Chapter 15
PRESENT
DARREN
Downtown at noon. Don’t be late. Oh, and wear swim trunks.
Caleb’s text came at midnight. It interrupted my long night of being hunched over the desk in my bedroom, squinting at my computer screen. I’m three days behind on delivering a rough rendering to one of my boss’s favourite clients, a hotel mogul expanding his reach from Calgary to Vancouver.
I’ve worked on my fair share of hotels over the last couple of years, but this one is .
. . a lot. Twenty stories fit with a rooftop pool, two gyms, three ballrooms, a conference room, a high-end bar/restaurant, and a deadline of only three months has me a bit stressed.
Toss in being single-handedly in charge of creating my sister’s dream house, and I’m one more broken pencil from losing my mind.
My brain screams with overuse as I rub my eyes and get out of the car. The feeling of swim trunks at the beginning of October isn’t my favourite, but I know better than to ignore my captain’s orders, a volunteer at the station or not. I just wish I’d been able to find my good pair.
I’ll be teased about how short these ones are the moment my friends spot me. I don’t blame them either. Fuck, they’re an inch above my knees and a peach colour that, depending on the light, makes it seem like I’m naked from the waist down.
I lock my car and start toward the cluster of people at the end of the street.
The shops on this side of downtown are blocked off by the same cement barriers herding what appears to be the entirety of Cherry Peak’s population.
It smells like mini donuts and fresh lemonade, almost like the fire station decided on a fair instead of a few mini games as their fundraiser.
Whatever they planned was fine with me, considering I didn’t have the chance to help.
The past week has been quiet without Abbie, but with the silence comes a heavier work schedule.
When I’m with my daughter, she’s the centre of my attention, and often, my work falls to the back burner so I can spend as much time with her as possible.
Working from home is a blessing when she’s with me but a curse when she’s gone with Sasha.
“There he is! The star of our dunk show,” Caleb drawls, coming at me from the side.
I brace for impact when he lifts a fist and brings it near my armpit. “Star of the what?”
“The dunk show. Well, technically, it’s one of those toss ’n dunk tanks. You know, like from a good ol’-fashioned carnival?”
“I was wondering what the trunks were for, considering the current temperature.”
He gives my legs an inspecting look before pursing his lips. “Yeah, what’s with those?”
“What’s wrong with them?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“They look like they’d fit Abbie.”
“Fuck off. It’s October. All of my good pairs are already tucked away for next year,” I grunt .
“That’s what you get for being so goddamn organized.”
“Just say you’re jealous and move on, Cap.”
“Nothing to be jealous of besides the hair on your legs. Mine’s so thin now.”
I scoff a laugh and shake my head. “Are we gonna start talking leg hair tips now?”
“Not a chance.
“Sounds good to me.”
“Did you bring a towel with you?” he asks, eyeing my car behind us as we head for the fair.
“No. If you’d told me what I was doing today, I’d have been better prepared.”
“Oh well. I’ll make sure to give you plenty of time to air-dry before sending you home.”
“What would I do without your generosity?” I ask blandly.
“Live a boring, boring life.”
I don’t bother telling him that I’m already there.
“How long am I stuck here being dunked into what I assume is freezing water?”
“Oh, not that long.”
I lift a brow. “Right. Now, be honest this time.”
“Three hours, give or take one. We’re hoping for a turnout big enough to bite off a chunk of the funds needed for the drive-in. Put on a good show, and I’ll buy you a celebratory drink at Peakside tonight.”
Shit, it’s going to be a long day. The only thing—or person —that could make this worth it is a visit from Delaney.
I’ll take being dunked by her instead of another day of going without a glimpse of her.
It’s been a week since we spoke at the drive-in grounds, and without taking Abbie to school as an excuse to show up and talk to her, I’ve had to let go of any hope I had of a reunion.
Instead, thoughts of her have kept me up to the point that I’d rather be staring at a computer instead of lying in bed. At least if I’m going to stay up all night in front of my computer, I’ll get some work done.
“My shoulders already hurt from the weight of your expectations,” I joke.
“Yeah, I bet, asshole,” he returns before we reach the barriers.
A few people turn to look at us as we step through the gap between the cement blocks and join them. Of course, I’m the only person here in shorts. Even the woman manning the burger grill across the street is wearing jeans.
“Don’t forget to smile, D. It’s dazzling when you decide to use it,” he adds.
The dunk tanks are red and blue and have been placed smack in the middle of the section of downtown they’ve blocked off for today. Surrounded by a rounded, short silver fence and a small table and two chairs at the entrance gate, it’s clear the dunking is the main event.
I wasn’t expecting to see two dunk tanks, and I bite my cheek to stifle a laugh at who’s sitting on the seat above the second tank of water.
It was an evil move on Caleb’s part for Brody Steele to be dunked repeatedly in front of his wife’s hair salon, but a move fitting for his best friend to pull.
The country music star glowers at Caleb when he stops beside his tank and moves a hand to hover over the huge red button I assume leads to our wet demise.
“Push it and I’ll be draggin’ you in with me,” Brody threatens beneath the disguise of a friendly smile.
