“Yeah,” Haven said. “Whatever he’s going through, he’s good with Sam and Ben.”
Alexa listened as the friends went back and forth, admiring their closeness, wishing she had a friendship of her own that was as tight as theirs. And of course that made her think of Maverick, who’d been a friend before he became a lover, then more. She couldn’t help wonder what was happening down at the police station. She just hoped Maverick managed to keep his temper reined in so he didn’t end up sitting next to Dare in a cell.
“So, what are you thinking you might like to do in addition to babysitting?” Alexa asked Cora.
The blonde exchanged a glance with Haven and shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. I was a waitress back home and never expected to leave there, so I never let myself even imagine much before,” Cora said, brushing the crumbs off her lap.
“But you’ve had time to imagine now,” Haven said.
Cora nodded and stared off into the distance for a long time. “Okay. So, there’s something I always thought would be cool, but I’d just ruled it out as an impossibility for me.”
Haven sat forward in a rush. “Really? What is it? I can’t believe you haven’t said anything.”
“It’s not like it could happen tomorrow, Haven,” Cora said, chuckling.
“So? Tell me.” Haven hugged her knees to her chest and stared at her friend.
“I’ve always loved animals. If money and time weren’t any object, I’d love to go to school to become a veterinarian. Even though that would take like a million years since I’d have to go to college first.” Cora looked at them from under her hair, like she was afraid they’d laugh at her idea.
“I think that sounds awesome,” Alexa said. Cora’s plans made her think of the schoolwork she wasn’t doing, but in the midst of everything going on, it suddenly seemed so damned unimportant. She pushed the thoughts away. “I love animals, too.”
“Oh, Cora, I think that would be amazing,” Haven said.
“We’ll see,” Cora said, clearly uncomfortable to be the focus of their attention. “I did find out that the local animal shelter takes volunteers, so I thought maybe I’d check that out. Just to get a feel for working with animals. See if I really like it. In the meantime, I can keep babysitting for Slider. Or get some other part-time job.”
“You totally should volunteer.” Haven took another cookie. “This is so exciting.”
Cora laughed. “Simmer down. It’s just an idea.”
“It’s a good one,” Haven said, arching an eyebrow.
“So is you opening your own bakery,” Cora shot back. They looked at each other for a long moment. “Okay, here’s the deal. I explore the volunteer position and start looking at schools if you seriously look into opening your own business. You have your dad’s money coming, so you don’t even have lack of start-up funds as an excuse.”
Haven’s mouth dropped open, and the woman looked to Alexa for help. “She’s bribing me.”
Al held up her hands, so glad she wasn’t alone right now, so glad to have friends. “I’m not getting in the middle. Although I think you’d both be crazy not to do those things.”
“Okay, then.” Haven nodded slowly, like she was coming around to the idea. “Deal.”
Grinning, Cora nodded, too. “Fine. Deal.” They shook hands.
On a sigh, Haven flopped back against her lounge chair. “Now that we have our lives sorted, I just need my man out of jail and back by my side.” The longing in the woman’s voice made Alexa think of Maverick. She wanted him by her side, too. And so many things he’d said recently gave her hope that he felt the same exact way. His voice played in her ear.
I. Fucking. Want. You. Us. A future. Our history, even the fucked-up parts. All of it.
Alexa’s heart squeezed at the memory of the promising words, the rough determination in his voice, the hot fierceness of his expression.
“I like hearing you call him ‘my man,’” Cora said, waggling her brows.
“I do, too,” Alexa said. “Never thought I’d see Dare in a relationship. But he obviously adores you. It’s really good to see.”
Pink filled Haven’s cheeks and she chuckled, but it was clear how much she enjoyed hearing it.
Suddenly, Alexa’s cell buzzed where it laid on the seat next to her.
Please, let it be good news from Maverick.
It was, quite possibly, the exact opposite.
GRANT: Come home, Alexa.
The words were innocuous enough, but they still made her stomach drop. Because he just wasn’t getting it, was he? And on top of what’d happened to Dare and Jagger today, that seemed . . . problematic. Purposely obtuse, at least. Disconnected from reality, at worst.
“Is that Maverick?” Haven asked, hope flaring in her bright blue eyes.
“No,” Alexa said, blowing out a breath. “My ex. Asking me to come home again for like the millionth time.”