Page 42 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

They’re always going above and beyond to help me out. “No, no. It’s fine. Just let me know when you get home safely later.”

“We will. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” I say before hanging up.

My mind starts running over all of the people in town who I could ask to get her.

The twins are pouring concrete at a project this afternoon. There’s no way either of them could leave. Grayson is in the middle of a shift, so he’s out.

Hadley’s gorgeous face pops into my mind.No, I can’t call her. That would be way too much.

Evelyn loves her, though.

I groan again, squeezing the wheel tightly. I pull the truck to a stop in front of the building where I’m picking up the custom-made piece for the landscaping project the twins are working on today.

With a sigh, I dial her number.

“Austin?” Her confusion is evident.

“Yeah, it’s me. Umm… I have a favor to ask.”

There’s some rustling on her end. “Oh, okay. Go for it.”

Here it goes.“My parents are stuck outside of town after a car accident.”

“Are they okay?” She sounds genuinely concerned.

“Yeah, they weren’t in the accident. They just can’t drive back into town right now.”

She exhales loudly. “Oh, good. I’m glad.”

“They were going to get Evelyn from school today, but they can’t. The twins are busy with a concrete project, and I’m more than an hour outside of town.”

Her calm voice stops my rambling. “Do you want me to pick her up?”

“Would you mind?”

“No, of course not. I’d be happy to.”

I let out a shaky, relieved breath. “Thank you.”

I explain when and where she can get Evelyn, and that I’ll call the school to let them know it’s okay for Hadley to pick her up.

I also give her the code to get into the house, even though she probably doesn’t need it since Evelyn will be with her and has it memorized.

“I’ll take care of her,” she says quietly.

“I know you will,” I say, swallowing back the emotions building within me. “I’ll get home as soon as I can.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Hadley

Crap.I have less than an hour until I need to get Evelyn.

I need to get a booster seat for her. She’s way too small not to have one. There’s only one store in town that I’m hoping will have one.

I walk into Sienna’s office. “Hey, I need to step out for, like, an hour. Austin asked me to pick Evelyn up from school. He didn’t have anyone else to get her.”