13. Brock Jones
Chapter thirteen
Brock Jones
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say in a flat voice.
Ariel laughs as we enter Mountain Encounters. “You don’t like it?”
I shoot her a glare. “The entire place is plaid. This is a store for lumberjacks.”
There’s an entire wall of flannel shirts. The racks are filled with cargo shorts and pants in the ugliest colors. I walk further into the store and my lip curls in disgust.
“Don’t be such a prima donna,” Ariel says from behind me. “You can get through a weekend with what’s in here.”
“I’m not a prima donna,” I growl. “But I’m also not the Bounty paper towel guy. Is there really no other store we can go to?”
I turn to face her. She’s browsing a rack of t-shirts with phrases like Big Foot Is My Best Friend and The Forest Is Not Your Gift Shop on them.
“There are a few boutiques on the strip, but they closed at six, and they’re mostly geared toward women. Just buy a t-shirt or two and some pants.”
“Next time you abduct me, could you rob my house too? So I can at least have my clothes.”
She smiles and tilts her head. “Aw, are you already looking forward to the next time? How sweet.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m going to try to find something in a solid color.”
“Have fun!”
“Not likely.”
I storm off in the opposite direction toward a section labeled hiking gear. Surely they’ll have some exercise-style clothing somewhere. I can live with sweatpants or shorts. But the idea of trading my suit for something with twenty pockets is liable to make me break out in hives.
A gangly teenager finds me combing through a t-shirt rack, looking for something in a color not of the neon variety.
“Can I help you find something?” he asks with a cheery smile. He’s got on one of the bigfoot t-shirts, with a flannel thrown over it, and cargo shorts that look as though every pocket is full to the brim. The outlook of him finding me what I need seems slim.
“I’m looking for a solid color t-shirt–preferably black–and shorts that have no more than the average amount of pockets.”
His eyebrows raise at my request. “All right. We have some plain t-shirts on the other side of the store. As for the shorts, we have swim trunks without pockets, but I’m afraid the majority of our selection is made for hikers and campers who benefit from being prepared.”
“If you could point me in the right direction, that would be great.”
He shows me what I was hunting for, though not without giving me a few odd looks.
I can’t blame him. I’m sure he doesn’t get many men in suits requesting the opposite of what his store stands for.
It’s not like I can tell the kid I was brought here against my will.
As fun as it would be to see the look on his face, I don’t need Ariel getting arrested.
Mainly because I don’t know the address or the code to the cabin, and all of my work stuff is in there.
Not because the thought of her in jail is one I can’t stomach.
I grab a pack of black t-shirts, two pairs of swim trunks, and a pair of flannel pajama pants. Then I find a toiletry kit I’m sure is meant for camping, but it’ll do for now. I’m heading toward the register when I hear Ariel talking.
“He’s cute, isn’t he?” she asks.
I peek around the row of racks and find her absentmindedly toying with bracelets made out of hemp.
“S, come on, you can’t seriously have anything bad to say about him. He’s a pediatrician with two dogs. He runs marathons in his free time and is looking to settle down.”
I stay hidden, curious about her conversation. I’d start teasing her if I didn’t know that S was her nickname for Sutton. We can’t afford to be found out.
“It is not a red flag that his dogs wear sweaters. It’s cute.”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing. No self-respecting man would dress up his dog unless he had a girlfriend or wife forcing him to.
“Shaw doesn’t know everything. He’s worth a first date, at least.”
My phone buzzes. Connection is spotty, even in this ‘town,’ so I’m certain I have notifications building up. While I enjoy listening to this conversation, I need to get back to work. I’ve missed enough today. I start to head in her direction. Her back is to me, so she doesn’t see me right away.
“He’s not going to murder me. That documentary got to you.” She sighs. “ Of course I’m going to share my location with you, I always do. And I’ll text you during the date too as much as I can. I won’t be going out for a few days, though. I’m at the cabin for the weekend.”
I tap her on the shoulder. She jumps and whips around. I hold up my haul to signal I’m ready to go. She nods.
“Go enjoy the rest of your night with Shaw. And no more serial killer documentaries. You know that stuff gets stuck in your head.” She rolls her eyes while sporting a smile. I can only imagine what Sutton is saying. “Love you too, S.”
“Sounds like an interesting conversation,” I say once Ariel hangs up.
“You know how Sutton is.” She tucks her phone into the pocket of her biker shorts. “Ready to go?”
“I found the only acceptable clothing items in the store, so yes.”
She rolls her eyes. “And Sutton thinks she’s the high-maintenance twin.”
I scoff. “It’s not high maintenance to want clothes for normal human beings.”
She laughs as we walk to the register. “People who hike and camp aren’t normal?”
“If you go multiple days without indoor plumbing, I question your sanity,” I say as we near the check-out counter.
