“Sure you do. His name is Vince and he wore a big number four on the back of his Spanish Fort jersey.”

Cassie laughed. “Tyler, I don’t—”

Her words were drowned out when the back door opened and his dad’s voice rang out. “Tyler, you in here?”

“Yes, sir.” Tyler took a step back from Cassie and crossed his arms.

A moment later, his dad and Maya appeared at the front of the store. His dad had a tire under his arm. “I went ahead and grabbed this for you.” He set the tire down and propped it up against a shelf. “I figured you might have your hands full.” He cocked an eyebrow up. “I showed Maya here the chickens, and we grabbed the eggs that were out there. I’ve got a customer up front, so I’m gonna . . .” His dad hooked his thumb back toward the register, then walked away, his relief at escaping the delicate situation so apparent on his face, Tyler almost laughed. Then he caught the expression on Cassie’s face.

Tyler cleared his throat. “Cassie, this is Maya.”

“Maya.” Cassie lifted an eyebrow. “Who’s she?”

He bristled at her tone, but he kept his voice even. “She’s a friend. We met in town. She works at Two Sisters and at the Shack.”

“Oh, the Shack. They have the best lemonade.” It was an innocent statement, but there was nothing innocent about the way Cassie said it, or the smirk on her lips. She held out her hand to shake Maya’s. “Any friend of Tyler’s is a friend of mine. What’s the tire for?”

“I had a flat and Tyler stopped to help.”

“Well, isn’t that sweet?” Cassie stepped toward Tyler and kissed his cheek. He could feel the gooey print of her gloss on his skin. “Tyler Holt’s always willing to step up and help a stranger.”

Though the barb was directed at Maya, Tyler felt it as if it had hooked him in the chest. He stepped away from Cassie and grabbed the tire. “She’s not a stranger. I told you—she’s a friend.” With his free hand he touched Maya’s elbow and nodded toward the door.

As they walked out Tyler could feel the weight of Cassie’s stare on his back, but he let the front door close firmly behind them.

The ride back to Maya’s car was quiet, with only Ruby’s panting to fill the silence. Tyler tried to think of a way to explain Cassie’s presence in the store, but when he glanced over at Maya, she was so untroubled, he decided to say nothing. She’d leaned her head back against the seat and was idly rubbing Ruby’s back, the breeze lifting the hair around her face in a wispy halo.

Back at her car, it only took him about twenty minutes to change the tire. After throwing the flat one in the bed of his truck, he found Ruby flopped on her back next to Maya, who was stroking the dog’s chest. Ruby’s eyes were closed in happiness.