Page 17 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

ELLIE

“One heirloom tomato and mozzarella panini and a lavender lemonade for you, Deputy Fletcher,” I said with a grin as I slid the plate in front of him.

He looked up as he rubbed his hands together like a little kid. “This looks amazing, and I told you, call me Harrison.”

“Harrison. Right.”

He studied me for a moment, a little of that smile slipping. “You holding up okay after yesterday?”

I tried to fight the sour twist of my lips at the question. It was kind of him to be concerned, but I didn’t want to remember the incident at all. Or the fact that my father had put me on a most-hated list. “All good.”

“Trace has everyone looking for the car. We’ll find them.”

I just shrugged. Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn’t. It wasn’t like I was going to press charges for a drive-by egging. I just wanted to move on. “Flag me down if you need a refill,” I said, turning to walk away. I didn’t want to give him a chance to talk about it any further .

I was shoving that down with the rest of the shit currently swirling around my life and leaving room for only the good. I rounded the bakery display case to a grinning Thea. “He likes you.”

I scowled at her.

“What?” she asked with faux innocence. “I can’t point out someone looking at my new waitress with stars in his eyes?”

“And some drool on his chin?” Walter cut in as he stuck his head out from the kitchen.

“Who’s eyeing up my girl?” A new voice joined the fray with some grit and a healthy dose of skepticism.

I turned to send Lolli an exasperated smile. “No one. My virtue is safe.”

She scoffed. “I’m all for a little virtue defiling, but that pipsqueak over there barely looks old enough to have his driver’s license.”

Thea choked on a laugh. “I think Harrison’s a year older than Ellie.”

Lolli glared at her. “Whose side are you on?”

Thea held up both hands in surrender. “I didn’t know there was a war happening.”

Walter sauntered out of the kitchen, a grin on his face. “Love’s the only battle worth fighting. Ain’t that right, sweet cheeks?”

Lolli turned her glare to the older cook. “Don’t you start.”

“A little fiery battle can make things explosive in the sheets,” Walter went on.

Thea let out a strangled sound. “I am so giving Shep the play-by-play of this.”

“He’s not going to thank you,” I told her.

She just grinned wider. “That’s what makes it so fun.”

Lolli’s hands went to her hips as she turned to Thea. “I thought you were getting my grandson to live a little.”

I leaned against the counter behind the register. “Oh, I heard she’s been getting him to live a lot . Apparently, the barn at their new place is getting a lot of… use .”

“Ellie,” Thea shrieked, swatting at me with her towel .

Lolli hooted, holding out her hand for a high five, making her bedazzled bracelets jangle. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

“Lolli, do you have pot leaves on your bracelets?” I asked, amusement lacing my words.

She held out her arm for me to see. “And my little mushrooms. I’m thinking about opening a shop. Bejeweled Buds. What do you think?”

“That Trace is going to have a coronary,” Thea muttered.

I could imagine the shade of red he would turn. A laugh bubbled out of me. “Please, let me help. I am great at designing spaces. We could bedazzle the shop sign.”

“Ooooooh, in a psychedelic rainbow,” Lolli added.

“Love it. I’m in.”

Walter just shook his head. “You two are dangerous.”

“That’s why I like her so much,” Lolli said with a grin.

The bell over the door jingled, making me look up to see Gabriel Rivera striding across the room. He looked a bit more serious than when I’d met him, scanning the space and taking stock of each person inside.

“Gabriel,” Lolli called. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? Come give me some sugar.”

Gabriel shot Lolli a megawatt smile. “I’ve missed you, Lolli.” He moved in and kissed both her cheeks.

“Careful, Casanova,” Walter warned.

“You can’t pin me down, Walter. I’ve gotta be free to fly,” Lolli shot back.

“Or to get laid,” I muttered.

Thea struggled not to laugh. “I wonder if I can get the camera recording from in here and just play it back for Shep. It’s not going to be as good secondhand.”

“I’d pay good money to see him watch the replay,” I said.

She held out a hand, and I smacked it in a high five.

“Gabriel, what can I get you?” Thea asked.

“I actually just need a minute of Ellie’s time.”

I couldn’t help the way I stiffened. If it was something about the egging, why wasn’t Trace the one stopping by?

Maybe he was putting some distance between us.

I should’ve been grateful but couldn’t help the sting I felt.

“Sure,” I said, moving around the bakery case, trying to fight the blend of annoyance and hurt.

“Are you here to ask my girl out?” Lolli narrowed her eyes at Gabriel.

