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Marci pulls a face. “You can stay with me upstairs! I’ve got a sofa ready and waiting.”
I shake my head and grab her hand, squeezing it. “That’s—I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”
“It’s not an inconvenience to need help, June,” Marci says. “That’s what friends are for.” Marci’s a wild child, the type of woman who does what she wants, when she wants, whereas I’ve always been too afraid to do anything that would inconvenience someone else. I admire that about her.
I sip my coffee, and I’m already starting to feel better. “Yeah, but I’m going to stay with my mom. She’ll be confused when she runs into me in town and I haven’t stopped by.” I pause. “It’s surreal to be here.”
“Back where it all started,” Marci says with a grin. “I’m so happy you’re here. The way you left was…”
I’m really glad she doesn’t finish that sentence. Marci’s the only person who knows what happened with Cash. And with Olivia, my best friend. Ex-best friend. Estranged best friend? It’s in the past. It doesn’t matter now, and Cash doesn’t even live in Heatstroke anymore.
He moved away around about the same time I did, except where I fell into a relationship and failed to go after my dreams, Cash took his head-on. He’s a country music star. One of the most famous. And the reason I avoid entertainment news like it spreads plague.
“Have you called your mother yet?” Marci asks.
I shake my head.
“Probably best you don’t. You should just turn up and act like it’s a big surprise.” Marci knows what Mom is like. “Besides, she wouldn’t turn you away.” Even she doesn’t sound that certain about it. “And hell, if things go south, you know where to find me.”
Before I can say anything, the bell tinkles over the door again and a girl strolls into the diner.
She’s the cutest button of a thing I’ve ever seen. Curly blonde hair, with a slightly upturned nose and blue, blue eyes. She’s wearing a black dress covered in unicorns holding up “rock on” signs. My heart twists as she gives a big sniff and takes a seat at a booth by the window alone. A tear runs down her cheek.
“June,” Marci says suddenly, “there’s something you should—”
“Just a sec,” I say. “That little girl looks upset.” I abandon my coffee and go over to her.
Marci squeaks something out, but I don’t hear what she says.
The girl doesn’t look up. She’s fiddling with her dress, trying to stop from crying.
“Hi,” I say brightly.
She starts and meets my gaze. “H-hi.”
“I’m June. Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Just, it looks like you’re having as bad of a day as I am.”
The girl doesn’t respond immediately. I don’t blame her. I’m the weird lady in a yellow silk dress.
“Do you need help?” I ask. “Do you need somebody to call your parents?”
She shakes her head quickly.
“May I sit down?” I offer her another smile, hoping to assure her that I am not, in fact, as crazy as I look.
The girl nods.
I slip into the booth opposite her. “So, I’m June, and I’ve had a pretty rough night,” I say. “Sometimes life sucks.”
“Yeah,” the girl whispers. “Sometimes.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“I guess.”
“What are you doing here alone?”
“School’s out early and I, I just. My Ganny was meant to pick me up, and I…”
