CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Nova
IROLLED MY YOGA MAT OUT AS THE MORNING SUN CASCADED over the wide-planked wood floors of my apartment. It was time to try. To see if I could reclaim a small part of who I used to be.
Staring at the beautiful mat Kol had gotten for me, I stepped onto it. I pressed my feet into the foam and spread my toes out, gently stretching them. It felt … good.
Elongating my spine, I straightened into mountain pose. I stood tall, feeling the energy coursing through me. I stretched my neck taller and breathed.
The twitchiness started almost immediately—that need to move. To run. To hurl myself from a cliff into ice-cold water. Anything but feel.
A wave of dizziness spread through me, and I moved into downward dog. The stretch helped for a moment, but then I was battling snapshots. Memories? Nightmares? I didn’t know.
Hands tightening around my neck.
“No one’s looking for you, Nova. I’m all you have.”
I couldn’t suck in air. My lungs burned.
I shot to standing, shaking out my arms and legs. “It’s not real. You’re alive. You’re breathing. You’re not forgotten.”
Unshed tears sprang to my eyes at those last words, and I quickly swiped them away. My phone dinged, and I crossed to my bed where I’d left it, grateful for any distraction from the dumpster fire that was currently engulfing me.
KOL:
This is Sky
She sent a dozen emojis ranging from butterfly wings to a tiara to a sword, making me grin.
KOL:
Come to breakfast
KOL:
Dad says yes
KOL:
I have a thing for you
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Me:
On my way.
I needed to pay them back for all these meals. Maybe I could make dinner. I used to do that a lot, trying out different dishes and cuisines. That could be the thing I reclaimed from my old life. Especially since it seemed yoga wouldn’t be it.
I quickly rolled up my mat, stowed it, and headed for the door. I stopped at the last second and cursed. Moving to my closet, I grabbed a sweatshirt to cover my arms.
As I pulled it over my head, I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen.
It was so different from the one I’d grown up in.
Homey with a four-seater table and Bigfoot salt and pepper shakers.
Sky’s art was all over the fridge. And it was clean.
Not an exacting sort of spotlessness, but certainly not messy.
There were no rotting-food smells like I’d grown up with.
No insects or mice. I shoved the memories down. “I heard there was breakfast.”
Kol looked up from his spot at the stove, those damn forearms on display as he flipped—yes, flipped—an omelet. “Just need to know what you like in your omelet.”
Skylar ran over to me, holding a hand behind her back. “I made you something.”
I crouched low so we were at eye level with each other. “You’re really spoiling me, Sky.”
She just grinned, then started to look a little nervous. She took a deep breath and shoved a pile of beaded bracelets in my direction. “I know you don’t like your wrist marks.”
I sucked in a sharp inhale and struggled not to tug my sleeves down.
“Dad says that what makes us different makes us beautiful,” Skylar went on, and I struggled not to look at Kol. “And I think you’re super beautiful. But until you’re ready to show them, I made you these.”
My eyes burned. I hadn’t cried once since leaving the hospital, but this sweet girl was threatening to be the thing that cracked my iron fortress walls. I studied the bracelets made of sparkly beads in every color under the sun. “Sky,” I whispered.
She looked so damn uncertain. I wanted to hug her, but I didn’t trust myself quite yet.
“This is the best gift anyone has ever given me,” I croaked.
Skylar’s hazel eyes lit with sheer joy. “Really?”
“Really.” I pulled up one sleeve and slid about six bracelets on. They didn’t cover the scars completely, but they disguised them. People would be looking at the colorful creations and not my mottled skin.
“They look so pretty on you,” Sky encouraged.
I slid the other half on my left wrist. “And they will look good with everything.”
“That’s why I picked every color,” Sky said sagely.
“You are the smartest.”
“I got a one hundred percent on my spelling test yesterday.”
I chuckled as I straightened. “Why am I not surprised?”
As I turned, my gaze collided with Kol’s. He studied my face, clearly checking for signs of distress, as if not sure how the gift would go over.
I moved in a little closer, playing with fire as that scent of pine, cedar, and fresh air swirled around me. “You have an incredible daughter.”
A little of his tension eased. “I’m pretty partial to her.” He glanced at his daughter. “Think I could get some of those bracelets, too, Little Princess?”
She beamed. “I’ll make you some with all the colors, too.”
His lips twitched. “My favorite.”
Now that I was closer to Kol, I could see the circles beneath his eyes. “Is everything okay?”
He sighed. “Late night. Case.”
A shiver ran through me. It shamed me to admit that I’d tried to shove the missing woman from my mind. I hated myself for it. She was a human being. Someone who might be facing what I already had. “Anything?”
Kol shook his head. “Roger wants to talk to you again.”
Alarm shot through me, but the moment it did, Kol’s fingers wove through mine and squeezed. “I’ll be with you.”
I swallowed the panic. If I could help in some way, I needed to. “Okay. When?”
“How about after your shift?” Kol suggested. “Roger is running down a few things this morning.”
I nodded as relief washed through me. I didn’t want to do it before work. If it messed with my head, I’d be a wreck while trying to serve. But this way, it would be hanging over my head all day. Still, it was better than the alternative.
