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“My dad thinks that Robby is this perfect kid. He thinks I’m exaggerating. But I’ve taken him to multiple specialists. They all think that he’s got something wrong with him, but they really can’t diagnose him until he’s older. They say four is too young,” Zee went on.

“But you know in your heart that you’re right,” I offered.

“Yes.” She sighed.

“Want to go get a coffee and drink it on that park bench over there?”

She looked at it. “It’s freezing. Why not just drink it inside?”

I sighed. “I told you last night that my brother is a psycho. And he really is. But I’ve done enough on my end, in retaliation for all of them thinking that I would do half the things that they accused me of. I’m not well liked in most of these establishments. Most people talk. And Sawtooth is small enough that everyone knows the rumors. I’ve pretty much earned my reputation now. I don’t go anywhere and stay. One, because I don’t like hearing the whispers of all the locals as they sit next to me. Two, because the few establishments that aren’t biased against me are small and can’t afford to lose customers because of my being there.”

“That’s preposterous,” she said. “I’d love to get coffee with you. But we’re going to go inside and drink it.”

I held up my hands. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

She hooked her arm around mine and walked with me to the one coffee shop that always caught everyone’s attention. But just so happened to be the one that had banned me because I had caused a stink when they said that I called out a rude employee.

“Not that one,” I said. “I can’t go in there. I’m banned.”

She started to go in the direction of The Mercantile, and I snorted. “Not there, either. I’m banned.”

She stopped. “Where are you not banned?”

“Perk Up around the corner, but it’s small, and I try not to take up their tables.”

“It’s midday. I’m sure there are plenty of tables.”

She was right.

There were plenty of tables available.

However, at one of those tables was a girl that I’d graduated high school with and had called me a leech because I’d once dated a guy that she liked. I’d stayed with him longer than I probably should have because he used to pay for my meals and buy me expensive things.

I was seventeen and poor as fuck.

Of course, I was going to take those things he offered.

I wasn’t some stupid ass heroine in a romance novel that was too good for a handout.

Especially when I was seventeen.

If someone wanted to pay for my shit, I’d damn well let them.

I may not be poor anymore, but that poor girl was still inside my soul, letting me know that it could happen again one day if I wasn’t careful.

“Well, look who the cat dragged in,” Louellen Rainer drawled upon Zee and I walking inside.

I ignored her and ordered my coffee, happy to see that my favorite barista was there to make it. No one else could make it like she could.

“Hi, Brianna.” I smiled. “I’d like a twenty-ounce…”

“I gotcha, girl.” Brianna smiled back. “What about you, ma’am?”

Zee ordered a dirty chai tea—which sounded disgusting—and then waited with me at the counter while we listened to Louellen talk with her friend about how awful I was.

Eventually, Zee had enough and turned around to stare at the two women.

“How old are y’all again?” Zee asked.