Page 8 of Wicked Ends (Hellions of Hade Harbor #4)

“I can still remember that day. It was the last time I heard her play. She was so gifted.”

I nodded, finding it hard to talk.

“And so are you,” Kenna continued. “I’m so proud of you for applying for the job, from across the country, and getting it, no less.”

My new job. It was a precious jewel I was holding close to my heart.

On Monday, I’d start work at Hade Harbor University, HHU to locals.

Kenna worked there, too, and without her, this new start wouldn’t be happening.

I was taking over for a teacher on leave and only had a few months to cover until summer break started.

It didn’t matter. It was still the most important thing to happen to me professionally.

Sure, I’d won showcases and accolades for music for a decade, but this job was exactly what I needed, when I needed it.

My lifeline, and Kenna? The one who tossed it to me like it was nothing.

I shook my head. “That’s all you. Without your recommendation, without your paperwork—help,” I corrected myself quickly, unsure how to address the huge favor that Kenna had done for me.

She shook her head. “Shut up. Given your background, you can’t use your real details. I know your qualifications are real. I know you. You deserve a chance, and your students will be lucky to have you.”

The last time I’d seen MacKenna Brooks had been over six years ago, and yet, when I’d called her out of the blue about this job, she’d been unchanged. Still genuine and down-to-earth, and still willing to go to battle for her friends.

“Yeah, well, I’d never have gotten this far without your help. You’re taking a risk here?— ”

“No, I’m not. If you get exposed, which you won’t, I’ll be as surprised as anyone else. It’s an adjunct professor position. It’s not tenured. Don’t worry. You’re qualified, that’s the most important part, and I can vouch for that myself.”

“Still. I’ll owe you for the rest of my life,” I told her honestly.

Yes, I had fake documents: a fake ID, Social Security number, birth certificate, and degrees.

It was the most expensive thing I’d ever bought, but it was worth it.

It was the reason I was able to be here today, attempting to start over.

She chuckled. “I’m going to hold you to that and put a pin in it. I’ll cash in my future favor, of my choosing, when it suits me. Maybe once you’re finally the world-famous composer you’re meant to be.”

I huffed out a quiet laugh. The very thought of the future I’d once imagined was a painful, half-scabbed wound. Not yet healed enough to laugh about, but not painful enough to make me cry anymore.

Kenna sat back and beamed at me.

“You know, all this is actually selfish of me. I wanted a real bestie here, and now, I have one.” She was trying to make me feel better about how she’d put her neck on the line for me.

Her job in the admin office of HHU, the local, nationally renowned college I was starting at on Monday, had made all this possible.

“So, what’d you get up to last night?” Kenna asked.

I choked on my coffee. I coughed, and she patted my back.

“Geez, no need to have an aneurysm. I’m just curious. Something fun?”

I decided not to remind her it had been my birthday. She was the kind of good-hearted person who would feel guilty about forgetting.

“Went out to get some food.”

“Whereabouts?”

“The Clutch,” I offered.

She whistled. “That’s an advanced introduction to Hade Harbor nightlife. See anything interesting? Was Cole Bailey there? That man is something else.”

“Not that I know of? I don’t remember hearing that name, but yeah, there were some hot guys around, I guess.”

My face could have caught on fire. I felt like my one-night-stand experience was a flashing neon sign above my head, but Kenna didn’t seem to notice.

“Nice. We should go there together one night. I wouldn’t mind a roll in the hay with one of the less objectionable Harbor Hounds.”

I remembered seeing that name on the cuts of the two brawlers at the bar.

“Which ones are objectionable?” I wondered.

She popped a fry in her mouth and chewed. “The hottest ones, of course. Though, my brother would never let me.”

Kenna’s brother, Maddox. We’d never met.

He was older than us and had lived with his dad in Maine, while Kenna had lived with her mother in California.

Still, even over the phone, Maddox had seemed an imposing guy and overprotective as hell.

I’d always been jealous of their relationship.

He was caring like a brother should be, something I had no experience with.

I raised an eyebrow at her. “He doesn’t like the Harbor Hounds?”

Kenna laughed. “No, that’s not it. He’s one of them, second in line, actually.”

“What! You never mentioned that before,” I exclaimed.

“What can I say, we don’t talk about the black sheep of the family.” She grinned and then shrugged. “Here. That’s him, so you know someone else in town.” She flicked at her phone and showed me picture of a terrifying-looking biker.

“Honestly, I usually forget he’s involved in all that.

The Hounds tend to mind their own business for the most part around here.

And Maddox is the same overprotective drama queen he’s always been.

” Hearing Kenna call the extremely intense and dangerous-seeming Maddox a drama queen brought a smile to my face.

“That’s good to know. Anyway, tell me about HHU and how it is working there.”

Kenna snorted. “I’m a glorified secretary.”

“Hardly,” I disagreed. “You’ve already been promoted to department admin head, and you’ve only worked there a year.”

Kenna considered my words and then smiled and flipped her hair back. “Yeah, I suppose I am pretty great.”

Warmth filled me as we ate. I’d missed knowing people. Having a friend. Easy conversation in a warm, safe place.

It was more than I’d dared to hope for again.

It was enough.