Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Hurley
The next morning, before we head to work, we stop at the Pine and Petal Cafe for breakfast.
On the drive, we hear a radio report about a group of bystanders subduing a kidnapper about thirty miles away from here. The heroes and the gas station clerk are interviewed, explaining what happened. Police arrested Derek Creevy after reviewing the security footage. They were satisfied enough with Derek being the guilty party after seeing for themselves that he’d had a woman locked in the car.
Hurley grabs my hand and kisses it, then switches off the car.
“Let’s get breakfast.”
“I like this routine. Let’s do this every morning,” I say.
The Pine & Petal is full of tourists this morning but we find an empty table and wait patiently for Clara.
“My my, you’re looking rosy and happy this morning!” Clara says when she comes over to take our orders.
“We…uh…combined our assets last night,” I say.
Shenna whacks me with the menu. “Oh my god,” she says, leaning over the table and wheezing.
I mean, I’m not wrong. “Well, we did!”
“I’ll be back with some coffee,” Clara says with a wink.
Later, at the General Store, Shenna talks to Jack about her ideas.
Jack seems curious about this. “I thought Hurley poached you to help with his wilderness guide business.”
She turns to me, and I automatically touch her lower back. “That’s not going to work out. I had to fire her.”
“Tell him why,” she says, nudging me.
I roll my eyes. “My wife is an indoor cat.”
Jack laughs at this and pulls Shenna aside to discuss her ideas.
Before I leave, I plant a kiss on my wife’s forehead.
“I’ve got another day hike. No after-parties this time. I promise.”
She nods and smiles up at me. “I’ll be here. I promise.”
“Don’t worry, buddy,” Jack tells me. “I’ve got cameras covering every corner of this place, a black belt in taekwondo, and a rifle under the counter. No one from any godforsaken cult will ever come close to our girl Shenna again.”
Shenna and I exchange a surprised look. “How did you know about the cult?” I ask him.
Jack steps back.
“People here know more about you than you let them, Hurley.”
“That’s…unsettling,” I reply.
“It’s not like that. I’m saying it’s time to let people in who care about you.”
I think about this for a long minute.
Shenna leans into me, letting me know it’s okay. Jack’s right. I need to let people in.
Finally, I reply, “You have a black belt?”
“Sixth degree. Funny story. After I was bullied in school, my mom signed me up for classes, and I never looked back.”
“Ever had to use it?” I ask.
“Every day. It’s about self-control and discipline,” Jack says.
Shenna bounces up and down on her feet. “Mind teaching me?”
I’d love to watch my wife become a total martial arts badass.
Jack thinks about this. “I never thought about it, but that sounds like a good idea. I might have time to teach classes now and then, especially now that I have a reliable assistant manager.”
“Let me know if I can help,” I say.
Both Jack and Shenna look at me in awe.
“What?” I ask.
Shenna nudges me. “Are you actually thinking about getting involved in the local community?”
I grumble, “Don’t get too excited. It’s just a martial arts class.”
“Oh, everyone’s going to sign up if you’ll be there, Hurley,” Shenna says.
“Stop.”
Jack turns away to help some customers with a question, and Shenna walks with me to my truck as I load the day’s supplies.
“You can groan and grumble all you want. But people like you,” she tells me.
I haul my backpack into the bed of my truck, then the cooler, and then the first-aid kit.
“Are you listening to me?”
After tying down the supplies, I turn to Shenna, claiming her mouth with a heated kiss. “As long as you like me and care about me, that’s all that matters,” I say.
Shenna rolls up onto her toes and kisses me back. “Always and forever, my weird, clean-shaven, vegan mountain man. You’re stuck with Misty Mountain, and you’re stuck with me.”
I lift her off her feet into a giant bear hug.
The sun is shining, the weather is perfect, and Evergreen Way is bustling with friendly faces.
“And you’re stuck with me, my little giraffe on roller skates.”
This gets me a sharp bite on the neck.
“Ow!” I shout with a laugh. “You’re vicious!”
“You said it yourself, I still have issues to work through,” she teases.
I set her down and plant a kiss on her forehead.
“I love you, Mrs. Mountain Man. Just try not to kill me with canned goods.”
“No promises. And I love you too.”