Chapter 17
Seventeen
Kellan
I pushed through the swinging doors of Doc Holliday’s, my mind still churning over yesterday’s disaster. Tate hadn’t answered any of my calls or texts since fleeing the interview. The late afternoon sun slanted through the windows, casting long shadows across the weathered floorboards.
Movement at our usual corner table caught my eye. My steps faltered as I recognized not just Gabe and Clint, who I’d cornered at Kiss My Grits yesterday to ask for help, but Rhett too. Guilt punched me in the gut—I’d been so wrapped up in the situation with Tate, I hadn’t even known he was back.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Clint drawled.
I clasped Rhett’s hand, surprised he wasn’t in a sling. “When’d you get back?”
“Two days ago. Docs finally cleared me to travel.” Rhett rolled his good shoulder. “Still got some more PT ahead of me, but better than the alternative.”
“Damn straight.” I slid into the empty chair. “What else have I missed?”
“Well.” Gabe’s usually stoic expression softened. “Felicity and I worked things out.”
Given she’d been with them at the diner when I’d crashed their late breakfast, I’d kinda figured that. I’d just been too consumed with worry to ask about it.
“About time,” Clint muttered. His fingers traced patterns in the condensation on his beer glass. “Speaking of which, Austen and I are officially together. Got big brother’s blessing and everything.”
Rhett snorted. “Like you needed it. But yeah.”
“Sounds like that pact’s working out for most of us.” I caught Rhett’s eye. “You got plans?”
A ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Maybe. But I just got back. Give a guy time to get his bearings.”
“None of us are here to talk about us. You’re the one who issued a 911,” Gabe reminded us. “I gather there’s trouble in paradise with your engagement?”
“About that.” I rubbed at the back of my neck and cast a glance around to make sure nobody was in earshot.
Clint’s eyes widened. “You broke up already? Shit, dude. I just got the engagement party invite earlier this week!”
“No, it’s not that. I… Well, it’s complicated.” As quickly as possible, I filled them in on what really happened.
“So let me get this straight,” Rhett clarified. “You were never engaged for real?”
I shook my head. “I mean, given how things changed between us, I figured we were headed in that direction, and there was no reason to upset folks by correcting them. But then the reporter who did the original article wanted to do a follow up interview yesterday. Tate finally cracked under the pressure. She blurted out that we weren’t really engaged, then bolted before I could stop her.
” I took a long pull of my beer. “Left me there with Sandra Chen looking like she’d just stumbled onto the story of the year. ”
“What’d you tell her?” Gabe leaned forward.
“The truth. That Tate had been vague in the original interview to get publicity for the business. That the local paper saw the article and ran wild with engagement speculation. But I also told her that since I got back, things had changed between us. That what started as a misunderstanding became real.”
“And has it?” Rhett asked.
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I thought so. These past few weeks with her... But now she’s gone dark on me. Won’t answer calls or texts. Only reason I haven’t called your dad to file a missing person’s report is she sent me one text last night saying she was safe and not to worry.”
“That’s it?” Clint frowned.
“That’s it.” The words tasted bitter. “Look, I get why she panicked. The whole situation’s crazy. But I thought we were on the same page about giving us a real shot. Now I’m not sure about anything.”
“Have you checked her usual spots?” Gabe asked.
“Everywhere I could think of. She’s not at home, not at the office, not at her parents’. Her truck’s gone too.”
“Want us to help look?” Rhett offered.
I shook my head. “If she wanted to be found, she would’ve answered my calls. I just...” My throat tightened. “I just need to know she’s okay.”
“I bet she’s at Pepper’s,” Rhett murmured. “We’d know if she’d gone to Felicity or Austen. Pepper is absolutely their hide-a-body friend. If Tate doesn’t want to be found right now, she won’t be, and Pepper wouldn’t breathe a word.”
“Makes sense,” Clint agreed. “Austen would keep that confidence, even from me.”
“Felicity, too,” Gabe added. “But man, you need to fix this fast before it impacts the business.”
My stomach churned. We had three major installations scheduled next week alone. “What if she can’t work with me anymore?”
“She will,” Rhett cut in. “Known that girl almost as long as you have. Once she processes things, she’ll come around.”
“Process what exactly?” I ran my finger around the rim of my glass. “That I took advantage of the situation? That I pushed too hard?”
“That she might actually get what she wants,” Clint murmured. “Sometimes that’s scarier than rejection.”
Gabe leaned back, crossing his arms. “Here’s what you do. Give her tonight. Tomorrow, go to work early and handle the crew assignments. Show her you’re not letting the business suffer. But don’t push for a conversation until she’s ready.”
“And if she’s never ready?” The words felt like gravel in my throat.
“She will be,” Rhett insisted. “Look, Tate’s always been the steady one in their friend group. The responsible one. The one who plans everything out. This whole situation obviously threw her completely off script. She just needs time to write a new one.”
I wanted to believe him. But all I could think about was how empty her bed felt last night without her in it.
How wrong it felt to wake up alone this morning.
How much I missed her stupid jokes and the way she hummed while she worked and the little crease between her eyebrows when she was concentrating on a design.
“What if I screwed everything up?” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
“You didn’t,” Clint said firmly. “But you might if you don’t give her space to figure this out on her own terms.”
I straightened in my chair, an idea taking shape that flew in the face of everything they were suggesting, but one that just might say what I needed to say in a way she had to believe. “I need your help with something.”
“Name it,” Rhett said.
“Remember that overlook spot where we used to camp as kids? The one with the view of the whole valley?”
Clint’s eyes lit with understanding. “The one where you and Tate used to stargaze?”
“Yeah. I want to transform it. Create a garden space up there, something permanent and beautiful. Show her that even when things get messy and complicated, we can build something lasting together.”
“That’s protected land,” Gabe pointed out. “You’d need permits.”
“Already got ’em.” At their surprised looks, I shrugged. “Been planning this since before deployment. Wanted to do something special for our ten-year business anniversary. The timing just feels right now.”
“What exactly do you need from us?” Rhett asked.
“Materials transport mainly. It’s not exactly accessible by truck. And muscle power—there’s a lot to do and not much time. I want it ready by sunset day after tomorrow.”
“Two days?” Clint whistled. “That’s ambitious.”
“I’ve got the design worked out. Been sketching it for months.
” I pulled out my phone, showing them the plans I’d refined during sleepless nights overseas.
“Simple but meaningful. Mountain laurel for the business. Her favorite natives. A stone bench facing west.” I had a few extra changes to make tonight, but I could manage it.
“You’re really serious about her,” Gabe observed.
“Always have been.” I met each of their eyes. “So are you in?”
“Of course we’re in,” Rhett said. “What time do you need us?”
“Dawn. And...” I hesitated. “Someone needs to make sure she shows up there at sunset when we’re done without actually telling her why.”
“Leave that to me,” Clint said. “I’ll get Austen to handle it. Tate won’t suspect anything from her.”
Relief loosened the knot in my chest. This had to work. Had to show her that some risks were worth taking.