“Okay,” Kol began. “Why don’t we do it here? No prying eyes or ears. Brae can take Sky for a few hours if I ask.”
Here felt safe. Because Kol had made it that way. “Okay.”
“You’re stronger than you know.” He gave my hand one last squeeze and then released me.
I missed the contact instantly. But I’d also memorized the feel of it. The rough calluses on Kol’s palm and fingers. The story of him. The pressure and heat. His safety and assurance. And I’d carry it all with me, even when I didn’t have him.
“Date number two, and I’m halfway gone,” Piper said dreamily as she flounced behind the bar to tuck her purse away. She was early for the evening shift, but maybe she just needed some time to talk about the new love of her life.
I focused on the drink in front of me. Wylder had moved me up from beers and sodas to simple mixed drinks. But given that I’d broken two glasses and spilled an entire beer today, that might’ve been a bad idea.
“He took me on a picnic to this beautiful waterfall. A picnic!” she squealed. “Who does that these days? Usually, it’s all Netflix and chill.”
Cora cast a worried look in Piper’s direction, then quashed it. “Two Cokes and an Aspen Pale Ale.”
The moment I finished with the vodka soda, I moved on to Cora’s drinks. “Why don’t you invite him in here one of these days so we can all get a look at him?” I suggested.
Piper grinned at me. “He’s out of town for a rodeo the next couple of days, but then I will.”
I sent Cora a quick look and knew we were both thinking the same thing: We’d suss him out. And if he wasn’t on the up and up, I had the adorable angry-cat knuckles to scare the piss out of him.
Piper looked between us. “Oh no you don’t. There will be no threatening of any kind.”
Aidan chuckled as he walked up, putting her in a headlock and executing a noogie. “What good are honorary big brothers and sisters if we can’t threaten your boyfriends?”
Piper ducked out of his hold. “You’re the worst.”
“I think you mean the best,” Aidan singsonged.
I chuckled as I deposited the final drink on Cora’s tray. “Here you go, madam.”
She gave a faux curtsy in response. “Thank you, madam.”
Just as she headed to a table, I spotted Aster and Holly making their way toward the bar. Aster beamed. “We heard there was a new bartender in town.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I’m only allowed to serve beer, wine, and simple mixed drinks. And I still have to measure out the shots.”
“Everyone starts somewhere,” Wylder called from the other end of the bar.
“He’s right,” Aster agreed, sliding onto a stool as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Holly followed suit but looked a little uncertain, as if she’d never sat at a bar before. The confused look on her face had me fighting a giggle. “What can I get you guys?”
“I’ll just do an Arnold Palmer and a basket of sweet potato fries. What about you, Holls?” Aster asked.
“Oh.” Holly looked at the beer menu and wrinkled her nose. “How about a club soda with lime?”
“Lucky for you, I’ve got those covered.” I sent the fries order to Fee in the kitchen and quickly got the girls’ drinks.
As I slid them across the bar top, Holly leaned in and lowered her voice. “Are you doing okay? With the missing camper and everything?”
Aster’s mouth thinned, and I knew instantly that she had wanted this check on Nova mission to be a bit more discreet. I tried to shove down the tiny flicker of annoyance I felt at Holly’s question and take it for what it was: concern.
“I’m okay. Really.” Even if Reese had written an article for the Redding paper that asked if a new monster was residing in the Starlight Grove woods.
Holly’s lips pursed. “You can be honest with us.”
“Or,” Aster cut in, “you can not talk about it at all.”
“I just hope they find her,” I said, wiping down the bar.
“If you need anything, just shout,” Aster said. “Even if it’s just a movie night where we watch completely unrealistic rom-coms and drown ourselves in candy.”
“Now that … I’m in for,” I said with a grin.
Something about Aster put me at ease. Maybe it was something that had been trained into her as a therapist or perhaps it was because she was so good with animals. Whatever it was, she had a way about her.
“You’re off,” Wylder called from the other end of the bar.
I looked up and realized it was already fifteen past four. Brae had left an hour ago to pick up Owen and Sky, and now there was nothing between me and my chat with Roger and Kol.
“Thanks,” I muttered, reaching for my bag in the cabinet. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I glanced at Holly and Aster. “Next time, come in for actual drinks and give me a challenge.”
Aster laughed. “Assignment accepted.”
Holly’s smile was more strained. “Take care, okay?”
“Will do.” Swinging my purse over my shoulder, I headed for the parking lot.
The temperatures had definitely dropped in the past few days, and I wished for a sweater. But thanks to Sky, today had been the first day since my return that I’d worn short sleeves. And God, that had felt like reclaiming a little freedom.
I crossed the parking lot to my forest-green Subaru and was about to climb in when something stopped me. It was a glimmer. Metal in the sunlight.
Frowning, I moved around so I could see the windshield. Everything in me froze. Resting on the glass was a silver necklace with a turquoise gemstone. Only the stone was crusted with what looked like blood. And below the necklace was a note.
My heart hammered against my ribs, and blood roared in my ears. Boxy, black lettering. An angry bend to each one.
IT’S NOT OVER.