His lips twitched. “As much as I’d love for that to be the case, I don’t think a certain best friend of mine would be all that pleased with that turn of events.”

“He’s probably got me on the FBI’s Most Wanted for rearranging his cabinets. Can’t have one of his officers consorting with a criminal.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened as he turned to me. “You messed with his system?”

I brushed invisible dirt off my shoulder. “Just call me a rebel behind enemy lines.”

Gabriel laughed and shook his head. “God, I’m mad I missed that.”

“It was glorious,” Lolli called as Gabriel led me out of earshot.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, lowering my voice.

Gabriel nodded, but his gaze dropped to the floor before returning to my face. “Anyone give you trouble today?”

I frowned. “No. But I’ve really only been here.”

“No customers gave you a weird feeling? Nobody said anything odd or threatening?” Gabriel pressed.

“No. What’s going on?”

“I just wanted to make sure after everything that happened yesterday.”

I studied Gabriel for a long moment. Maybe that was the case, but it seemed like overkill.

“Did you guys find something?” My stomach twisted at the idea that they might’ve found something worse than someone playing a prank.

Maybe they’d found someone who truly wished me harm.

My mind flashed to Bradley for a moment, but an egging wasn’t exactly his style.

“No, no. Nothing like that. We’re still looking for the vehicle. I just wanted to make sure no one else was giving you a hard time. ”

My cheeks flamed. If Gabriel was checking up on me, Trace had likely told him what I’d shared: that many people weren’t exactly my biggest fans lately. “I’m fine. And I know how to handle myself.”

That was a big fat lie on both accounts. Maybe that was the problem. It felt like I’d never truly stood on my own two feet, fought my own battles, or felt strong in doing so. And it was long past time I did.

“All right,” Gabriel said. “Give me a call if you run into any trouble.”

“Sure.” That was a lie, too, but a necessary one. If I was going to start cleaning up my own messes, there was no better time than now.

I hoisted my bag over my shoulder, my muscles already aching from the long day that had started at six and was just finishing at half past four.

I slipped out of The Mix Up’s back door and locked it behind me, testing the knob to make sure it’d caught.

Thea already trusted me to lock up, which seemed like a lot of responsibility. I didn’t want to mess it up.

When the lock held, I released the knob and shoved the keys into my bag. My gaze swept the back alley, which was far cheerier than the alleyways in New York. Still, I was on edge, thanks to Gabriel’s visit, as if another masked egg bandit might jump out at any moment.

“Stupid,” I muttered, squaring my shoulders and starting down the street.

I took three steps before a squeak stopped me in my tracks. I frowned and looked around but didn’t see anything. The squeak sounded again. A little closer this time.

I moved in its general direction and the dumpster pressed against The Mix Up’s back wall. This time, I heard a whimper. My heart lurched, and I dropped to my knees, peering under the receptacle.

The moment my eyes adjusted to the shadows beneath it, I saw the source of the noise. A tiny dog-like creature trembled there and let out another whine .

“Oh, crap. Crap, crap,” I muttered. “It’s okay. I’m not gonna hurt you,” I cooed as if it could understand me.

The creature let out another whimper. It did look like a dog, but its brown and white fur was really only present on its little head and massive ears. The rest of its body was patchy at best.

“You poor thing. I’m so sorry. You must be so scared. But look at how you protected yourself. Found a place to hide where it’s safe. But you don’t have to hide anymore. I’m going to help you.”

The dog belly crawled a little closer and sniffed the air.

“I wish I had some turkey for you, but if you come out a little farther, I can take you to get a snack.”

The dog didn’t seem so sure about that and stayed exactly where he was.

There had to be a vet around where I could take him to get checked out. But first, I had to get him to trust me. “I know you’re scared. There probably haven’t been many people you could trust. I know how that is. But I promise I’ll never hurt you. And I won’t let anyone else either.”

The backs of my eyes stung with unshed tears. The only person who had been that for me was Linc. But he was gone faster than I could blink once he graduated high school. Sure, he’d called to check in, but I was basically alone, left to deal with our tyrant of a father on my own.

A little tongue lashed out against my fingers, and I blinked to clear my vision. “That’s it, buddy.” I forced down the tears and memories. “We’re in this together.”

The dog came out a little farther, just enough that I could pick him up. He whimpered again, and my heart broke. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” I said, cradling him to my chest as I knelt on the pavement.

The sound of an engine had me looking up, but a window was rolling down before I could place the SUV. “What in the hell are you doing?”