Imperfect Justice by Olivia Jaymes Page A

recliner and fall asleep in front of the television.”
    Rayne wrinkled her nose. “Is your throat sore? That’s usually how it starts. Body aches? Fever? Stuffy nose?”
    Misty shook her head. “Just tired. Maybe it’s stress from the move or something.”
    Rayne sighed, her mouth turned down. “I’m going to miss you so much. I swear you’re the only person around here I can talk to. You know, really talk to.”
    “What about your sister?”
    “I love my sister but she and I are different people. I want to be there for her now that she’s pregnant but she’s not making it easy. Her hormones must be on the rampage because she’s been having these tantrums. When she wants something she wants it now, and she expects all of us to drop whatever we’re doing and run and it get for her while she sits back like Jabba the Hutt. Even Mike has about had it and he’s in love with her.”
    “What does your mom say?” Misty asked. Rayne was close to her mother even though she lived in Florida.
    “My mom says Camy is using her pregnancy as an excuse to act like a bitch and that we all need to take a stand or she’ll be even worse when the baby comes. She mentioned doing some sort of dance in the moonlight for the Goddess.” Rayne rolled her eyes and groaned. Rayne’s mother could only be described as eccentric. “I can’t imagine her getting worse but Mom might have a point. I’m not too worried about it though. She’s planning to fly up here when Camy has the baby, and if you know my mom you know she’ll put my sister in her place within five minutes. I can’t wait to see it.”
    Misty had never met Rayne’s mom but she sounded like a formidable woman despite her mystical air.
    “It sounds like you’ll be too busy with your sister to miss me but we can Skype. I hope you’ll come visit soon too. Maybe in the summer. That’s supposed to be a nice time of year in Seattle.”
    Rayne waved to get the attention of the waitress. “I’m already tired of the cold and snow. Every winter seems longer than the last. That reminds me. How’s your car doing since you got it out of the shop? No problems?”
    Did everything have to remind Misty of Jared? If her car hadn’t broken down he wouldn’t have given her a ride home. And if he hadn’t given her a ride home…
    “No problems, although I’m glad I won’t be needing it so much after I move. Eventually I’ll have to save for a new one.”
    The waitress finally made it to their table, pad and pencil in hand. “Anything else or just the check?”
    “Refills for both of us,” Rayne replied. “And maybe a slice of that apple pie with ice cream on top.”
    The woman scribbled something down and smiled. “I’ll have that right out to you. Good choice, by the way. The pie was freshly made this morning and smells wonderful. How about some caramel sauce on top?”
    “Perfect,” Rayne agreed, mirroring the woman’s smile. “I love apple and caramel.”
    The waitress bustled back to the kitchen and Misty’s gaze went to the front windows and Main Street. The sheriff’s station was only a block down. It was Saturday but Jared might be working. Misty didn’t know much about law enforcement but she’d heard they worked strange hours.
    Just stop.
    She was doing it again. Daydreaming about Jared when she should be doing something else. Anything else.
    “You know, you’ve been acting weird lately. Is there anything you want to talk about? Are you second-guessing your decision to move?”
    Misty hadn’t told Rayne about her night with Jared. She didn’t know what to say or how to explain what made her do it. And she sure as hell didn’t know how she felt about him now. Until she was clear in her mind she didn’t know how to talk about it.
    “No,” Misty said firmly. “I’ve been waiting for years to leave. This is absolutely the right thing to do. And I haven’t been acting weird. I’ve just been preoccupied with all the things I need to get done before