Chapter 4
Chapter Four
JONES
Almost as soon as Deke left my life for good, my family descended upon me like a force to be reckoned with. Mama came over every night for the next week, Papa following behind her, happy to help in any way he could.
During this time, Mama had taken over my kitchen, cooking up a storm. There was enough food for all my friends and extended family to take home after an afternoon of helping me with the renovations around the house.
I couldn’t forget about the endless supply of sweet tea, either.
“It wasn’t good sweet tea unless it was sugary enough to have your teeth knockin’” my mama would say, and maybe she was right. All the sugar certainly kept me happy and energized while making my new bed .
My friends came over every day after work to help me get the renovations done quickly.
My brother led the others in making the porch, while Ryker helped me build a new bed.
I’d been sleeping on the pull-out couch since donating my old one, so I was very eager to have a real bed again.
I’d also used this chance to order an extra bed and turn what was once Deke’s closet back into a proper guest room.
Ryker had learned a thing or two from Sam’s gramps about woodworking. I’d say he was almost as good at working with wood as I was, though I had to admit he had me beat on wood carving.
It only took us a couple days to finish the base of the bed, another day for the slats and headboard, which took longer than expected since Ryker insisted on showing off his carving skills.
I couldn’t blame him. I would be boasting too if I could create literal works of art on pieces of wood.
Ryker had carved intricate vines onto the headboard and all along the sides of the bed.
It looked like something straight out of a fantasy world, like the bed was carved directly out of a living tree.
“It’s fucking beautiful,” I whispered. It felt like talking any louder was illegal in front of such a masterpiece.
Ryker chuckled, chest puffing out with pride. The others gathered around to admire his handiwork, too. Sam immediately snuggled into his fiancé’s side and dusted off the stray wood chips that had somehow gotten into his hair.
There was so much love in that simple action that I had to look away. I once dreamt about a romance like that. A partner I loved by my side, caring for each other, and spending our days with so much laughter and happiness.
The problem was, when I closed my eyes and imagined the person by my side, a single face always came to mind. Sparkling blue eyes, a strong nose, and a deep Cupid’s bow on the most kissable fucking lips I’d ever seen.
Too bad this man only lived on in my dreams. It’d been a decade since I’d been ghosted by Ryan, and I hated how I still couldn’t forget about him.
Every time I looked at the sky, it reminded me of his fucking mesmerizing eyes.
The old trails behind my house brought back memories of our youth, and the sunset called up the childish promise that we’d whispered under it.
“Jones is going to christen that bed so good,” Dan said with a laugh. Clay quirked his lips in amusement, clearly agreeing with his stepbrother.
The statement shouldn’t have bothered me as much as it did.
Before Deke and I dated, I was the playboy.
The one who never settled down, and there wasn’t anything shameful about that.
Hell, it was the norm in our group before Ryker got engaged.
And even now, Dan dated around like his goal was to sleep with every single person in town .
So what was with the uncomfortable feeling that rumbled in my stomach?
“Dude, can you not talk about my brother’s bedroom activities when I’m right here? Be thankful my parents are inside or else my mama would wash your mouth out with soap,” my brother, Jordan, replied with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
Ryker untangled himself from Sam and slung an arm over my shoulders. “This new start for you is going to be great, and we’re going to be right here by your side every step of the way.”
My stomach settled as I grabbed my friend’s hand and laughed.
“Aw, and there Ryker goes, being all sweet again. I want in on some of the action,” Dan said, creeping closer. Clay wasn’t far behind him, arms open, and determination written clearly in his eyes.
My gut told me not to get caught, so I ran.
“Get back here!” Clay’s voice boomed, and fuck was he intimidating when he used that tone! He must have learned it from his police training, because his order only made me run faster.
My friends apparently made catching me top priority because soon I was at the bottom of a dogpile of giant, muscular men. Even my brother and his boyfriend, Wren, joined in on this folly to torture me. Those traitors.
But even if I felt like I was being crushed under their hugs, my joyful laughter couldn’t be contained. My friends and family sometimes gave me shit, but they were always on my side.
The renovations were finished by the weekend. My friends stayed late Friday night to complete the final touches of my new porch and hot tub. They left with promises to catch up at Sunday brunch at Hector’s—my treat for all their help—and then I was alone in my cabin.
I filled up the hot tub and treated the water so I could enjoy a good soak tomorrow. Out here, with nothing but woods and nature surrounding me, the stars lit my return inside, twinkling through my bedroom window as I lay on my new bed and fell asleep.
I woke early the next morning to a clear, beautiful blue day. My cabin was quiet, which was a bit unnerving after a week of family and friends constantly coming over at all hours of the day to check up on me.
As I had my breakfast, it occurred to me just how big and empty my home felt despite it only being a two-bedroom cabin.
Had it always been this empty?
