Chapter 30 – Harley
T here were moments when I swore I could feel eyes on me. I blinked, shielding my gaze from the deceptively bright October sun. Cami Joe was far ahead, people mingling between us, but I moved at a slower pace, and now stopped to search the campus sidewalk. No one was there. I was seeing things. In the sea of students, there were no familiar faces.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling. It was an itch, tickling my skin. The oddest part of the strange and seemingly random occurrence, it didn’t feel like a bad thing. It was fleeting, there and gone in a blink!
I sighed, reaching to touch the sensitive skin at the back of my neck.
Cami turned, put her hands on her hips, and raised her voice to be heard over the distance. “Har? Aren’t you coming?”
I waved her off, scanning the crowd just one more time. No, no one was outright watching me. That tingle at the base of my neck was definitely a lack of caffeine.
Trust your instincts, farm girl. I pushed that thought away. If city life taught me anything, it was that humans weren’t nearly as awesome as animals. Our sixth senses, which were faulty to begin with, were only suppressed by technology, gridlock, and a disconnect from nature.
Taking fast steps, I fell beside my companion. “You said you had something to talk about?” I prompted.
“I think you and I should be suitemates,” Cami Joe said in that no nonsense business tone that made her seem far more grown up than she was.
“As if we don’t see enough of one another?” I laughed. Since classes started, we’d been practically inseparable these last eight weeks.
“Joke all you want, I’m sharing a suite with three girls, and they’re partying more than just the weekends. You might only have one suitemate, but she doesn’t clean. It’s a win-win,” she said matter-of-factly.
“We can’t just ask my suitemate to move,” I protested.
“I can be very persuasive.”
A chill ran down my spine. There were moments like these where I felt the shadows surrounding this young girl’s life slip out of the closet where she kept them locked tight. This one had secrets—lots and lots of secrets.
“Well?” Cami Joe stopped abruptly, brow arched and exasperation written on her features.
“I’ll think about it,” I evaded. While what she said about her and my assigned suitemates was true, it was almost scary how she simply decided something and had not only the resources but the will and strength to move mountains.
“Well hurry, I want to arrange it all this weekend if possible, so we can start fresh on Tuesday.” Cami hiked her duffel bag over her shoulder, and we continued to walk towards the student parking ramp.
“How did you do on the Scholffield’s midterm?” I asked about the one class we didn’t share.
“Likely aced it.” There were brown spots under her eyes. She hadn’t put on makeup this morning, and the poor kid looked even younger this tired.
“You need to sleep this weekend,” I insisted. “Don’t stay up cramming to get ahead just because it’s fall break.”
“Same to you,” she grinned.
Oh, I would! A four-day weekend back home with only me and my grandparents. It would be heaven, quiet and peaceful. There were books to be read, but most importantly, there were animals to play with. I was taking Lilac on a ride first thing tonight. In the parking lot, a blacked out pickup truck pulled to a stop. A nagging feeling washed through me. It wasn’t his truck. But damn if it didn’t look similar enough to bring up the memory of my summer romance.
The woman who jumped from the driver’s seat was not who I was expecting. She was gorgeous. While we were probably the same height, she carried herself like royalty. Not that I had experience with aristocracy. But this woman was effortlessly expensive, nailing that chic, vintage look. Her blazing red hair was tamed to fall in a waterfall of vibrant hues to her curvy waist. Even with that fiery hair, her smile was the warmest thing about her.
“Laurel! I didn’t expect you,” Cami Joe squealed—actually squealed—and ran forward to embrace the woman.
I stopped short, gaping at the pair.
“We wanted to take our little scholar out for lunch! To celebrate your glowing success on the midterms,” the woman beamed.
“I haven’t got the grades back.” Cami rolled her eyes but grinned broadly at her. “Where’s Dan-dan? I thought she was coming.”
Laurel’s smiling features tightened. It was the smallest shift, but if I hadn’t been staring at the women in disbelief, I wouldn’t have noticed.
“She’ll be there!”
“Laurel?”
“Nothing’s wrong, we’ll explain,” Laurel insisted.
Cami gave her a flat look.
“Dani is waiting for us,” Laurel said. “Now! Who is your friend that we are so rudely ignoring?”
I shook myself, but it did little to come out of the stupor I was in at seeing my too serious, incredibly driven classmate—and probably soon-to-be suitemate—become a real person. “Hi! I’m Harley. Cami and I are in a lot of the same classes.”
“We’ve heard so much about you.” Laurel glided over and shook my hand. “We’re really glad our Camilla has made such a good friend.”
