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She snorts. “No, I didn’t mean you. I just had a weird day at work, and now my car broke down, so I’m just waiting for the next disaster.”

“You’re not a positive thinker, huh?”

“I’d like to be. But have you heard of the saying ‘bad things happen in threes’? That seems to always be true for me.”

“What’s the bad thing that happened at work?”

“Honestly, it wasn’t even anything bad. It was just something odd.”

Before I can ask her about it, we’re interrupted by a loud honk. A massive tow truck pulls into the lot.

“That was fast,” Robin says, and maybe I’m imagining it, but she sounds almost disappointed.

The tow truck parks in front of us, and Jon steps into view. “Evenin’, you must be––” He stops when he notices me. “Hayden?”

“The one and only.” I hug him.

“It’s been too long. You’re so grown up now. And what is this? Do I see the first signs of wrinkles on your face?” He attempts to touch my forehead.

“Fuck you,” I say, smacking his hand away. “There are zero wrinkles on my face, unlike yours.”

“Still no manners, I see.” He lightly jabs my shoulder. Then he finally notices Robin standing beside me. “Forgive me. I’m Jon. Nice to meet you.”

“You too.” She glances between the two of us.

Jon faces me again. “How come you made your girlfriend call? Wanted to surprise me, huh?”

I grin and look at Robin, who looks uncomfortable.

“Oh my God, I’m not with him. I’m not his girlfriend,” she says, shifting her weight from one foot to another.

Okay, you don’t have to sound so offended.

“We just met,” she clarifies.

“I see.” Jon seems unbothered. “Hayden, make yourself useful, and let’s get this car hooked up to the truck so this young lady can go home. I’m sure she’s sick of your wrinkleless face.”

Chapter 4

Hayden

The takeout I ordered sits cold and forgotten on the kitchen counter of my bare rental apartment. I didn’t have time to research accommodations, so I booked the first place that came up. But maybe that’s for the best. I don’t want to get comfortable in this town. I adjust how I sit on the hard, unyielding leather couch one more time and sigh.

There is quite literally no way to get comfortable here.

I debate if I should try to find something to watch on TV, but nothing sounds interesting. I fish my phone out of my pocket for some mindless doomscrolling and notice an onslaught of missed texts.

Sarah: How’s your time back in hell??

Sarah: I mean Cottondale

Sarah: Same thing. Hell might be a tad bit hotter.

Sarah: Send an SOS text if you need a rescue lol

Sarah: Mira misses you!!

Sarah: I think she likes you better than me.