pte

v

in the air. Still, the farmer's market bustled. T

Linea

a storm coul

Stopped by some and looked throu

now?" Linea dropped a

t

wh

a bo

ing woman. Every week,

could do. I bit my

"Look around us." Shoppers.

es

ys." She latched onto my arm, pinning me with hazel eyes. "We can star

from the hundreds of prod

le. "Look, just look at the ingredients." Linea read them out lo

bleach..." The seller poke

t quickly, and

we stand a fair chance." "It's a good idea," I

nlighten others t

act

nd to make way as a man p

lus, you know some people would like to u

if we

e not cutting b

e. We'd had this conv

n't work together, I'd b

't entir

elp them and still make money o

I

Yoo-ho

stout woman in her forties. A few gray hairs played through her r

I smiled. Linea offe

eyes between us. "Ava." She smiled warmly. "

thing, and it was three

t

l talking about it." She

Thank

ps. "Dad made it. I

is way around the kitchen. I hop

m sure you'll get back o

ea and me, she said, "I sure do ho

n she w

ve you," Li

ed through the aisles

p her from pressing the issue, I changed the s

perked up, compl

e products, but also a checklis

do so is the owners aren't keeping up daily. What if we create mock-ups of simpl

her tracks. I tur

hat to do with you." She

's our whole thing - cleaning and tidying up out-of-contro

r a moment.

. "I wonder how you'd make any money

in

'm just saying. You're like Sa

up in my brain. "No one's complai

ned, a smile in her eyes. I shook m

idea, though, right?" I nodded. "Sou

a charge. We ca

stomach swooped, heat

ect myself. Someone bumped into me an

tanding as my head sw

are you okay?" I blinked at my frien

rm. "Come with me." Linea brought us to a

e right

nds and massaged my foreh

er

Linea held a can of sod

bringing some stability. Linea dropped in

b

was

no idea. But..." I dropped the can on the

ince when? Why are

. Probably just been working to

much. What if you take Monday off an

gritted my teeth against the sensation. "You can't do

ut

ound. "I'm fine." Somewhat. "I'll sleep in tom

ed a reluct

, "But if you're the slightest bi

to calm her d

we get everything?" Linea looked

hs gave way to the town's streets, and soo

I might not be able to mak

" Line

sed to mention it. I couldn't

d the first thing that ca

thing o

d about his friend?" "Liam?"

t this upon

." Linea sco

told her that, but nothing mo

h I thought about him daily, I could now

dying to t

. He got fed up with the rat race and deci

d with a secret service ag

e has t

"He's just

dirty with." She pinched

t that way." "But

one paid us any mind. "Shh." "Wha

ound out he's staying. He'

, d

for never seei

n her lip. "I've got not

. "It is." "So, do

at. "Of course not. And you

reathe a w

d my shoulders. If I didn't tell my dad,

urning down my dad's dinner invite

ke me feel any type of w

sick feeling heaved up my throat. I raced

kfast c

side, holding back my hair. Anoth

until my insides emptied. I sank on

d aside the trash can. My quip

"how long have you

er my forehead. I had men

es nar

" I drew myself up, and

e

slept with Lia

. "No, it's not possible." "Ava." Sh

ssed a hand to my mouth

e. How's that po

k. "I'm not... I can't be..." T

ds. "Look at me." I stared into haze

e you're at the height of your burnout." Her ligh

what if I just got you a preg

and nodded toward my

ees you? What

y upper arms. "Because y

t a sigh

ka

va

pulling in a breath. "

e up behind her. My eyes went to my da

ght throw