Chapter Thirty-Two
Rick
Rick lost track of Kaylee when she went into the adults-only section. He only knew that there was an adults-only section because Colin had mentioned it to him. He’d spotted her going into a booth with a bunch of T-shirts and camped out nearby, trying to look casual, but she’d snuck past him.
“Are you looking for Kaylee?” Colin asked.
“What gave it away?”
“You’re rubbernecking so hard, I’m afraid your bones are going to snap.”
Rick didn’t usually blush, but his cheeks lit on fire at Colin’s observation. He wanted to tell her he was sorry, that he hadn’t meant to manipulate her. That he wished they could start over without any underlying trust issues.
Unfortunately, what’s done was done, and his only recourse was to convince her to forgive him.
“Yeah, well, she must’ve spotted me because she was in the book tent and now she’s gone.”
Colin nodded toward a roped-off area of tents. “They’re probably getting a few drinks.”
Rick stared at the cluster of half a dozen tents and turned, giving Colin a wicked grin. “Do you feel like getting a drink?”
Colin shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind having a beer.”
They headed that way, whipping out their IDs for the guard on duty before they passed into a roped-off area.
Several booths were lined up along the ropes, creating a perimeter that ended with a large canopy.
There were picnic tables underneath and an open area in front of the makeshift bars.
The stage was just to the right of the area, so people were dancing, drinking, and having a good time.
Rick spotted Kaylee and Josie tipping back something from small plastic glasses, and his gaze trailed hungrily over her, from the curled ponytail to the off-the-shoulder sweater, the tight jeans, and the knee-high boots.
She looked gorgeous, and he wondered whether the mark on the back of her neck was still there or if it had faded.
“I’m going to go say hi to Josie,” Colin said. Before Rick could protest, Colin was off, walking toward the two women, and Rick had no choice but to follow his new friend. He reached the women a few seconds behind, and Kaylee didn’t say a word, grating on his nerves.
“Hey, Kaylee.”
Her gaze flicked to his before she turned away, addressing the bearded guy serving liquor. “I’ll have three more shots.”
Colin protested, “I can’t do moonshine.”
“I’ll take it,” Rick said.
“Fine.” Kaylee handed him a shot and one to Josie, holding her glass aloft. “To dirty rotten liars who like to ruin lives and won’t go away even when they’re not wanted.”
Her words struck a nerve, and he wished they didn’t sting so much. To cover his upset, he clinked his plastic glass to hers.
“Well, that was a little on the nose,” Rick said before downing the shot. The burn didn’t even faze him since he had grown up drinking cheap shit in high school.
“Good, that was the point,” she said.
Rick took the cups from her and Josie, tossing them into the trash before trying to speak to her again. “Listen, Kaylee—”
Kaylee turned to Colin, shutting Rick out again. “How are you doing, Colin? How’s the store?”
“It’s good, but I expected you to come in to see for yourself. Did you have enough books this week?”
“No, but I saw him staking the place out, so I’m making do with what I’ve got.”
“I was just trying to see you so we could talk.” Rick took a step closer, crowding her so she would have to acknowledge him. “You know, that thing grown adults do when they have conflict?”
“Oh, so you want to call me immature?”
“If the glass slipper fits, princess.”
Her face turned molten, and he half expected steam to come shooting out of her ears. “Maybe I wasn’t clear when I told you to get out of my house, but I don’t wanna talk to you.”
“Fine, will you at least acknowledge me?”
Kaylee flipped him off.
“That’s something,” he muttered.
A disgusted garble escaped Kaylee, and she handed Josie a black bag. “I’m going to go find the bathroom. Please hold my gummy.”
Josie took it without question, and Kaylee shoulder-checked Rick as she passed.
He rubbed the injured area, glaring at her retreating back. “I guess she’s not in a forgiving mood.”
“Can you blame her?” Josie asked, her voice firm, but it didn’t sound as accusatory as Kaylee’s.
“You come into town and tell her that you’re here to bring her back to testify.
You wear her down until she agrees, and then you drop the bomb on her that no one actually asked you to come down here and do any of that. You did it on your own.”
“I didn’t tell anyone in case someone in the department leaked her whereabouts. We haven’t been able to find anything on the people that we’re looking for, and we’re pretty sure that is why the fed who was dating her friend got killed. Someone leaked his real identity.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Colin asked.
Rick realized that Josie and he had been talking freely in front of Colin, who had absolutely no idea about Kaylee and her past.
They stared at each other silently communicating, and finally Rick said, “I’m here because Kaylee witnessed a crime and the cops want her to testify.”
“But we can’t say anything,” Josie said.
“Got it. I need to be a vault. Go on. I’m not even here.” Colin walked a few steps away and picked up a bottle of something, acting as if they weren’t there.
Rick leaned in, speaking so low that Josie had to crane her head closer. “I wasn’t trying to blow up her life. I really came down here because we need her, and I wanted to protect her.”
“Then maybe you should explain that better because she thinks that you were so pissed about what happened two years ago, you came down here to get revenge on her.”
Colin spun their way, frowning with a bottle of moonshine in his hand. “Whoa, what happened two years ago, and why are you seeking revenge?”
Both Josie and Rick gave him a baleful look, and he cleared his throat. “Never mind, I’m not here. Again.”
When Colin went back to pretending to browse, Rick shook his head. “I would love to tell her that, but as you can see, she’s not exactly talking to me.”
“Maybe it’s about time to make her talk to you. When you got here, you were all for sleeping on her couch and not giving her a choice. I mean, not giving her a choice in talking to you. Not forcing her to sleep with you. Consent is sexy.”
Rick groaned, running a hand over his face. “What am I supposed to do? Throw her over my shoulder and drag her off somewhere? Tie her up and talk to her until she finally sees things my way?”
Josie had a strange look on her face. “Seriously, you need to walk away and go find her now because you’re literally just listing all my dark romance fantasies.”
“Freak!” Colin mumbled under his breath.
Rick nodded, ignoring Colin. “All right. I’m gonna go find her. If we’re not back in fifteen minutes, will you make sure Colin gets home safely?”
“Yeah,” Josie said, slapping Colin on the back. “Leave the bookworm to me.”