Funny, I didn’t know much about Cami Joe’s family, other than she’d been adopted by her grandma and step-grandfather—why that was the case, she’d never said. I wasn’t even sure who this vibrant beauty was to Cami. I doubted they were siblings. Laurel’s complexion was pale and smooth, whereas Cami had those rich olive tones that made her look permanently tan.
“Hopefully good things,” I breathed, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“Good things—a few key details missing—but nothing we can’t fill in the blanks about at luncheon.” Laurel’s smile was suddenly sharp as she flashed it on Cami.
The girl winced.
“Well, Cami Joe is a fantastic student, and it’s been amazing to study with her,” I quickly added, wondering if the age difference between us bothered the relative. They had to know Cami would make friends who were probably a little older than her. Granted, not as old as me, but still.
“Oh, we know how preoccupied she can be when her nose is in a book,” Laurel laughed, the sound light and tinkly. Musical. Damn, but she had the prettiest voice. “Either way, maybe when things settle down in your busy schedule, we can find a time to do a girl’s lunch. Our treat!”
The bright invitation seemed friendly and casual on the surface. But I couldn’t shake the sense there was something else underneath.
“I’d love that, but as I’m sure you know, these graduate level courses are pretty demanding,” I said, setting myself up for an evasion technique. “Anyhow, I have to get going. Lovely to meet you! And Cami?”
“Yeah?” She blinked at me.
“What you said earlier, I’m game for it,” I smiled. Because if anything, there was an urge in my chest that wanted to protect this younger woman at all costs.
“I’ll make it happen!” Cami grinned. “Have a great fall break, Har.”
“Thanks, you do the same—and rest!” I added over my shoulder.
As she walked away, linked arm in arm with the redhaired queen, I heard snippets of their conversation.
“So that’s your friend?” Laurel began.
“Yes,” Cami gulped. “But Luka already knew she was living across the hall from me.”
“I can’t believe he didn’t tell us!” Laurel protested. “We would have come and met her sooner.”
“I think Luka wants to keep it quiet…for reasons,” Cami stressed the word.
Laurel barked a laugh. “No doubt. But cat’s out of the bag now.”
“Before we do anything, we need to run it by Cousin Luka,” Cami Joe insisted.
“Dani said the same thing,” Laurel grumbled. “And I suppose you’re right. We can’t have the big, scary wraith coming down on us for messing with things we shouldn’t.”
“Agreed.”
Truck doors slammed.
I slid into the driver’s seat of my Passat and watched them pull away. As the front end turned, I caught a flash through the not quite as tinted windshield. I could have sworn the woman in the front seat was familiar. But it was too quick and then the truck roared away.
“Well, if that wasn’t the oddest meeting,” I muttered, selecting a driving song list. I replayed the interaction in my mind once more, but it made less sense the second time. By the time I was on the freeway headed north, I pushed it from my mind and lost myself to the upbeat jams crackling through my speakers.
***
This made everything worth it. Even the most broken soul could find peace and rejuvenation in such serene moments. This was the third ride we’d been on, and with each clop of hoof, each shift in the saddle, the cares and fatigue chipped away, piece by tiny piece. Lilac tripped lightly through the tall grass. The ditch had been recently mown, and since there’d been little water this fall, it was easy for her to walk this way. The occasional car whizzed past on the highway, but so far no assholes threw garbage at us. The fall breeze teased that colder days were coming, but the sun assured us that spring would come again after her long winter’s nap.
Being home brought back waves of nostalgia. Life went on without me. The seasons might have changed, but otherwise, everything else was the same on the farm. My grandparents asked how I was feeling and if I was eating enough. When they asked about my classes, they didn’t seem to understand how impressive it was that I was doing so well. “That’s great, dear,” was the automated response. I tried not to let it bother me, but the truth was it did. I was living a completely different life, and it didn’t compute with the day-to-day of the farming community. The boys were friendly. Even Duke missed me. Thankfully, none of the rest of the family was going to be around. So I was able to escape on my horse and let my heart find peace in the storm of emotions, even if it was only temporary.
My stomach rumbled, and I shifted in the seat. I urged Lilac from the sloped land to cut across a field. Not wanting to end the ride early, a sandwich from Betty’s Diner would be just the thing. Luckily, I had a twenty in my pocket, or I would have to do an IOU with one of the waitresses. Part of the corn had been harvested from this area, leaving us a clear path over which to trot. I stayed away from the tree line in case of hunters. While there were still a few more weeks before rifle season for whitetail deer, bow hunters were likely in their perches on such a warm day. Lilac wore blaze-orange paint on her hind quarters and flanks. I likewise had a lightweight vest of the same color. But it was warm enough that my jean jacket was tied around my waist.