The sunny teenager from before dims at my words. I cringe. Probably shouldn’t have said that in front of him. Oh well. I’ll be out of his hair soon, and he’ll never see me again.
“Is this all for you?” he asks in a stiff voice.
“That’s it. Thank you for your help, by the way.” I try to mend my blunder with gratitude. Judging by the tight smile he gives me, it doesn’t work.
I pay, and he shoves my purchases into a paper bag.
“Have a nice night.”
“You too,” I say with a half smile, half grimace. Not my best look.
“You’re such a jerk,” Ariel mutters as we head for the door.
“I didn’t mean to attack the kid.”
“Mhmm.”
“I didn’t!”
We step out into the balmy evening air. Stars pepper the sky, and the scent of pine is heavy even here on this strip of shops. I haven’t breathed this much fresh air…maybe ever.
“Try not to make the girl running the ice cream shop cry, okay?” A bell jingles as Ariel opens the door to the pastel shop next door. “You may not have plans of coming back, but I do. I don’t want these people to think I’m awful by association.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have brought me.”
“It was probably a mistake.” She shoots me a playful smile. “But shaking up your routine is worth the risk of ruining my reputation.”
“And what reputation is that? A sassy, stubborn woman with more insults than compliments?”
She shoves my chest. I laugh when she can’t even move me.
“I’m only that way with you. Remember what I said in the car about your bringing out the worst in me?”
“I much prefer you this way than any other, so I’m honored that I bring out this side of you.”
“You can spin anything to be in your favor, can’t you?”
I shrug. “It’s a part of the job.”
“Well, this is life, not work.”
She spins around to look at the ice cream flavors. We’re the only ones in here, and the young girl behind the counter is watching us with a smile.
“Can I try the lemon cookie crunch?” Ariel asks.
The worker takes a tiny wooden spoon and scoops a sample before handing it to Ariel.
“I just have to say, you two are such a cute couple.”
My eyes widen. Ariel chokes on the bite of ice cream while violently shaking her head.
“We’re not a couple,” I correct the girl.
“Definitely not,” Ariel wheezes. “No–just no–ew.”
I frown. I may not be dating a lot as of late, but I can’t be so terrible as to warrant that ew .
“Oh, uh, sorry about that,” the worker says with an embarrassed smile.
“It’s no problem. I’ll take a scoop of the lemon in a waffle bowl,” Ariel says after regaining her composure.
“And I’ll take a scoop of the cookies and cream,” I add.
Ariel pays for her ice cream, and I pay for mine. I would have offered to get hers, but that would likely undermine the message she was so adamant about sending the girl. We sit down at a small metal table with our ice cream.
“So, dating me would be gross?” I ask, because I’m a glutton for punishment.
Ariel raises a brow. “You don’t feel the same?”
“I’m not saying I want to date you.” I quickly brush that idea aside. “But I wouldn’t say you’re repulsive, either.”
She rolls her eyes. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. But come on, you and me?” She gestures between us with her plastic spoon. “We’re like oil and water. You’d run away after a week.”
“I don’t know,” I hedge. “Shaw and Sutton have a whole fire-and-ice quality about them, yet they’re married.”
“They’re the exception to every rule. Besides, it’s not like you’re Mr. Commitment anyway.”
Her words shouldn’t sting, but they do. I’m not a player, but I don’t make time for any relationships–serious or otherwise.
“And that’s what you’re looking for?”
She pokes at her ice cream. “Yes. Not that it’s any of your business.” Her eyes flick up, then back down. “But I want marriage and a family.”
“And two dogs wearing sweater vests?” I ask with a smirk.
She gapes. “You were eavesdropping!”
I shrug. “Just a little.”
“If this ice cream wasn’t delicious, I’d dump it on your head.”
“I’m glad you like it, then.”
“You’re terrible! See, this is why we wouldn’t work. I shouldn’t want to strangle you as much as I do. That wouldn’t make for a healthy marriage.”
I laugh again. “Certainly not.”
She rolls her eyes and takes a bite of ice cream.
I wonder what it would be like if we were together.
I’ve never allowed myself that thought before.
She annoyed me far too much for that when we were in school, plus she was Sutton’s best friend.
It always felt weird thinking of her as anything other than that.
But now, as I sit across from her in this quaint ice cream parlor, I can’t help but consider it.
Ariel’s beautiful, to be sure. She’s feisty, smart, and ambitious. All characteristics I’d look for–if I was looking. Which I’m not. Because I’m too busy.
I mentally shake myself. This time away from work is getting to my head. I need to refocus.
Ariel looks up and catches me staring.
“What?” She wipes at her mouth with a napkin.
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
Because that’s what I need to feel when it comes to her: nothing .