“I wasn’t looking for you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” I said, wanting to wipe the smirk right off his face. It didn’t work. Maybe because I’d still ended up in his bed, one way or the other. “I’m not sure why I was there. I wanted to forget everything for a little while, I guess.” I paused, pulling on my memories again, worrying at the threads. Knowing this road was nowhere I really wanted to go, but helpless to stop walking it. Because in the light of day, Junie loomed large again. The pain was back, full throttle, and with it the anger. Burning and boiling below the surface. “I talked to Crystal while I was there.”

“Crystal.” Jimmy Ray snorted. “Pretty accurate name given her meth habit.”

“She said something about Matt and Cal.” I hoped he would contradict Crystal, tell me she was full of shit. “That they were always talking. Hanging out. Or something.”

“You’ll have to ask your brother about that,” Jimmy Ray said after a pause that went on a little too long.

My heart plummeted, left a hollow, aching void in my chest. “You’re saying it’s true?”

Jimmy Ray shook his head. “I’m not saying shit. I’m saying you’ll have to talk to your brother if you want answers to a question like that.”

“Fine,” I said, “that’s what I’ll do.” I slid my legs to the edge of the bed. I took a deep breath, grabbed my underwear and jeans from the floor, and pulled them on, ignoring Jimmy Ray’s eyes on my bare ass. Nothing he hasn’t seen before, I told myself. Last night, in fact, if we’re keeping track. “By the way, weren’t you the one telling me I wasn’t asking the right questions a few days ago? ‘Follow the money, Eve,’ isn’t that what you told me? And now, suddenly, you’ve got nothing to say?”

“Nope,” Jimmy Ray said. He sounded amused.

“Where’s my bra?” I asked, turning to face him with one arm over my breasts.

“Around here somewhere.” He grinned at me. “You’re crazy if you think I’m helping you find it. I’m enjoying the show too much.”

“You’re disgusting,” I told him. Threw aside blankets and kicked through piles on the floor until I found it, then my shirt wadded into a ball next to his dresser. “Can you give me a ride back to my car?”

“No need. It’s right out front. I had Sam drive it over last night.”

Vintage Jimmy Ray. On the surface it seemed like a thoughtful gesture, but really it was insurance against me outstaying my welcome. I leaned over to pick up my shoes, still moving slowly to keep my stomach from sliding into my mouth, and Jimmy Ray reached out, locked his hand around my wrist. I jerked upright, shoes forgotten, tried to pull away.

“Sit,” he said, giving my arm a tug. I pulled backward, but he tightened his grip. “Sit,” he repeated, less give in his voice this time, patting the bed next to his hip with his free hand. “For a second.”