Page 99 of Caution to the Wind

The brunette with the baby made a wounded noise before shaking her shoulders as if flinging water off her back. “That’s enough, all of you. The last thing Cleo needs is a public freaking showdown. We came here to get our nails done, same as the girls. Let’s leave them to it. I’ve got a limited window before Prince starts wailing, and Benny’s alone at the shop.”

Winona shot me another vicious glare, but Hannah only gave me a defiant look like she was displeased, and the other blonde sent me a long, assessing stare before smiling warmly at Cleo.

“We’ll see you tonight?”

Cleo’s own smile was tremulous, but she nodded. “We haven’t had a proper girls’ night in forever, Loulou. Of course it’s still on. It’s been too long since I’ve seen Angel and Monster, too, so bring them? I also promised Ares I’d read his English project over.”

“They miss you,” Loulou replied and didn’t hesitate to walk around my chair to get to Cleo. Once there, she leaned forward to hug her. “I miss you, too. We’re always here if you need us, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Cleo whispered back, blushing with happiness.

Loulou nodded and moved away, taking the baby from the brunette as she went. I watched her coo to him, smiling and laughing at his baby sounds. I wasn’t sure if it made me feel better or worse to know she was a good person and her prickliness was only reserved for me.

“We’re a protective bunch,” the brunette said, pulling my attention back to her. She’d also made her way over to Cleo and stroked her hair absently while she addressed me, like affection was second nature to her. “We have to be.”

I didn’t know what to say because I got it, I did, but it still sucked.

“I know I made a really stupid mistake with…withhim,” Cleo muttered, referencing Seth Linley, The Prophet. “But I wish people would stop treating me like I’m four years old. I made a mistake, andI’mthe one paying the consequences. You guys have to just…let me. It’s demoralizing that you think I’m suddenly incapable because I’m a victim of something.”

The other woman pursed her lips as she considered that. “That’s fair, honey. It’s different, but when we thought King was…” She sucked in a painful gulp of air like even the thought made her feel like drowning. “…dead, everyone treated me like I was less than because of my grief. Like I couldn’t even tie my shoes without help. I realize now that it was because my loved ones were suffering too. Not just because they’d also lost King but because seeing me suffer was agony for them. Their way of coping was helping me, even if it was too much. I’ll talk to them, but also, remember, if you can, that it’s because we love you so much. We’d all give a kidney to take even an ounce of your pain away from you.”

Cleo closed her eyes, breathing deeply to control her emotions for a moment before she opened her glittering eyes and squeezed her friend’s hand. “Thanks, Cress. You know I love you, too, right?”

“Always,” Cress agreed, kissing her brow before pulling away to smile at us both. “Now, honestly, I have to do something about my nails. You wouldn’t believe how much damage running a bookstore does to your hands, but it’s not pretty.” She paused for our weak chuckles and then softened again. “We haven’t been introduced, Mei, but I’m Cressida Garro. I run Paradise Found Bookstore on Main Street. You should pop in some time for a cup of tea and a natter. I have a feeling we could find a lot to talk about.”

It was the first olive branch I’d been extended since I came to town, and I was shocked by its impact. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Just that simple act of kindness felt astounding in the face of so much hate.

“Thank you, I will.”

Cressida smiled at me, blew a kiss at Cleo, and then turned to join her group on the other side of the shop.

Cleo let out a gusty sigh and slumped deeper into her chair. “God, that was rough. I’m sorry, Rocky.”

I shrugged one shoulder. “I wasn’t exactly expecting a red-carpet welcome, Glory. In a way, it makes me happy to know that you and Axe-Man have friends who are so protective of you.”

“Yeah,” Cleo agreed, her eyes shifting over the group of women. “You know, when I first moved here, they really did roll out a red-carpet welcome. They helped Lin and me move into a little house off Main Street because Dad was still in prison. Even though he wasn’t here, wasn’t even a member of the chapter, they all folded us into their community. Dad’s been struggling with you back in our lives, but he’ll get over it, and when he does, everyone will see how much they’re missing out on not having you for a friend.”

“I admire your faith,” I said dryly because I could sonotsee that happening.

Cleo narrowed her eyes at me the way Lin was prone to do. “You’re pretending to bemyRocky, remember? And my Rocky is confident.”

“Right, I’m the best. Anyone would be lucky to know me. I enrich the lives of those around me just by breathing.”

“You know, I remember Old Dragon used to say sarcasm was the lowest form of wit.”

I laughed because she was right, even though my belly clenched at the mention of my grandfather. He’d started developing signs of dementia five years ago, and three years after that, I’d had to move him into an assisted care home because I wasn’t capable of working and taking care of his needs full-time. It had almost killed me to move him even though it was a really nice,reallyexpensive home, and it had almost killed me again the first time he forgot who I was and called me Daiyu. I still visited him every week, and I’d continue to do so even while temporarily living in Entrance.

“The brunette seemed nice,” I said, just to change the subject.

“Oh, Cress is the loveliest. She brings me graphic novels to read every weekend because I still don’t feel up to going into town much.”

“She doesn’t look much like a biker’s wife. That Winona person, though, fits the cliché pretty well…”

Cleo laughed at my expression. “They don’t usually spend much time with her because she’s kind of…yeah, a little mean and negative all the time. She must have caught them at the clubhouse on their way here or something. Despite what you say today, The Fallen babes are actually really kind. They wouldn’t leave Winona out even though they don’t vibe with her much.”

“Well, I believe it of Cressida.”

“Yeah, she was actually King’s teacher when they first met. She used to be kinda judgy back in the day, but she’s been through a lot since then, and now, I don’t think she has a cruel bone in her body.”