Page 11 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

ELLIE

The words slipped out without my permission. A brutal truth I didn’t want anyone to know, especially Trace.

“You cursed, Chief. And it was the big one. Do you need to go to the bathroom and clean your mouth out with soap?” I was hoping for a laugh. Would’ve settled for a lip twitch. I got neither.

“Ellie…” His voice held the barest hint of a growl.

A shiver tracked through me, but it wasn’t one of dread. If I were smart, maybe it would’ve been. Instead, my stupid nipples pebbled against the thin lace of my bra. “Nothing. It means nothing.”

Those dark green eyes pinned me to the spot. “Saying you lived in prison isn’t nothing.”

I rocked forward on my toes. “Everyone has their stuff.”

Trace didn’t move his gaze from me. “They do. But I’m not talking to everyone. I’m talking to you.”

I had no doubt that every suspect who went up against this man crumbled in seconds. It was like he saw just a fraction more than the rest of the world and could put together pieces the rest of us missed.

“People have made their displeasure with me known, that’s all. And some around here think Linc and I have done enough to your family and should leave. They don’t tell Linc that because he can be scary, but they don’t mind telling me. I guess I need to work on that mad-dog look.”

“Who?” Trace demanded. There was so much authority in his voice.

My mind flashed back to the woman at The Mix Up earlier. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

My nose stung, and pressure built behind my eyes. Why was that simple statement almost more than I could take? “It’s not your battle, Chief. Let it be, and it’ll pass with time.” I just hoped like hell I wasn’t lying.

A muscle fluttered in Trace’s jaw. “Sheriff. And I’m pretty sure that title makes it my battle.”

I sent him a droll look. “Are you going to follow me around and make sure no one tugs my pigtails?”

“If I have to.”

“You don’t. Just let it go.” I needed to leave before I spilled all my secrets to dark green eyes that promised respite.

Safety. I’d gotten myself into the various messes I was currently in, and I needed to be the one to get myself out.

“I need to get home to meet an appliance repair person. Thanks for the T-shirt.”

“Ellie—”

“I’ll wash it and drop it off later.”

“Ellie—”

“Thanks again.” I was out the door before Trace could say another word.

I barreled through the bullpen and nearly knocked into a man almost as tall as Trace and a little bit broader. His tan skin and dark features spoke of Hispanic origins, and his wide, amused smile relayed nothing but kindness. “Careful there, you could take someone out.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

The man glanced behind me, following the path I’d taken, and grinned wider. “Coming from Trace’s office. In his tee, if I’m not mistaken.”

I grimaced. More fodder for the rumor mill. “I was the victim of a drive-by egging.”

The man’s brows rose. “And it’s not even Halloween.”

“Guess it’s just my lucky day.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Well, I’m glad Trace could help you out.” He extended a hand. “I’m Gabriel Rivera, that cantankerous fool’s best friend.”

My brows lifted, and I couldn’t help but study Gabriel more thoroughly. He looked a few years older than Trace, and the fine lines around his mouth told me he smiled more often than his bestie.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ellie.” I left off my last name. Pierce was the last thing I wanted to be known by. I needed to look up how to change it legally.

Gabriel smiled wider. “Linc’s sister?”

“One and the same.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m sorry your welcome to Sparrow Falls was less than warm, but I hope you’ll stick around.”

“No eggs will keep me away from The Mix Up’s cupcakes or The Pop’s double veggie burger with extra cheese.”

Gabriel laughed. “A gal after my own heart. Well, minus the veggies. I’m a carnivore. Let us know if you need anything.”

God, that was nice. Sparrow Falls was going to kill me with its kindness. “I will. Thanks. And nice to meet you.”

“You, too.” I headed out before someone else in the station could almost make me cry. I needed to pull myself together. Maybe I was PMSing. I wasn’t usually such a weepy mess.

Stepping out into the sunshine, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and decided to take a different route home. They weren’t that different in terms of distance, and this way, I wouldn’t have to pass the spot of the egging or risk running into anyone who’d witnessed it.

I tried to focus on the good things. Listing them off in whispers to the breeze .

“The air here smells like heaven.” I inhaled deeply to punctuate the point.

“I got a job.” One that would give me purpose while I figured out my greater one.

“I get a chance to start over.” And that was the greatest gift of all.

