The Armor Returns
Sitting on the tailgate of Pop’s truck, my legs swung back and forth as I waited for Nick.
The morning had the remnants of winter, a chilly breeze sending a shiver up my spine.
Overhead, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
In my black tank top, I basked in the sun's warmth. I couldn’t have asked for a better day to head into the woods.
This time, I packed snacks, but we’d be spending the afternoon fishing for trout.
We’d see if he considered himself an outdoorsman while he descaled fish.
I could hear the muffler as he turned the corner.
Before he and Lacie headed back to Vanguard, we’d need to take that poor machine to a mechanic.
The thought of his leaving gave me pause.
In all the commotion and hustle, I hadn’t thought about what came next for us.
Would it include late-night phone calls and arranging visits?
I could have dwelled on the uncertainty, but something told me we had an adventure ahead of us.
We’d figure it out one camping trip at a time.
“Have you been waiting long?”
When he got out of the car, I whistled. “Somebody did some shopping.” Boots. Wool socks. He even found himself a rucksack. “Let me guess. Seamus?”
His back straightened, hands on his hips. “I’m ready for anything.”
“Iodine tablets?”
“Check.
“Sleeping bag?”
“Check.”
“Knife? Flint?”
“Check and check.”
“Spoon?”
When he smiled, his entire face lit up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Swiss Army knife. “Going to carve one.”
I hopped off the truck, grabbing my bag. I don’t know if Nick could have said anything to make himself sexier. I stopped just short of running into him. I thought about waiting and seeing if he’d make the move. The thought came too late as my arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him in close.
I leaned in, kissing my burly outdoorsman.
His body relaxed until his arms circled my neck.
It had all started with a spilled slushie and a stolen kiss outside Bingo.
Now, it wasn’t rushed. Our tongues explored, putting on a show for the neighbors.
I wanted everybody, especially him, to know how much I wanted this.
He pulled back. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Fresh air.” My lip curled. “And the thought of you naked by the fire.”
The confusion on his face turned to shock, eyes wide. His cheeks burned red as he buried his face in his palms. He said nothing as he climbed back into the car. “Get in before things get dirty in your driveway.” Glad to know he had considered that option, too.
I tossed my bag in the back and climbed in.
With a loud bang and a rumble, the car backed out of the driveway.
It was impossible not to steal glances at Nick as he drove down the street.
Without the curse weighing him down, he remained present.
I looked forward to spending the night under the stars with this version of him.
“Turn right here.”
He turned left.
“Oh,” I said. “You can turn right here and—”
He ignored my directions. Nick’s hands gripped the wheel as if we were in a snowstorm. I guess there were worse ways to be kidnapped. If nothing else, my captor had a cute smile and a fuzzy belly. The more I stared, the redder his face grew. He was up to something.
“Don’t ask.” He beat me to the punch. Now I really wanted to ask.
With one more turn, we were driving parallel to the green.
He pulled into a space in front of an empty storefront next to Sheers by Sheryl.
I leaned forward, eyeing the bay window and “For Sale” sign on the door.
Was this about the shop? Was he going to give me a grand speech about how I could move to Firefly and start tattooing?
“They made me do it.” He spat out the words as he flew out of the car, shutting the door.
“They?” I mumbled.
I got out and continued staring at the storefront.
It wasn’t as big as my previous shop, but it’d be enough for a single station.
There’d be plenty of room for a light table and enough flat wall for hanging sample artwork.
I got out of the car, imagining myself inside, tattooing one of the little old ladies from the quilting guild.
“What are you looking at?”
I spun about to see Nick with his backpack standing in the street. “I— Uh— What?” I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Why had he brought us to the green? My jaw went slack as I spotted two tents in the middle of the park. He had asked me to go camping, but he had never mentioned where.
“What are you up to?”
I grabbed my rucksack from the back of the car and joined him in the street. As he trekked toward the makeshift campsite, I paused, looking over my shoulder. For a moment, I had the image of Pops standing outside the window, admiring the bright sign in the window.
“Charlie!”
I spun about to see Matt barreling toward me. At first, I assumed it had been by accident. Then I spotted his backpack, sleeping bag attached to the top.
“Dad let me borrow his knife.” He fished around in his pocket before patting the outside. “Oh, no.”
“Matt.” Johnny emerged from between two cars, holding a Swiss Army knife. “Forget something?”
My brain struggled to understand what was happening. It wasn’t until I heard Ronnie and Jeff shouting for Matt. Standing outside one of the tents, they waved for him to join. Nick gave me a shrug of the shoulders, feigning innocence.
“That bastard,” I mumbled.
“Can I go?”
Johnny handed him the knife. “Put it in your pocket so you don’t lose it.
” He gave Matt a firm pat on the back, and the boy was off running to join his friends.
He had been scared to camp overnight in the forest. Somebody had solved our problem and set up a campsite in the middle of the green.
Nick might have been the ringmaster, but I suspected he didn’t act alone.
Johnny cleared his throat. His hands shoved in his pockets as he watched Matt run across the green. “I talked to Bonnie.”
I didn’t respond.
“She said I was an asshole.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “She’s not wrong.”
I focused on Matt jumping up and down with the gremlins.
They quickly ushered him inside the tent.
Nick had already tossed his pack into the other tent.
Somebody had brought logs to the green, making a makeshift campsite.
Inside a rock fireplace, there was a metal fire pit with logs stacked, ready to light.
“We good?” Johnny asked.
I nodded. As good as we’d ever be. If he had apologized, I’d have rolled my eyes. Acknowledgment. That’s what I had needed all these years. It didn’t remove the trauma, nor did it change how I felt about Johnny. If anything, it cemented a truce, one I’d happily abide by for the sake of Matt.
He returned a silent nod and walked away.
“Not staying?”
He shook his head as he walked toward the market. “He’s in good hands.”
I threw my pack over my shoulder, snapping the straps across my chest and waist. Closing my eyes, I clung to the sensation in the pit of my stomach.
For the first time since arriving in Firefly, I felt a sense of peace.
I had begrudgingly come back to take care of my hobbling mother.
I figured I’d wade through my guilt from abandoning my parents and deal with the anger of a town I never wanted to see again. Peace was the last thing I expected.
I headed toward the campsite. “I guess we’re going camping.”