Crossing the road, we galloped over a meadow before reaching the parking lot of the diner. Brown leaves littered the gravel lot, most having lost their magnificent coloring after falling off the skeletal branches. Now they looked stagnant and would start to rot the moment the snow fell.
Tying Lilac outside, I pushed inside the bustling restaurant.
“Harley! Big city girl, come back home,” Gemma called out from behind the counter.
I hurried over and hugged her tight. “Oh, I’ve missed you!”
Gemma laughed. “You’re back all weekend, right?”
“Right.” I cleared my throat. A lump had formed there at the sudden wave of homesickness. It might be a simple routine, but seeing the old haunts, being around familiar faces, and the bustle of the diner hit me harder than I could have expected. “Last time you called, you said you were having menus printed for your place? Did you get the proofs yet?”
“Sure did! You should stop by tonight, and we’ll look at them,” she offered. “If you’re not going out?”
“No,” I laughed. “I’m too old for that scene. I’ll come over; we can have girls’ night.”
“You’ve got it!” Her smile was infectious. “Can you believe I’m finally doing it?”
No, I really can’t. “I’m so proud of you, Gemma.”
After talking about it for years, Gemma made the decision this fall to spend her tidy savings and open her farm-to-table café next spring, just in time for tourism to fill her pockets. She would have limited hours in the winter, but figured she could make a killing in the summer. The secret would be catering desserts for rich people’s lake events.
“I owe it to you,” she beamed.
I jerked slightly. “Me? What did I do?”
Gemma shrugged and fidgeted with her apron. “You did it, Harley. You stayed strong and made your dream a reality, despite what folks around here said.”
Words failed me. I hadn’t done it yet. Hell, it would be years before I finally made it.
“If it wasn’t for you, I would never have had the courage to go for it.” Gemma gave me another squeeze, before moving behind the counter to grab her soda from under it. “Anyhow, enough of that sappiness. You just stopped in to surprise little old, emotional me?”
“That and order a sandwich.” I grinned. “I rode Lilac over, so I’ll have to wait out there with her.”
“Cold club coming right up! Want chips with that?”
“Harley! You’re here. Quit school already?” Sarah Jane cackled from the back section with a tray of dishes.
“Hi, Sarah,” I said, refusing to engage with her negativity, and to Gemma, I added, “Yes, please.”
“Did you come up to spend time with that weird family? Would have thought you washed your hands of them.” Sarah came back, tray tucked under her arm.
I blinked at her. “It’s fall break.”
“Oh, so you’re not going to the McTavish place tonight?” Sarah Jane laughed, wiping her hands on her apron. “Color me surprised.”
Gemma shushed the other waitress. “She’s coming over to my house.”
“Why would I go there?” I asked, heart rate suddenly doubling.
“That feller you were seeing earlier in the summer? His family is having some shindig there. Tami saw the mom and sisters buying groceries. Foreign folk, speaking Spanish or French or something in the Piggly Wiggly.” Sarah Jane picked gunk from under her acrylic nails, not bothering with the health code. “They rented jet skis and spent an insane amount at the liquor store. Should be quite the weekend bash over there.”
I looked between the two waitresses.
“I didn’t think you’d want to know,” Gemma said lamely. “That’s why I didn’t text you a heads up.”
I swallowed hard. “Thanks, Gemma. But I’m glad you told me.”
Gemma cocked her head. “You sure? That guy just disappeared, and you never talked about him.”
I nodded. “Positive.”
It was better to know. If Kole was in town, I could lay low this weekend and avoid him. But the sinking feeling in my gut told me he wasn’t here. He’d simply disappeared this summer. People didn’t just vanish, and yet he had. I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“You two were really hot and heavy, what happened?” Sarah Jane leaned her boney chicken wing elbows against the stainless-steel countertop and curled her back like a cat.
“Nothing happened. His vacation was over.” I moved to the front door. “I’ll wait with Lilac.”
Gemma nodded.
Outside, I gulped down the crisp air. My chest felt as though it threatened to crack in two. The pressure from my fingers rubbing against my sternum helped. Lilac whickered at me, and I hurried to her side, tucking myself against her musky neck.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths. It wasn’t a breakup, because it never was anything more than fun. So why did I still feel…something for him?
“Because he just disappeared,” I gasped. Not knowing where he was and if he was okay bothered me more than I cared to admit. And I couldn’t fight for us with such an abrupt ending.
Tipping her head, the mare bumped her nose against my shoulder in sympathy.