“I didn’t stick around long after that.”

Phaedra held out a set of keys and tossed them to me. I caught them, recognizing the key chain.

“There is also the matter of your parents dropping off your vehicle. You’ll have to move it. It’s sitting in customer parking.”

“What?” I asked.

“I told them you didn’t want it,” Chuck said. “The key is in the ignition.”

I looked down at the shiny metal in my hands. “My car is here? They just left it?”

“Lord, girl. Aren’t you listening?” Phaedra asked.

“Where should I … park it?”

Phaedra pointed in the general direction of the street. “Next to where Kirby usually parks. Well? Get goin’.”

“Why are you angry?” I asked, wiping my cheek with my wrist.

“I’m not angry, damn it! I’m worried. Beat it. I’ve got pies to make.” She whipped around, wiping her eyes as she marched to the back.

“Want me to move it?” Chuck asked.

I shook my head. “I’ll do it.”

“Falyn,” Chuck said, his voice soft, “Pete finding you on the floor like that is concerning. We wish you’d talk to us.”

“It just happened. I haven’t had time to talk to anyone.”

“You should have called.”

“I gave Taylor back the phone.”

“Does he know that?”

I nodded.

“So, he knows it’s over then.”

I gripped the keys in my palm, feeling the edges digging into my skin. “He has something far more important to concentrate on.”

I turned for the door, but Chuck called out, “Falyn?”

I stopped but didn’t turn around.

“You should let him decide if you’re his priority or not.”

“It’s not that I don’t think he would choose me,” I said over my shoulder. “It’s just that I couldn’t live with myself if he did.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

After work on Saturday and Sunday nights, instead of waiting for Taylor to come to the Bucksaw after his shift, I would get into my car and drive. I would keep my foot on the gas pedal until I was too tired to continue, trying to get lost and find my way back again.

Monday, I told myself that Taylor would know better than to show up at my place of work, but at eleven thirty, he and his crew arrived.

Kirby, already knowing what to do, sat them at the back table, and Phaedra took their orders. I did my best to ignore them, but Dalton made it a point to tell me hello.

I remained polite, only seeing Taylor from the corners of my eyes. He was staring at me, waiting for me to see him, but I passed by.

“Falyn! Order up!” Chuck yelled.