Page 41 of Small Town Sizzle

“Oh shit, I forgot about them. They’re pretty shady. I wonder what they want with the youth center.”

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out if it’s them first. Does the center have a security system?”

“Absolutely. The house next door is a temporary shelter for domestic violence victims, so all of the grounds are laced with alarm systems and cameras. Mom didn’t skimp on it, either. It’s all state-of-the-art, high tech, even hidden cameras.”

“Okay, good. That makes me feel a little better. They had to have known that or found some of them, because Maya said shedidn’t see anything on the cameras. I don’t know what we’re dealing with, but I want to be prepared for it.”

“For sure, Maya has pretty much prepared for everything out here.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that. I don’t want anything to happen to Maya—I mean Mom’s legacy.”

Ethan chuckles as he shakes his head. “I had a feeling something was there. She’s good for you, bro,” he says as he slaps me on the back.

“Mr. McAllister, do either of you want to play?” Alex calls out to us.

“I’m done, Alex,” Ethan laughs.

“I’m not about to join a game with some superstars,” I laugh as I shake my head. “But thanks for the invite.”

He nods, and they all go back to their game. I look back at my brother.

“Is the reason he looks so familiar because of his mom?” I ask Ethan.

“Maybe.” He shrugs. “I never really thought he looked like her except for those emerald eyes. But I’ve always thought he reminded me of someone, too. His dad may be someone from here, and Megs was too embarrassed to tell anyone.”

For a split second, I panic and think that he could be mine. He’s a freshman in high school. What is that, fourteen, fifteen? Nah, he can’t be mine. The last time Megs and I were together, she was on birth control. I watched her take it. I also used a condom, so it’s not possible.

I blow out a long breath as I look back at the kid one more time. I’m going to go with that, because the alternative is just too much to bear right now.

Chapter Fourteen

Maya

I’m so stressed out that I can’t think straight.

Could someone take the youth center away?

Anyone could get past the protected status for the right price, couldn’t they?

I blow out a long breath and shake my head.

I have got to stop ruminating and thinking about all the worst-case scenarios. It’s not doing me any good.

I look down at the Reese’s cup in my hand, then down at the trash can and all the wrappers there.

I eat when I’m stressed.

Damn it, I was doing so good on my diet, too.

It may be Sunday, but I’m still in the office digging through paperwork. Greta was meticulous with her organizational skills. There’s an entire folder somewhere full of the permits and paperwork about the land. Knowing her, there’s an entire play-by-play handbook detailing what to do if a scenario comes up and the land is threatened.

She was the most thorough person I’ve ever met in my life.

“Hey, Jaz and I are going to head home. I’ll pick up Miss Betty’s on the way home. Will you be there soon?” Alex asks as he pokes his head in my office.

“How are you getting home? You’re not sixteen yet, so you can’t drive?”

“Mason.”