Page 24 of Pretend You Love Me

As I walk, I’m thinking through all the things I need to do. I need to check my name - my real name online and make sure all hell hasn’t broken loose. I need to find a job. My funds are running out fast, and I know I don’t have money to fix the car. I also need to get access to local records, so I can get started on what I’m here to do.

Chapter Six

Brooklyn

I hear a car in the distance. As it comes closer, I see it’s a police cruiser. It slows down as it approaches, and the window rolls down. Hawk leans his head out.

“Ginger, what are you doing?”he asks.

“Just walking into town.”

“Why the hell isn’t Kip taking you? Weren’t you in a car accident today?”

“Oh, I like to walk.” I shrug.

He frowns. “What about the moose?”

I tilt my head. Are they really that big of a problem?

“I’ll take you into town,” he says. Before I can protest, he does a U-turn.

“Get in,” he calls.

“Okay,” I say, getting in. I have a feeling Kip won’t like this. He seemed like he was ready to rip Hawk’s head off today, and it wasn’t lost on me how tense he got when Hawk walked into the restaurant at lunch. There’s some sort of history there. I don’t dwell on it too long and hop into the car. It will save me time.

“So you and Kip, huh?” He says as he drives. He’s letting his eyes drift over to me.

“Yup.” I figure less words are better. I’m a terrible liar.

“How did you meet anyway?”

Oh god. I hadn’t thought this far.

“Online.”

“Really? That doesn’t seem like Kip.”

I shrug. “I guess he’s full of surprises.”

“Kip?” Hawk’s face looks so confused. I need to go back to less words. Less words were better.

He’s glancing over at me. “You look familiar.”

“So do you,” I say as I’m studying his face, his broad shoulders, his sharp jaw, his biceps too big for his shirt.

My hand flies over my mouth.

“What’s wrong, Ginger?”

“Hawthorne.”

His eyebrow arches.

“You’re Hawthorne.”

“Um...yeah. Hawk. Everyone calls me Hawk. Hawthorne’s a mouthful.”

“Brothers,” I whisper. They look a lot alike. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.