Page 19 of Everything After

“Happy won’t feel wrong forever,” he says, patting my thigh.

When we get to the shop, Ace opens my door before I can. “Good morning, m’lady,” he says with a dramatic bow.

“Silly man,” I laugh as I get out of the truck. He winks at me as Beckett comes around. “Mrs. Juno dropped her car off. It’s smoking again, apparently.”

“I wish she would just get a new car already,” Beckett sighs.

“Good luck with that,” Ace laughs.

“Come on,” he says to me. We walk to the front, and Bella pops her head up from behind the counter.

“Morning, party people,” Bella says. “I brought you iced coffee, Sierra.”

“None for me?” Beckett teases.

“You can have that nasty shit,” Bella says, scrunching her face up. “Come sit, Sierra. I’ll teach you how to secretly steal from my brother.”

“You’re lucky I love you, Bella,” Beckett says. “Sia, you good here?”

“Yeah,” I say with a smile.

“If you need me, just come out,” he says, gently patting my shoulder. When he walks into the shop, Bella has me walk around and sit with her. She walks through the opening process, which is pretty self-explanatory.

The morning creeps by with customers staring at me, not speaking to me. By the time there aren’t any more people in the waiting area, I am mentally exhausted.

“I’m going to go see Bex for a bit,” I say. “If that’s okay?”

“Yeah, girl. You’re good,” she says with a smile.

When I step out, I see Mason and Beckett by one of the bay doors. They’re smiling and chatting, and it makes me happy. I’m glad they’re working things out.

“Hey,” Mason says with a smile.

“Hey, Kitten,” Beckett says with a matching smile. “Have a good morning?”

“I forgot how nosy this town is. The old people keep staring at my bruises,” I say. “Bella told Ms. Johnson it was from fighting a bear.”

“That old bat probably believed it, too,” Mason laughs.