Page 35 of Broken Pieces
Chapter Seventeen
Raelynn
Brooks was right. I did overreact with the clothes. But I blame the alcohol I had been drinking. I found an old bike in the garage and a dive bar within riding distance of the house. It was a completely shitty place with shitty drinks, but fortunately, they didn’t card me. It was even better when no one tried to hit on me either.
Brooks must have felt somewhat bad about the entire situation since I found my clothes in a box outside my door later last night. Although I wasn’t too happy this morning when I showered and found my body wash had been rinsed out. I used Brooks’ wash and I was enveloped in the fresh smell of him, like bergamot and neroli.
That was three hours ago and a few pies later and here I am sniffing my clothes every now and again to get a whiff. I can’t get Brooks out of my head and it’s driving me crazy. I should not be attracted to him. I mean he is hot as hell with that body carved from stone, but I can tell he is bad news. Between the whoring around and the probation, he is the last person I need to get involved with. Besides, I don’t even like him. Right?
I am pulling chocolate croissants out of the oven when Summer comes waddling into the kitchen. “Oh good you are here.”
I look up front my culinary perfection. “Where else would I be?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Swimming, taking a hike, sleeping, anything that would have you not by your phone.”
I turn around to look at the counter where I usually leave my phone and realize I must have left it in my room. “I forgot to bring it over.”
“Well, we have a problem. Ivy’s been tryin’ to get ahold of you.”
I look at her waiting for her to continue.
“Anna May quit the diner, so Ivy is way short-staffed since Harper is practically done working. That means no one can come pick up your bakery items.”
“Well can’t you just bring them there?”
She shakes her head. “Nope, I have a doctor’s appointment today.”
“Ugh, okay so I don’t know how I can help, you know I don’t have a car.”
She bites her lip and looks at the ground.
Great, this can’t be good. “What is it?”
She rubs her hands over her belly. “I may have asked Brooks if you could borrow his truck while he was working.”
“You really think he would let me borrow his truck? Are you feeling well?”
She moves her hands to her hips. “I was trying to resolve the situation. As you would expect he said no.”
I go back to putting the croissants in a box. “Well, then there will be no fresh pastries for the diner. Shit happens.”
“Well, actually—”
I snap my head up at her. “Well actually what?”
“I may have had Brett tell Brooks he needs to pick some stuff up from the store. The one near Chattanooga.”
I drop the croissant in my hand. “No way. Not happening, Summer. I am not getting in a truck with him to drive almost an hour to White Creek and then another hour to the damn farm store.”
“Well you see, Ivy might need help with waitressing today too.”
“Anything else to throw at me while you’re at it?”
She shakes her head. “No, that’s about it.”
My stare turns sour. “You have some nerve asking me to get into a truck with a man who you know I am not getting along with.”
“Maybe you can work things out on the drive,” she says.