CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“We’re just gonna let him have the only bedroom?” Cole asked.
“ You wanna ask him to move?”
“Would he?”
She raised an eyebrow. “That’s a timber rattler. Get bit by that, my friend, and it’s all over.”
“What?” His voice jumped two octaves higher, and Holly laughed.
“No snakes in New York City?”
“I’ll take cockroaches and rats any day of the week,” he mumbled. “Can we kill it?”
“No. It’s endangered. And anyway, what are you gonna do, wrestle it? Shoot it? That’s a tiny moving target.”
He huffed. “Well, should we search around to make sure there aren’t more?” His eyes darted back and forth across the cabin.
She picked up her wine. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll do a sweep.”
He paused as if deciding how much his man card was worth to him. “I’ll do it,” he said reluctantly. He pulled out his gun, took the lantern, and creeped around the room as if clearing a house full of bad guys, dramatically pointing the gun in each corner before moving on to the next.
While he hunted snakes, she plopped onto the couch and threw her feet up on the coffee table to warm her toes with the fire’s heat. She had to admit, he was taking things pretty well. Clearly a fish out of water, he was doing the best anyone could hope for.
Earlier, when he’d found out Cruz was in custody and he could return home, a pang of something shot through her. Something resembling disappointment or regret. In the few days they’d been glued at the hip, she’d grown to respect him. Maybe even like him. Certainly, he was no hardship to look at.
“I think it’s okay.” He laid his gun on the table and sat beside her. The rain picked up and drummed on the roof. A drip , drip , drip sounded in the kitchen. “So, seriously. Is the roof gonna make it through the night?” He cast a dubious glance at the ceiling.
“Hope so. It’s all we’ve got.”
She sipped her wine. With so little food in her stomach, the alcohol marched directly to her head. When she started to entertain Faith’s fling idea, she set down the glass.
“I’m sorry you missed your flight out of here,” she said.
“If there’s one thing I know about, it’s emergencies messing up plans. It’s cost me a relationship or two.” He shrugged. “I’ll try again tomorrow.”
“Is that why there’s no Mrs. Robinson?” Damn this wine.
“I just haven’t found the right girl,” he said, looking away.
Taking his lead, she changed the subject. “What happens now that Cruz is in custody?”
“The DA will be in touch soon. They’ll need you for the grand jury. The defense might want you to sit for a deposition. And then of course, you’ll have to testify once the case goes to trial.”
“Is all that in person? Will I have to make multiple trips?” Her underlying question, which she hoped he didn’t read into, was would she ever see him again after tomorrow?
“Honestly, I’m not sure how they’ll handle you being from out of state. Maybe. Why? You worried about getting more time off?”
“Yes,” she said, picking up the wine again. “But also, the money thing. New York is expensive, and I’m still paying off a wedding that never was.”
“You can stay with me if you want.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“I mean, we’ve become friends, right? I’ve got an extra bedroom.”
“Yeah, I guess we have. You were a real pain in the butt for a while, but I’ve gotten kind of used to you.” Holly, shut up. And seriously, stop drinking ! “Sorry, must be the wine talking.”
He laughed, but his train of thought seemed to follow hers. “I meant to apologize for kissing you last night. That guy really got under my skin. I hope it doesn’t create more drama for you. At work or otherwise.”
“It’s okay.” She sighed. “Just one more person who has me on their shit list.”
“I thought everyone in town was thick as thieves. Is this about your dad?”
She shot him a sideway glance and paused before nodding. “His victims were mostly from out of town, but yes, there were a few from here. Everyone got their money back, but it was not good for GVF morale. It basically split the town in half. Those who see me as guilty by association, and those who have the sense to realize I had nothing to do with anything.”
“You say you don’t care what anyone thinks, but this bothers you.” The way he said it, so matter-of-factly, hit irritatingly close to home. Where did he get off thinking he knew her so well? Also, how did he know her so well?
“Not gonna lie. It stings a bit sometimes.”
“That’s understandable. Growing up here and being such a part of the community and all. What does your dad say?”
Holly shrugged. “Haven’t asked.”
“He’s been in for two years. You haven’t been to see him?”
Normally, the question would irritate her, but there was no condemnation in his tone. He was simply asking.
“Not yet.” She gulped the last of her wine and set the glass on the coffee table, buying time. “I’m still getting over the sense of betrayal. Plus, I don’t know what I’d say.”
“Everyone makes mistakes. Lambert—my old partner—used to say, ‘Don’t judge people for the choices they make until you know the options they had to choose from.’”
