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On the other, I’d been burned so many freakin’ times that I was wary.

“We also heard what you did for Black,” Creed said softly. “Getting his girl home. We’re all really grateful. That’s been a huge hole in his heart for way too long.”

I knew it was.

Which was why I’d done it.

Honestly, I’d been contemplating doing it for years.

I hated that year after year passed. Especially when, at the end of the year, he’d put out that flyer on “what Shelby would look like now.”

It was devastating.

I was glad that she was finally home where she belonged.

Even if it meant that I didn’t get to sleep curled up to my favorite person ever.

A commotion to my left had us shifting, and none other than Vera was standing there. “Don’t think just because you’re doing the sheriff that you’re allowed into my store.”

I stared at her for a long moment. “Didn’t your husband file for divorce?”

Someone snickered behind me.

“I don’t care about going into your store, Vera,” I said. “But, in case you’re curious, my brother was just arrested for murder. Of three people. He confessed to it, too. If you knew this information all those years ago when you accused me of stealing based on an eight-year-old’s opinion, would you still side with him over me?”

Vera reared back in shock. “What?”

“My brother killed my grandmother and my parents. Surprise.” I rolled my eyes and turned to the quiet group I’d once been talking to. “No offense, but I don’t go out in public. People suck.”

With that, I left them all standing there, dumbfounded.

I stopped at all the stalls, getting some new goat milk honey soap from a vendor that never treated me like shit. I then went to my favorite fruit stand that never hassled me about my attitude or extracurricular activities.

I visited every single stand that gave me the time of day when I first started coming here a few years ago—once I could actually afford it anyway.

I ignored all the others.

This time, they seemed to care that I didn’t come to theirs.

One even asked me if I’d like a free sample, which I politely declined.

I’d just finished my shopping and had an armful of bags when none other than Louellen, my least favorite classmate from high school, stepped out of her booth in front of me.

She sold all that plastic shit that everyone and their brother made on their 3D printers now.

I hadn’t seen a single person go to her booth the entire morning.

“Just because you’re fucking the sheriff won’t make people like you.”

I leveled her with a look. “I never imagined that sucking someone’s cock would change that, Louellen.”

Louellen sucked in a harsh breath. “You…you…you…”

“Whore?” I finished for her.

Louellen narrowed her eyes. “You were always a slut in high school. Messing around with every guy that breathed in your direction. Then you had to go and take one of the best men in our town?”

“Considering I just took her virginity,” Black growled, low and threatening, “I wouldn’t say that she was messing around with anybody in high school.”