maybe it’s an emergency. “Hi, Dad. How are you?”
“I’d be better if you’d agree to come to your sister’s wedding.”
I blow my bangs out of my face. “She’s not my sister.”
“Stepsister. Whatever. It would mean a lot to me and her mom if you came.”
“So I can watch Taylor marry my ex? So I can put my stamp of approval on Hayden cheating on me with my sister?”
He lets out a sigh. “That was a long time ago. Can’t we forgive and forget?”
“What happened to taking my side? To supporting me? Remember when Mom died and you swore you’d always be my person?”
“Jesus, Aurora. I am your person. I’ll always support you.”
I bite my cheek. “This doesn’t feel like support.” It feels like manipulation. “Because you know what happens if I go? It tells everyone I forgive them, and I won’t ever do that.” Moreover, I’ll be humiliated all over again. People will smile to my face and whisper behind my back.
“Taylor’s grown up a lot in the last few years. If you ever came home, you’d see that.”
I’ll pass. “Is this all you wanted to talk about?” I reach for the glass of water on my bedside table.
“Rory, can you do it for me? Please? It would make Camille really happy.”
I seriously doubt that. My stepmother is not my biggest fan.
I suspect this is my father’s clumsy attempt at peacemaking.
The problem is Taylor somehow snookered my father into thinking she’s a good person, so it feels like she stole him too.
“I’m pretty busy this summer. I have activities scheduled for the library every weekend, and I don’t have anyone who could replace me.
” I don’t mention that we’re closed on Sunday.
“Just think about it, okay? I’ll pay for you to hire a sub.”
He has no idea how much he’s breaking my heart right now. “I have to go, Dad.”
When I get off the phone, I stare at the dark screen, wishing things were different.
Wishing that I still had my parents. That I still had people who backed me.
I love my father, and I know he loves me too, but Camille has him curled around her evil little finger.
I’m sure she’s in his ear, telling him I’m being childish or unreasonable.
Maybe I am, but they don’t get to write off my pain as if what Taylor and Hayden did was some little slip-up, like an overdrawn check that can be reimbursed.
After I make a cup of coffee, I sit in my kitchen nook by the window and watch the rain come down.
There’s something cruel about a storm when you’re already sad. It used to feel romantic—the smell of the earth, the way everything felt fresh and new once it was over, the rainbow that followed if you were patient enough. My mom used to say that’s what storms were for, clearing the air.
Now I know I need to look out for man-eating potholes.
By Monday morning, I’m feeling less mopey. Going to work always raises my spirits.
The library gives my love of books meaning. It’s financial security I built all by myself. I didn’t have to beg my dad for handouts. I didn’t have to rely on anyone but myself. The thought bolsters my spirits.
I’m unlocking the front door to the library, thinking about checking out my all-time favorite book—Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen—when I spot Baylee and her toddler. “Hi, guys! Did you want to check out that book about planes for Leo? I set it aside for you.”
“Thanks for remembering.” Baylee hoists her son higher in her arms.
I hold out my hand to her adorable toddler. “Hi, darling. Did you come for a book?”
“Buuuk.” He grins when I clap.
“Nice job, buddy. I have lots of those you can check out today.” Smiling, I wave them in. “Whoa.” I pause in the doorway. “Does it smell weird in here?”
Baylee sniffs the air and shrugs. “It always has a musty scent. Maybe it’s just really humid.”
I should get a dehumidifier and check the refrigerator to make sure it isn’t on the fritz again. It broke one weekend and the ice melted and leaked all over the floor in the staff break room.
As I flip on my computer, Baylee puts Leo down behind us in the children’s section. When she turns back to me, she tilts her head. “Are you doing okay? I know Saturday was rough.”
Now that I’m behind the comfort of the circulation desk, I can answer honestly. “I’m better now, thanks.” And also embarrassed I shared so much. I prefer to keep my life private. That way when I fall on my face, I don’t humiliate myself in front of the whole world.
“You were there when Sean dumped me when I was pregnant, and that was definitely a low moment for me. I know you don’t have family in town, but I want you to call me or Paige or Honey if you need anything.”
I still, not knowing what to say. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.” Drip.
“We’re all on the lookout for an apartment for you. I’d let you stay with me, but my sister and her kids are visiting soon.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Drip. Drip. What’s that sound?
The glass door opens, and Maverick and Jace stroll in. My stomach drops to the floor. I hope my friends didn’t tell that menace anything.
Mav tells me hi as he wraps his arms around his wife. They make such a cute couple.