Caleb smirks. “Do you have that much trust in your reflexes, pop star?”
“Give it a try. I’m interested to find out,” I say, leaning back on my left foot.
Brody points at my seat and clucks his tongue. “Up you go, Darren. I’m not in this alone.”
With a jostle of my shoulder, I tug my shirt off.
The cool temperature bites at my bare chest as I carry myself over to the stairs at the back of the tank.
It’s not only Brody and Caleb watching me, but they’re the only ones I pay attention to.
I slip my shoes off and climb onto the red seat, wiggling when the flat wood presses against my ass.
“Can I hop off quick and be the first to dunk him?” Brody asks Caleb.
Caleb debates that too long before replying, “Are you paying?”
“Fuck no he isn’t. He’s not dunking me right now,” I say, raising my voice just enough I know they can’t miss it amongst the growing chatter around us.
Brody huffs and shoves back his hair with his fingers. Without a cowboy hat on, he looks . . . not like himself. I’m sure he’s missing it more than a shirt and jeans right now.
“Buzzkill.”
“Pop star.”
“Okay, children, stop fighting, or you’ll be in time outs,” Caleb threatens teasingly.
I roll my eyes. “Can he go first, Dad? I’m sure everyone here wants to dunk Brody Steele.”
“I think I’ll let the crowd choose who goes first, actually. It’s time to let the dunking begin!” Caleb announces, spinning and walking away from us.
Suddenly, he’s slipping out of the gate and parking his ass on the chair at the table.
A line quickly forms in front of him, and he cackles like a hyena while dropping a locked cash box in front of him.
Eliza Steele, Brody’s grandmother, joins him a moment later and takes hold of the box, safeguarding it.
I look down at the water beneath me and shift on the seat.
There’s a nipping breeze forcing goosebumps to pebble my skin as I drop my hands to my knees and wait.
The first person who Caleb lets into the gate heads directly for Brody, and I relax slightly at the confirmation that I might actually survive here without too many dunks.
Despite Brody’s scowling demeanour, I know he doesn’t mind doing this.
He’s used his name to help this town more than once since he made it big time, and we appreciate him for it while still respecting that he shouldn’t have to.
Him agreeing to this today means a lot to me, even if it wasn’t my idea.
This drive-in rebuild is for me, and he knows that as well as I do.
“There are red balls right here,” Caleb explains, leaning over the fence. “You get three tries to hit the target, and once you do, it’ll be a splash zone.”
“Sick!” the kid yells, looking no older than twelve.
He’s quick to grab the three balls in his arms and start launching them at the target. Brody’s eyes grow wide as he grips his knees and glances at me for help. I sigh and lift my hands in a half-assed, there’s nothing I can do type of way.
Fucker , he mouths.
I laugh and squint when the sun flashes in my eyes. Lifting a hand to shield myself from the bright light, I stare in Brody’s direction, waiting for him to go swimming. Ball three gives me my wish.
Brody’s curse gets muffled by the water that swooshes into his mouth when he drops into the tank. The boy hollers victoriously while those watching cheer along with him. I clap and wait for Brody to pop out of the water to discreetly give him the finger.
His blond hair is soaked, rivulets of water trickling down his face before he whips his head back and sends the strands flying.
It’s like watching a fucking hair commercial, and from the wolf whistle coming from Anna’s salon, she’s got to be thinking the same thing.
I steal a glance in that direction and am met with Anna herself standing in the doorway with heart eyes as she stares at her husband putting on a show.
“Again!” she shouts, using her hands to carry her voice.
Brody shifts to look at her and grins, light filling his entire demeanour. He starts twisting the gold band on his finger before I look away, giving them as much privacy as they’re going to get.
“Who’s next?” Caleb asks.
An array of different voices replies, and I settle on my seat, preparing myself for the next few very long hours of this. It’ll be worth it. If I get the chance to be there when we finish the drive-in and Delaney gets to see?—
My skin prickles with awareness before I hear her voice cut through dozens of other ones.
“Oh, thank you, but I’m not . . . No, I’m not. Let someone else go, Caleb.”
“You’re next in line. Sorry, Delaney, but I don’t make the rules.”
“You heard him, Della. How about we both go at the same time. I’ve been wanting to dunk Brody for years now. Plus, it’s for the drive-in!” Poppy encourages.
I swallow and look past Caleb at the group of women hanging out at the gate.
Bryce is already looking at me, a silent knowing written all over her as she darts her eyes between Delaney and me.
I nod, hoping she can see my appreciation—not for forcing Elle into participating in this, but for coming at all without me bringing it up and begging her to do it.
She did it solely because she knew I’d want her here.
“My aim is terrible,” Delaney argues.
My sister grins. “Perfect. So is mine.”
“Bryce and I will go after the two of you do!” Daisy says.
As if my attention has started to chafe, Delaney peeks at me from the corner of her eyes.
It’s subtle, quick, nothing more than a question answered, but I feel that single look all the way down to my toes.
The warmth that ripples through me battles the chill of the wind, keeping me heated as I sit in place, unable to move a muscle.
Yeah, I think I owe Caleb a thank you for volunteering me for this.