Chapter Four
Tandy
Idrop my bag and water jug onto the chair next to the front door and slam the door shut.
I try to take off my shoe while I hop over to my bed.
I trip over my own foot and fall onto my thick comforter with a humph.
While I’m not a big hiking girl, I do enjoy hiking with Grayson.
Even when I’m slow or stop to snap a picture to sketch later, he’s always patient with me.
My place is a little back house in the Johnsons’ backyard.
They are the sweetest couple I’ve ever met—and I’ve met a lot of people in my short lifetime.
It’s a small studio but has the basics. There’s a kitchenette (that I rarely use) to the left, a queen bed against the back wall, with a love seat in the middle.
It’s small and quaint, but it’s been home for the last year.
There’s a full bath, and they didn’t skimp on the soaking tub.
Mom and I have always been on the road, so I was never a “bath to relax” kind of girl.
But now, I see the appeal, and it’s become my favorite way to wind down.
I’m wrestling with my other Mary Jane shoe as I hear a knock on the door.
“Tandy?”
“Grayson, is that you?” I finally manage to free my foot from the shoe’s clutches.
“Of course, who else would it be?” he teases through the door as I roll my eyes.
“It could be a handsome prince to sweep me off my feet.” I rise from the bed and walk over to the door, opening it to reveal Grayson in all his hiking gear glory.
When he’s not in his cop uniform, he’s in jeans and a button-up flannel.
Most of the time, it’s left unbuttoned with a formfitting shirt underneath.
He’s tall and lean but muscular. Now that I think about it, aside from his wardrobe, he kind of looks like a prince.
That pretty boy, the one all the girls swoon over.
“Hate to break it to you, Tandy. But princes don’t normally show up in pickup trucks.” There’s an amused smile playing on his lips.
“What do they drive? Or do they have drivers still?”
Without warning, my foot slips on something wet, and I gasp as I begin to fall back. Grayson’s arms swoop behind my back and prevents me from falling to the ground. My arms instinctively wrap around his neck, my face inches from his.
“You alright?” His eyes search mine, concern filling his expression. His arm is still snugly around my waist, and for a second, I forget to breathe.
“I’m fine…I slipped on something.” I stand upright and look at the wooden floor. “Water? It must have spilled from my water jug.”
I walk to the cabinet next to the bathroom and grab a towel. My back is growing cold from where Gray’s arm was.
“I was in a rush and dropped it on the chair. Looks like it rolled onto the floor. I mustn’t have tightened the lid enough.”
I finish wiping it up and throw the towel half-heartedly into the bathroom. “There. All done. Let me just change!” I go to the pile of clothes strewn across the couch and start searching for my jeans.
“I’ll meet you at the truck.”
“Ah ha! Found them!” I shout as I find the pair of jeans I’m looking for. “Okay, be right out!”
I quickly get dressed and run out the door. I skip over to the car as a whoosh of cold wind makes me wish I had dressed in layers or grabbed my winter coat.
“Ready?” Grayson grins at me from the driver’s seat, the sound of the engine humming in the background.
“As I’ll ever be,” I say, sliding into the passenger seat and pulling the door closed.
“No penguin sweaters this time? I thought you were getting into the holiday spirit?” Grayson says as he pulls away from the curb.
“Har har.” I roll my eyes. “What about you? The holiday spirit on your end is lacking, Officer Grinch.”
Grayson chuckles, his eyes briefly meeting mine before he focuses back on the road. “I’m no Grinch. I love Christmas.”
“Ah, but there’s a difference between loving Christmas and living it,” I reply, placing my hands in front of the vents, feeling the warmth of the heater.
He raises an eyebrow.
“Embrace the whole season, Gray!”
“Excessive decorations, gingerbread houses, and penguin sweaters?” He mocks a shudder. “Not my thing.”
“Well, there’s your problem, Gray. You need more penguin sweaters in your life,” I respond, matter-of-factly.
“Tandy, you’re something else.” He shakes his head.
Moments like these seem to catch me off guard.
The life I’ve built in Oakridge Hollow is still foreign when I stop and think about it, which I’ve been doing more lately.
I’m used to being on the road, meeting new people, and never staying in one place for longer than a few weeks, maybe a month or two.
I’ve thought about leaving before. Just packing up and jumping in the Wanderer again, but I haven’t been able to do it. I haven’t figured out why, though. I know I’d find a new job and make new friends.
But you’ll never find another Grayson.
My subconscious is right. I wouldn’t. I’m surprised I found him in the first place.
We reach the base of the hiking trail, and Grayson parks.
“Couldn’t we just stay in here? The nice, warm truck?”
He smirks at me and gets out of the car.
I’ll take that as a no.
He opens my door. “Come on. The view will be worth it.” Gray beckons me with an outstretched hand.
“Do we have to do this now? Can’t we wait until, I dunno, spring?” I ask, but there’s a playful lilt in my voice.
“Where’s your sense of adventure, Wanderer?” Grayson’s eyes twinkle with mischief.
“Back under my covers where it’s warm.” I sigh and take his hand.
He pulls me out of the truck, and I’m immediately hit by the chill of the cool evening air.
“Fine. But if I turn into a Tandy-sicle, you’re the one who’s going to have to explain it to Jane.”
He opens the back door to grab something then closes it. He wraps a large winter coat around my shoulders. “I wouldn’t dream of letting anything happen to you.”
“You owe me a hot chocolate after this.”
Grayson laughs heartily, his breath faintly appearing in the cold. “Deal.”
“And thank you.” I slip my arms through the jacket and wrap them tightly around my torso. An unexpected scent fills my nose, pine with a hint of something else. It’s very earthly and matches Grayson perfectly.
I’m normally up for anything, and the view from this hike is beautiful. It’s one we’ve done countless times, but one thing I can’t stand is the cold. Why willingly go out and freeze when you can sit by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa? Yeah, I don’t know either.
But I agreed because of Grayson. He’s different. He’s one of the few people who could convince me to do something I didn’t want to do in the first place.
I assume it’s what you do for friends, right?
I’ve never had a close friend like this, but I suppose it’s what you do.
You try the hobbies they enjoy, and even if at first you don’t like it, it’s enjoyable because it’s with that friend.
In a way, I would do the same for Jane. Or my mom. At least I think I would.
Our boots crunch through remnants of fallen leaves as we make our way up the trail.
The setting sun paints the sky in hues of orange and purple.
Grayson leads the way up the path. He glances over his shoulder every once in a while, ensuring I’m keeping up, and gives me a warm smile each time our eyes meet.
I make a funny face, sticking my tongue out or crossing my eyes. He chuckles each time, but doesn’t slow his pace. I should really start regularly exercising. Maybe I’ll take up Gray on his (many) offers to go running.
My nose scrunches at the thought. I hate running. Maybe if there’s a reward at the end. Maybe.
Grayson stops abruptly, and I bump into him. “Whoa.”
I swat at his back. “Well, if you didn’t stop so suddenly, I wouldn’t have bumped into you.”
He grins. “I stopped because we’re here.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” I let out a deep breath and step in front of him. “It’s…wow.” I look beyond the trees to the breathtaking sky in front of me. It doesn’t look real; it looks like a painting. “I wish I had brought my sketchbook. This is beautiful, Gray.”
We stand there in comfortable silence, watching the sun disappear behind the horizon.
Grayson breaks the silence first, nudging me lightly with his elbow. “Told you it would be worth it.”