“Yeah. I guess.”
“So, who was going to walk you down the aisle?”
“Coach Reed. Maddie and Juliet’s dad. He coached the six of us most of our lives—on and off the court—and is basically my second dad.”
“So, you and your friends have been a team for over twenty years?”
“Yep. After high school, we kind of split for a while to do our own things. I took a gap year and then went to the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Maddie ran off to Hollywood. Alex and Tess went away to school too. But no matter where we were, we’ve always stayed close.”
“They’re your family.”
“Now more than ever.”
They locked eyes. Was she tipsy, or was he giving her the look? Oh yeah, that was the look all right. Like two magnets, they threw themselves at each other, tongues first. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her like the roof was about to fall in. She was equally desperate. Her arms snaked around his neck and held him close. Just as things were getting good, they heard a rustling noise outside and froze.
Cole jumped off the couch and grabbed his gun, putting himself between Holly and the door.
“Wait,” Holly said, standing. “It’s probably just some critter.” She walked to the window, Cole close on her heels. Pushing aside the dusty gingham curtains, they came face to face with a huge black bear. It stood on its hind legs as if preparing to knock. Surprised, and separated only by a thin layer of glass, they screamed and retreated, the curtain falling back into place.
“Can he get through the door?” Cole asked.
“If he wants to, yes.” Holly looked around. “We’ve been so careful with the food. I wonder what brought him here?”
“Probably smells the smorgasbord of jelly donut and salsa you’ve spilled on your shirt today.”
“Ha. Ha.”
“Should we give him our last bit of food?”
“You didn’t read the pamphlet, did you?” She got into her pack and dug out the bear horn. “Never run from a bear. And never feed a bear. We gotta scare him off.”
“Woman. Are you nuts? If that thing comes in here, I’m shooting.”
“That’s a last resort. On three, I’ll open the door. Just make as much noise as you can. One. Two.” She threw open the door and blasted the air horn, which succeeded in surprising the bear. So much so, that it fell backward, rolling ass over kettle down the rickety steps, landing in a heap at the bottom.
“Yeah,” Cole yelled, pointing his gun sideways like a gangster. “And stay down, ya clumsy oaf.” A few yards of separation appeared to have bolstered his confidence.
Holly burst into laughter. Cole stepped to the top of the stairs and made some unflattering comments about the bear’s weight and dexterity. The bear righted itself and glared. Cole retreated a step but kept at him with a yo-momma’s-so-fat joke. Holly blasted the horn between insults.
“You stink, brah. Did ya use a dead skunk for deodorant?”
The bear inched away and finally shot them a dirty look before lumbering off into the woods.
“That’s so mean,” Holly scoffed. “You hurt its feelings. What if he’s in a gang and is going for reinforcements?”
Cole shut the door and latched the deadbolt. In the distance, a wolf howled.
“Wolves too?” he muttered. “Yeah. We’re gonna die up here.”
“I can’t stop laughing,” she said, grabbing her sides and giggling like a child. “Wine on an empty stomach was a bad idea.”
“You have an odd sense of humor, lady,” he said dryly.
“Why’d you have to bring up Lady? Now I miss my dog.” Holly settled back on the couch, curious whether they would pick up where they left off, or if bear chasing had given him an opportunity to come to his senses.
Cole went to the fireplace and gently placed another log on the fire.
“We should keep it going all night,” Holly said. “Otherwise, it’ll get pretty cold in here. We can take turns sleeping.”
“With all the wild animals around, there is zero chance I fall asleep, so I’ll be in charge of that.”
Holly slept in fits and starts. The snake, the bear, the wolves, and the roof on the verge of collapse had killed the mood, and Cole hadn’t kissed her again.
At first light, they packed up—including all their trash—and put on their boots, which were warm and dry after a night by the fire.
They opened the door to find the bear sound asleep on the porch. “Ah. He just wanted a dry place to sleep,” Holly said. “Poor little guy.”
“I am so far from home,” Cole mumbled. “What do we do?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.” They tiptoed down the steps and set off down the mountain.
By noon, they were back at Holly’s work rig. At the visitor’s center, she asked a coworker to tell Rick she was taking the rest of the day off.
“I not sick , sick,” Holly said. “Just exhausted. And filthy. And starving. I’d be worthless trying to work today.”
“I thought you slept in a cabin,” her friend said. “You look like you been roughin’ it for a week and sleepin’ in the dirt.”
