Crazy Hot Love (Dirty Dicks 2)

I look up from the menu. “Why?”

“Really, you have to ask? Because you’re one of them, and they care about you.”

Sometimes I forgot how small this town is. “Oh.”

My gaze drifts across the bar. She’s right. I know everyone in here by name, and not only that, I can tell you who their significant others are and where they work, and if they have kids, I can tell you their names as well. They’re all giving me curious looks.

My thoughts are interrupted when our waitress, Sarah, walks up.

“Hey, Claire. Good to see you. How’ve you been?”

I’m sick of people asking me that. I force a smile and look up at her. “I’m good, thank you.”

She touches my arm. “Glad to have you back.” She winks and turns to Mo. “Sean and I miss you. Things just aren’t the same since you’ve been gone.”

“It’s only been a week. Coop told me he finally replaced me,” Mo says.

Replaced her? What is she talking about?

“Yup. Her name is Willa, and she started last weekend. This is her first bartending job, but she’s a quick learner. I think she’ll fit in just fine.”

“That’s great.”

Sarah pulls out her pen and pad. “So, what are you ladies having tonight?”

“Tell Coop Claire wants her usual, and I’ll have a cheeseburger and fries.”

“Got it.” She scribbles everything down and then looks up. “Soda? Beer? Wine?”

“I’ll have a Diet Coke,” Mo says.

“Me too.”

Sarah nods, stuffs the pad in her back pocket, and walks off.

Arms folded across my chest, I lean back in the booth and stare at Mo.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks.

“You don’t work here anymore? Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, feeling affronted. I don’t know why I ask, though. I know the answer before it comes out of her mouth.

“Because you’ve had enough on your plate, and I’ve barely seen you to tell you.”

“We talk almost every day,” I retort.

“No, I call to check on you, and you growl at me a few times and hang up. We haven’t had a real conversation in a long time, and the few times you do say more than two words, I don’t want to talk about me, I want to talk about you because I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be. I’m going to be fine, Mo. I know I’ve been off, but that fire was scary and after what happened to my dad…I just need to work through some things in my head. But I’ll be okay.” As I say these words, I really, really hope they’re true.

Her shoulders relax. “Promise?”

“I promise. This isn’t much different than the rough patch you went through after your dad’s stroke. And just because I’m working through things in my head doesn’t mean you aren’t my best friend. I still want to know what’s going on in your life.”

“I quit Dirty Dicks.”

I laugh. “I can see that. But how?”

Mo was supposed to be a veterinarian. She was going to take over her father’s practice. She was accepted into a program, but just a few months in, her father had a stroke. Mo’s mother ran out on them a long time ago, so it was no surprise when Mo dropped out of school to come home and take care of her dad. Between taking over Animal Haven and managing her dad’s medical bills—including paying caregivers, which happened to be my mom and aunt—Mo was sucked dry monetarily.