Page 93 of Trouble

Track 12

LOOK AT HER NOW

CHAPTER 39

Melina

“This is the tea society?”I whisper to Lake as we settle around the hair salon with Long Island iced teas in hand.

She grins. “Isn’t it great?”

Carmella, the older woman I met at the bakery, is wearing a muumuu that readsI’ll jingle your balls. She leans over, and in a loud whisper, asks, “Want to add a shot of limoncello to your Long Island? I find it’s not sweet enough.”

Her granddaughter-in-law Belle shakes her head. “Ignore her, or you’ll be carried out of here by the firefighters.”

Jules raises her hand, her eyes dancing. “Been there, done that.”

“Only that was intentional, darling,” Carmella croons. “Shawn would carry you everywhere if he could.”

The door opens with a jingle, and Lake squeals. “Ames!”

A whoosh of cold air hits us as Amelia and Charlotte appear. Both women greet us with hugs, then pull off their heavy winter coats.

“Oh, you’ve been invited to tea time. It’s like you’re a real Bristolian now,” Amelia says with a grin.

“I’m so confused,” I say, peering into my drink. “You all just hang out at the hair salon and drink Long Islands?”

Charlotte pours herself a glass from the pitcher by the register. “Justtea for me. But yeah, Lily”—she nods at two blond women chatting in the corner—“owns the salon. Her husband was the fire chief until he passed away a few years ago. We come here weekly for blowouts and to have a drink. It’s the perfect way to catch up.”

Throat going tight, I look back at the woman who can’t be much older than me. “He died?”

She nods. “He was older than her, but they hadn’t been married long. Their son was so young when they lost him.”

“Chief was the nicest guy,” Amelia says, her eyes glassy. “His daughter was twenty when he died, and Benji was just a baby. Breaks my heart, because he’s only a year older than my Paulie.” It’s still wild to me that Amelia and Nate have a little girl who is three.

With my heart in my throat, I ask, “How did he die?”

Lake grasps my hand and shakes her head.

Amelia presses her lips together, lowering her voice. “Fire.”

My stomach sours, and a cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.

The idea of Declan being in real danger never occurred to me. But he’s a firefighter. His job is dangerous by design.

“He and Declan were really close,” Charlotte adds, as if she can read my mind.

It’s yet another tidbit of information that paints a clearer picture of the man I’ve fallen for. He lost a friend, then had to step into the man’s shoes. I can only imagine how difficult that was for a man like Declan, who feels so deeply.

“So we get blowouts,” Belle explains. “It’s about the only way Lily will let us help.”

“And we get to have cocktails while we do it.” Carmella holds her glass up and winks.

“Honestly, it’s my favorite hour of the week,” Lake says with a sweet smile.

Scoffing, I eye her.

She covers her mouth and lets out a giggle. “Don’t tell Ford.”