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“You’re kidding,” I say. “How?”
“It’s too complicated to explain over the phone, but please, Marci. I?—”
“Everything okay?” Jesse places a hand on the back of my neck and squeezes lightly.
I like the gesture too much. “Yeah,” I say, looking up at him. “It’s Billy. He wants to meet me at his place. He’s got a gift for me, and news about Jonesy. Apparently, he’s managed to get him to back off.”
Jesse frowns. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Yeah,” I say.
“Itisa good idea,” Billy says, on the other end of the phone. “Look, let me talk to your husband. When he hears what I have to say?—”
“You don’t need to talk to him, Billy. I can make decisions on my damn own,” I reply.
Jesse turns his head toward the open door and the party. The mayor beckons him over.
“Go,” I say. “Go do what you’ve got to do. I’ll deal with this. If I leave to see him, I’ll be quick, all right?”
“I don’t want you going alone,” he says.
“Billy, I’ll see you soon.” I hang up on my brother and then brush a kiss across Jesse’s cheek. “Look, nothing bad will happen. Savage is out there doing ex-military things, remember? I’ll be fine.”
Jesse gives a half-satisfied grunt.
“I should come with you.”
“No,” I say. “You do what you’ve got to do. We’re wasting time with this. I’ll be back before you know it.”
Jesse draws me into a hug, his hand traveling down my back, fingers stroking the line of my spine.
“Fine. But if you need me, call. If you’re not back in an hour, I’m going to find your brother and give him some extra bruises.”
“Jesse, he’s harmless. I’ll call Todd to give me a ride.”
Jesse kisses my forehead, and I leave him to party with the mayor. I hope things go well for Jesse, I do. He’ll get what he’s always wanted. But if what Billy’s saying is true, then I don’t need Jesse’s protection anymore.
The only thing keeping us together is his bid for sheriff. The diner’s already doing way better thanks to the menu revamp, which Grantlikesby some miracle, and the work we’ve done to drum up excitement in the county.
But the thought of returning to my tiny apartment, of leaving Jesse and Mr. Skitters, and missing out on nightly photos, makes my throat hurt.
I accept my coat from a butler near the front door, then head out into the night. Jesse and I came in his squad, so I whip out my phone and call up my favorite customer. Todd’s more than happy to stop by and pick me up, and he arrives five minutes later.
I get into the back of his car, put on my seatbelt, and sit back. “Thanks, Todd.”
“No problem, Marci.”
“The taxi business treating you well?” I ask.
“It’s not too bad,” Todd says, glancing in the rearview mirror. “Soon enough, I’ll be able to pay off that tab at the Heartstopper. Kind of looking forward to it. I’ve been avoiding the new menu items until I can afford to pay for ‘em myself.”
“You don’t have to do that, Todd.”
“It’s the right thing to do,” Todd says. “You’ve been nothing but good to me. So, where are you headed?”
“Billy’s place on Fahrenheit,” I say.
“Oh yeah? How is that brother of yours?”