“The trail was slick from the rain. I may have fallen once or twice.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She put her radio on a charger and grabbed her truck keys. Cole had waited in the lobby, and she found him standing in front of an exhibit, reading the history of the falls. How did he look so good? He’d endured the same hardships she had over the last twenty-four hours but still looked like he was showing up for an outdoorsy catalog photo shoot. So not fair.
“You ready?” She came up behind him.
“Food first?”
“Copy that. First stop, Big Daddy’s Burger.”
As soon as Cole had a signal and a burger in his belly, he booked another flight. “Do you guys have taxis? Rideshares? How can I get to the airport from here?”
“We have Rudy Ryder,” Holly said, popping a fry into her mouth. “I’ll text him.”
“The way you say his name makes me nervous.” His brows crinkled.
“Let’s just say riding with Rudy is an experience you won’t soon forget. You thought your jokes were good. Just wait.”
“That only makes me more nervous. Will he get me to the airport safely?”
Holly shrugged. “Fifty-fifty.”
“If he’s too bad, I’ll make him let me drive.”
“Good luck with that. What time’s your flight?” She pulled out her phone to ask Rudy if he was available for an airport run.
“Not till nine. I was hoping we could catch a nap?”
“You’re readin’ my mind, Robinson. What do you think? Pick up around five from Jen’s? My place is still a mess, and she won’t care if we spend another day there. That’ll give you a nice buffer.”
He nodded, and she made the arrangements with Rudy. On the way to Jen’s, they picked up Lady.
After eating and showering, Holly texted her friends to ask if anyone could help her clean up her place that night. Everyone agreed to be there by six. Tess would bring pizza, and Alex would bring beer.
Three hours and a catnap later, Rudy pulled into the driveway and honked. Cole stood by the door with his small suitcase.
“Well,” he said. “It’s been…interesting. Been here barely a week, but it feels like an hour and an eternity all at once.”
She smiled. “We have that effect.”
“Listen. Call me when you come back to New York. The offer to stay with me is good anytime.”
“Okay.” Should they kiss goodbye? Since they hadn’t discussed what either kiss meant, she wasn’t sure what protocol was. The first one was only to make Rick jealous, and the second could have been an isolated, drunken mistake. He seemed just as confused, and in the end, gave her a quick hug and a hearty wave.
She closed the door. “Well, that’s that,” she said to Lady. “You ready to go home?”
Fresh anger hit when she entered her place, which was still in ruins. At least Cole had righted the couch. She stretched out onto it and fell asleep again.
Alex and Tess came together, bursting through the door with the food. “Faith and Juliet are right behind us,” Tess said. “Dang, how can you sleep amidst this mess?”
“Not everyone’s as anal as you about cleanliness,” Alex said.
“And I got no sleep last night,” Holly said.
“I hope you mean that in a good way,” Faith said, coming in the open door and wasting no time starting the interrogation.
“I do not,” Holly said. “A snake took the only bed, so I had to sleep sitting up on a lumpy, dusty couch.”
“So, not even a kiss?” Juliet pushed.
At Holly’s silence, Faith pounced. “Ha. Yes. So, once on the dance floor and a little somethin’ somethin’ at the cabin? Details.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Holly said.
“Really? ’Cause it’s all we want to talk about,” Alex said.
Reluctantly, she told them about the previous night. Only because they would drag it out of her eventually, so she might as well come clean straightaway.
“A snake and a bear? Yeah, I can see how that would be a buzzkill,” Tess said. “No way I’m gettin’ naked surrounded by wild animals.”
“Do you like him?” Juliet asked. She was quiet, but intuitive. Shy, but good at reading people.
“I don’t know.” Holly shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? We live completely different lives. And I don’t just mean in different states. He was so out of his comfort zone here. He did offer me a place to crash when I go to testify.”
“Really?” Faith made the word five syllables long and waggled her eyebrows. “So this ain’t over yet.”
“I ain’t heard no fat lady,” Alex said.
“All right,” Holly said. “You guys are stalling. Time to get to work.”
With so many hands helping, it only took two hours to get everything cleaned—furniture righted, broken dishes swept up, clothes washed and put away. Anything Cruz touched, they scrubbed down.
They finished off the pizza, and Holly thanked them for their help. As they filed out, she thought about how they would do anything for her. They weren’t just her friends. Like Cole said, they were her family. The only family she had.
She fell into bed, still exhausted from the poor night’s sleep. Cole texted to say he was on the ground in New York, but nothing else. She could spend hours trying to figure out what had happened between them—or what was happening between them—but why bother? It wasn’t like he was long-term material. At best, a fling when she returned to the city to testify. But she’d cross that bridge when she came to it.