Hey Jude (Lennox Valley Chronicles #1)

I turn to Nat, scrunching my nose. “Hey, uh… my car’s still in the shop and I can’t cover the repairs yet because I still haven’t gotten paid by that last deadbeat client—”

“Ugh, rude,” Nat interrupts in solidarity, shaking her head.

“I know.” I roll my eyes. “So, my lovely best friend,” I continue, placing my palms together in front of my chest, “would you be a beautiful soul and maybe consider lending me your car for the Thursday thing? It’s pretty far outside of town.”

Nat’s eyes widen—the visual equivalent of the word duh. “Oh, one hundred percent. Perks of working from home, right? Zero commute. So yeah, I don’t need my car. No such thing as a local government policy emergency. None that I need to drive for, anyway,” she chuckles.

I smile broadly, truly grateful Nat is my best friend. Ever since we met in Geology 101 in our first year of college, we’ve had each other’s backs.

“Thank you. I should have money coming in soon, so I won’t need you to rescue me for much longer,” I offer apologetically.

She waves a dismissive hand my way. “Girl, it’s not an issue. I’m just happy to help you get back on the work train!”

“Thanks, again. Seriously. I owe you one.” A beat passes and I realize we’ve been talking about me a lot. “So, what’s new with you, anyway?”

“Well,” says Nat, “Graham finally booked the week away in Portland for our anniversary!”

“Yes! The boyfriend delivers!” I exclaim, though I’m not surprised he came through. Graham, an old friend of mine and Wyatt’s, is as dependable as they come. He and Nat have been inseparable ever since I introduced them on Thanksgiving weekend a couple of years back, when she tagged along with me on a trip home from Seattle to see my folks. It wasn’t long before she decided to move here. I have Graham to thank for my best friend living in my hometown—another reason moving back here was a good decision.

“I know, I’m so excited. Especially with how much he’s been working lately. So much overtime! They’ve got some new, big-deal client, so they’re all working ridiculous hours. His boss just keeps piling more work on him and he’s having trouble saying no.”

I shake my head, smirking at Graham’s over-the-top work ethic. “You know, he’s always been like that. Even in high school! He’d bring his homework over to my house and get it done before doing anything fun.” I smile at the memory of Graham as a lanky teenager hunched over his assignments at our dining room table.

“Well, he’s not allowed to bring any homework on this trip.” She sighs. “Anyway, it’ll be great to get away.” Nat grins, tugging down the sleeves of her bright yellow athletic top. The color is gorgeous against the deep brown of her skin.

“Love that for you both. Sounds very romantic, may I add.” I pump my eyebrows to accentuate the point and she scoffs, though I know she loves it.

A buzzing comes from inside my hoodie pocket. I pull out my phone. There’s a new text from a number that isn’t saved in my contacts. My heart falters for a beat. Glancing at Nat, I open the message.

Olena, it’s Sean.

Heart suddenly kicking in my chest, I quickly delete the message and slide the phone back into my pocket, my hand shaking slightly.

“Nat?” I swallow and try to steady my breathing.

“What is it?”

I’m silent for a moment, my brows knit together with worry.

“Len? Everything okay?”

“Um…” I look out the car window but no one’s there. My eyes search up and down the street, only seeing the usual rush of traffic and people on the sidewalk going in and out of shops and apartment complexes. “Maybe? Or… No? I don’t know.” I turn to Nat again. “Sean just texted me.”

She pauses before responding, her eyebrows raised in shock. “What the fuck? Not okay. You told him specifically not to contact you.” She frowns deeply. “What a dick. Are you alright?”

I take a breath. “I don’t know,” is all I can say in reply, my eyes still scanning the sidewalk outside the car, all the work-joy suddenly soured.

“Is there anything I can do?” she asks carefully. “Break his knees? Knock out his teeth? Send him anthrax in the mail?”

I can’t help but smile half-heartedly. “Thanks,” I say in a quiet voice. “Tempting. But no physical assault or acts of domestic terrorism, please,” I say dryly. “Too messy.”

Nat sucks her teeth. “Details, details.” She pauses. “So, what’d he say?”

“Just Olena, it’s Sean. I don’t know what he wants. I deleted it.”

My kingdom for a way to delete him—and what happened to us—from my memory.

“Good,” Nat says. “Man, fuck that guy.”