As usual, Jace is on his phone. I manage to restrain an eye roll.
Baylee pats her husband’s chest. “Mav was wondering if a few of his football students could come here to study. They’re distracted at school, and their grades are suffering.”
Relief that I’m not the reason he and Jace came hits me hard, and I almost laugh. “Of course. I have plenty of room. I’m also happy to edit English papers.”
Mav grins. “Thanks, Rory. That would be great. I’ll try not to send you too many little hellions. But if you have any trouble, let me know so I can keep them in line.”
Jace finally puts down his phone. He’s standing on the far end of the circulation table, the open end to my side.
Leaning against the counter, he smiles as his shaggy hair hangs in his green eyes.
“Hey, Rory. Is Mav dumping too much shit on you? If he is, tell him. Just ’cause he’s a hotshot football coach doesn’t mean he can tell you what to do. ”
I’m so stunned he’s talking to me, all I can do is stare back at him.
He frowns. “You okay?”
I clear my throat. “I’m fine. Just shocked you’re speaking in my direction. Usually you ignore me.”
His frown deepens. “What?”
Now I roll my eyes. “Nothing.” I shift my attention to Maverick. “Here’s my card. Tell your kiddos they can call here if they need anything specific.”
If I’m not mistaken, his brows are a smidge higher than they were a minute ago. “Uh, thanks. This is perfect.”
But when he reaches out to take the card, something splats on my wrist. Which is followed by several more splats. Why is water dripping on me right now?
We all look up.
Just in time for a huge chunk of the ceiling to collapse.
One minute, I’m doing my best impression of The Scream. The next, someone tackles me to the ground.
All of the aches from Saturday’s tumble into a pothole come roaring back as pain radiates across my body.
What just happened?
Eyes clenched shut, I try not to cry out. All I know is something heavy is on top of me, and I’m once again lying in a puddle of water.
I open my eyes to find startling green eyes staring back at me.
“Holy shit. Are you okay?” Jace asks, an inch away from my face.
I shove him away. “Can’t… breathe.”
He scrambles off me and offers me his hand, but I can’t lift it yet. When I open my eyes again, I find Jace, Maverick, and Baylee hovering over me.
“Is anyone hurt?” I croak. “Is Leo okay?”
Baylee crouches closer. “He’s fine. I called the fire department. They’ll be here in a minute to check you out. Can you sit?”
They help me lean against the wall behind us.
From here I survey the damage. The circulation desk is covered in wet debris.
All of the children’s books I needed to re-stack are soaked.
And there’s a huge pile of rotten wood and sheetrock on the floor.
But the worst part is the giant hole in the ceiling where water pours down around us.
Jace disappears, but he returns a minute later with some paper towels, which he offers to me. “This was all I could find.”
“Thanks.” I dry my face.
“Damn, I think you cut yourself.” He motions to my knees where blood seeps through my flowy floral skirt.
I tug up the fabric and take stock of my scrapes. “This is from Saturday.” I lift up my arms to inspect the scratches on my elbows that are also bleeding. Wonderful.
“What happened on Saturday?” He crouches next to me with what seems like genuine concern on his face.
I turn away, needing space. I think I liked him more when he ignored me. “I tripped.”
The fire department rushes in and makes everyone move away from the gaping hole.
All of a sudden, there’s another Walker with a similar pair of green eyes in my space. It’s Beau, Honey’s fiancé. But he gives me a kind smile that immediately puts me at ease. “Hey, Rory. What’s going on here?”
I point to the hole above us. “Chicken Little was right. The sky is falling.”
He chuckles. “I liked that book when I was a kid.”
“It’s a good one.”
“Well, let’s get you out of the way in case any more of the ceiling decides to collapse. Can you stand?”
I nod. “I think I just had the wind knocked out of me.”
Beau’s brows knit together. “Did the ceiling actually land on you? Let’s check your head. Just want to make sure you didn’t knock it.”
“Something landed on me. Wasn’t the ceiling, though.”
Jace crouches down next to me again. “I landed on the little bird. Almost squished her. But I figured it was better than letting the floor above us crush her.”
Little bird?
He and Beau have some kind of silent communication that only siblings can have, but then Beau’s checking the back of my head.
“I cradled her head. Or at least, I think it was her head.” Jace holds his arms out like he’s trying to remember how it all happened.
I take stock of his words. He cradled my head?
I’m about to thank him when his phone buzzes, and he’s lost in the screen again.
Just as well.