Page 34 of Sunkissed Colorado

“Hold on, I didwhat?”

“You spread rumors that her death wasmy fault. You already didn’t like me, so you did the most hurtful thing possible. Just because you could. You were the golden boy, so everyone listened like it was gospel. And because of that…” She swallowed. “Because ofyou, people at our school were awful to me.”

Zandra’s body heaved, as if it had taken real effort to get all those words out. Yet confusion didn’t begin to cover what I was feeling.

“But I didn’t do anything like that. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Tommy Pickering told me it was you who’d spread the rumors. He taunted me about it.”

“Tommy?” Rage flared in my chest so hot and sudden I saw red for a second. Tommy had never been my favorite person, not even in our high school days when we’d technically been friends. But if he’d done something like this and pinned it on me…

I mean, what the hell? Why?

“Now you’re Mr. Volunteer Firefighter. Everybody’s favorite bartender. But I know the truth. You want to act like the past didn’t happen, but itdid.”

“Zandra, listen to me. Tommy was lying. I have no idea why he would do that, but I swear to you, that’s what happened.”

“Right. Of course you’d say that.”

“I swear on my mom’s grave that I would never have spread rumors about you, especially not involving Jessa.Never.”

Zandra took a step back, as if she was finally hearing me.

“Yes, I disinvited you from the bonfire party that one time. It was stupid and immature.” I couldn’t explain my reasons withoutsounding like even more of an ass. “I got up in my feelings. But we all knew how Jessa’s death tore you up after that. I would never have done anything on purpose to make things worse for you.Ever.”

Something in my tone must have convinced her, because her shoulders sagged and she slumped against the closed door, looking exhausted and heartbroken.

A tear slipped free down her cheek.

Fucking hell.

The fight went out of me completely. I almost pulled her close to comfort her, but that would probably get me a knee to the balls. Instead, I pulled the key from my pocket and unlocked the door.

Then she seemed to process what had just happened, and her eyes flashed with renewed indignation. “Wait. You had the key? Thiswhole time?”

“It usually hangs on the wall.” I pointed at the empty hook. “Right there. In case people accidentally close the door too hard.”

“You asshole.”

“Come on. You’ve locked me out of Manny’s office plenty of times in the last few days.”

“I’m going home,” she said, pushing past me into the hallway. “Before you can come up with any new, creative ways to torture me.”

“Zandra—”

“Please, Callum.” She sniffled, wiping her face. “Just let me go.” Her voice was so small and sad. So I stood there and watched her leave, feeling like shit.

Maybe I hadn’t done what she thought I did in high school. But tonight, I definitely felt like the bad guy.

NINE

Zandra

The doorsof Main Street Market slid open with a gentle whoosh, releasing the comforting scent of fresh bread and the faint hum of refrigeration units.

Inside, the store was a picture of perfectly imperfect charm. A bulletin board by the entrance was crammed with everything from babysitting ads to lost cat flyers, and the overstuffed aisles were just barely wide enough for two carts to fit past.

The familiarity of it all was just the balm I needed this morning.