Before Deke had moved in, Ryker had lived with me for a bit. Now, I couldn’t even recall what it was like living alone. Maybe this empty feeling would settle…or maybe I should get a dog.
The idea sounded even better when I left for a walk to get some fresh air. It would be nice to have another living being in the cabin with me, plus, I’d have the added bonus of a hiking companion since my friends always refused to join me with the excuse that hiking wasn’t their thing.
I didn’t mind hiking alone most of the time, and even now, I found myself heading toward a familiar path up the short mountain behind my cabin.
This wasn’t the main trail, but ever since buying the plot of land at the base of this hill, I’d trekked up to the summit so many times that a path going directly to the top had been created from my constant hikes.
It wasn’t too far from the main trail, but it was a more direct route, and the benefit of having a personal route nobody knew about was that I could avoid the weekend crowds.
Which was why I was very confused when I came across a little girlcrouched beside a tree, with her hand over her face. She couldn’t have been older than four or five, so I looked around for an adult.
Nobody else was on this path aside from me and the girl. When I walked closer, I could hear her quiet sobs and the barely whisper of a cry of “ Daddy .”
“Are you lost?” I called out, startling the girl. Her head flung my way, teary blue eyes wide with fear when she saw me.
I froze where I stood when I saw the blue eyes that were so familiar to the ones in my dreams but hadn’t seen in person for over a decade.
They were a light blue and bright, as if they were glowing.
I’d only known one person with eyes like that…
but it couldn’t be. He didn’t live here and hadn’t returned to town since the last time we’d been together.
I shook my head, casting those thoughts behind me to focus on what was important. There was a lost, scared girl in front of me, and from the way she was so fearful of me, she had to be a city kid.
Stranger danger wasn’t really a thing here in our small town. It helped that everyone practically knew each other, and the only crime that happened around these parts was from bored teens. Thanks to that, kids around here grew up bold and not fearful of strangers.
Kneeling to be more on her level, I said, “I’m not a bad person.” I immediately cringed, realizing that was exactly what a person with evil intentions would say. Trying to put on my most reassuring, friendly smile, I tried again, “Did you get separated from your daddy?”
This time, she nodded. Her tears had stopped, probably from the shock of seeing me, but her eyes were still wet and full of apprehension.
“Your daddy is probably looking for you on the main path. How about I take you to find him?”
She nodded again. I reached out to help her stand. She hesitated and looked at my hand like it was about to bite her. I’d probably be scared too if I were in her place. My hand was bigger than her tiny head.
She was so small and definitely shouldn’t be wandering in the woods alone.
What kind of irresponsible parent would take their eyes off their young child long enough for them to get lost?
Kither Springs and the surrounding area were relatively safe, but that didn’t mean someone so young should be left alone.
What if she fell and rolled down the hill or something?
I was going to have strong words for her daddy—once we found him, of course.
Her little hand finally took mine as she stood, her black braided pigtails bounced with the action.
“What’s your name?” I asked, thinking that talking to her might make her more comfortable.
She didn’t answer, but her head was tilted up, eyes locked on me.
I’d heard her whisper ‘ Daddy ’ earlier, so I knew she could talk.
I wondered if she was still feeling shy, or maybe she was just a quiet kid.
Even her earlier sobs were pretty soundless.
I wouldn’t have known she was there if I hadn’t walked right up to her.
“I’m Jones,” I said gently. She still didn’t reply, but her nod told me she was listening. I kept talking while we walked, thinking it might make her more comfortable. “I’ll make sure you find your daddy, okay? We’re almost at the main trail. It’s just right over there.”
Just as I finished my words, a frantic shout came from up ahead of us. “Karla! Where are you? Karla!”
The girl tugged at my hand, and I assumed it was her daddy. He was such an irresponsible father, but he had a damn fine voice.
Even filled with panic and worry, his voice tickled my ear pleasantly.
No, Jones ! This was not the time to be thinking with my dick! Not when there was still reuniting to be done.
“Slow down, Karla,” I warned when she almost tripped over a protruding tree root. Thankfully, I was able to keep her upright.
The man was still calling out for his daughter, sounding more desperate as the seconds went by. “We’re over here! Karla’s fine!” I called back.
The shouting stopped, but rustling could be heard.
I assumed he was making his way over here, and a minute later, I was proven right when a tall man broke through the foliage.
He had short brown hair, which was currently flying every which way.
But it wasn’t the absolute mess of a sight he made that had me staring.
It was his blue eyes. The same ones that’d haunted me for far too long.
Ones I’d yearned over for most of my life, so much so they’d been seared in my mind.
And now they were right in front of me. It also meant this terribly handsome, horrible man was the one I couldn’t forget.
The boy who made me realize my sexuality, the teen who took my first kiss, and the man who’d ghosted me like I meant nothing to him.
Ryan Edgson.