It wasn’t too late for me. I’d almost gone down the road of living my life for people who hadn’t even come close to earning that gift.

But I’d pulled the emergency brake. I’d ended things with Bradley and stood up to my father. And now, I was making a life of my own.

I took in the bed of flowers still blooming on the corner as I turned away from downtown.

They wouldn’t last much longer with how cold it was getting at night, but I’d soak in their beauty until it faded, knowing it would return next year.

And wasn’t that what I was hoping to do?

Become something that could bloom again after what felt like an endless winter?

My phone rang, cutting into my thoughts. I fished in my bag and pulled out the device, frowning as a familiar name flashed across the screen. “Hey, Sarah.”

“Hi, El. How’s the Wild West treating you?”

My assistant from the design firm I’d worked at was the one unapproved friend I’d managed to hold on to.

Mostly because Bradley and my father had no say over who I worked with—much to their chagrin.

Sarah was hilarious and adorable and marched to the beat of her own drum, no matter how hard our beige office tried to stomp it out of her.

And I admired the hell out of her for it.

“It’s good.” Despite the egging, that wasn’t a lie. “It’s peaceful and easy, and they have amazing cupcakes.”

“Better than Magnolia?” Sarah gasped.

I laughed at her shock at my disparaging our favorite bakery. “They are. But nothing compares to Magnolia’s banana pudding. Never fear.”

“Thank God. At least some things are sacred.”

I grinned as I turned onto Lavender Lane. “You gonna tell me why you’re calling in the middle of a workday?”

Sarah was quiet for a moment .

“Are you okay? Did something hap?—?”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you or not, but Bradley’s mom stopped by.”

My steps stilled. I’d always liked Helen Newbury. While there was a formality to Bradley’s family, just like there was in mine, Helen had a warmth to her. “What did she want?”

My tongue suddenly felt heavy in my mouth.

I hadn’t had contact with any of the Newburys since we’d broken up.

That wasn’t how it was played in my old circles, especially with the older generation.

Emotions and messiness were things they swept under the rug.

Even with people you’d known all your life.

“She was here to see Madison about a project at their beach house, but she chatted with me for a little bit. I got the sense she was hoping that what she said would get back to you.”

My hand tightened around the phone as I picked up my pace again. “And that was?”

“That Bradley’s having a hard time.”

A million incredibly inventive curses flew through my head. Ones that would’ve made Trace’s head explode. My face started to throb, and I swore I could still feel the spot where Bradley’s hand had connected with my cheek.

It had only been a slap, open-palmed like something you’d see on a soap opera, but there’d been enough force behind it to leave me nursing a black eye. But the shock and confusion were worse. The fact that someone I’d promised to spend forever with was capable of laying hands on me in anger.

It just went to show how lacking I was in the judgment department. Bradley. My father. Who knew what else?

“You know my opinion on the matter,” Sarah went on when I didn’t say anything. “That tool can weep in his Wheaties for all I care. But I wasn’t sure if she would call you and wanted you to have a heads-up.”

Sarah didn’t know what had happened. No one did. She only knew that I’d ended things with Bradley and was over the moon about that choice .

“You’re a good friend.”

“Sometimes,” she said with a laugh. “I gotta get back to work before Madison sends me another death glare, but let’s catch up this weekend.”

“Sounds good,” I said, catching sight of the lavender house on Lavender Lane. “Don’t let the bitches get you down.”

Sarah giggled. “It was easier when we stood against them together.”

“I believe in you. Battle evil for us both.”

This time, she let out a soft snort. “I’m getting the death glare because of you.”

I could picture Madison’s pinched face as she stared at Sarah in derision. “Later, sweets.”

“Later.”

I shoved my phone into my pocket and scanned the street as I approached the house.

No one sat in a vehicle watching my place.

No one even walked the sidewalk. I wasn’t under surveillance.

And in a month or two, Bradley would move on—hopefully, to someone who had the same boring life plan he did.

Someone who wouldn’t trigger the sort of violence in him that I had.

My stomach twisted. Why did that feel like a lie?

“I’m sorry, Ms. Pierce,” the woman in her mid-forties said as she straightened from where she was crouched in front of my oven. “This baby is toast.”

I groaned. “I worried you might say that.”

“We offer a discount on new appliance purchases when we can’t fix something. Ten percent off.”