Chapter 12
KIERA
“Do you mind if I take a photo with you?” a woman with dark hair and blue eyes said as she held up her phone. “It’s not often I get to meet a celebrity.”
Although Teagan looked like she wanted to say something, I smiled and leaned in for the selfie. “I don’t think I’m the celebrity here. But thank you for loving the music.”
“Wilder is the best band ever.” She snapped the photo, hugged me, and skipped away to her friends. They all giggled and waved, walking back down Main Street.
“I don’t know if I would ever be used to that,” Elizabeth said, putting herself between me and the road, as if she was afraid somebody was going to come and want to take more photos, or hound me for an interview.
It was odd. I didn’t usually get accosted like this by strangers or fans, or even the media.
Yes, when I was with the band, things were a little more chaotic—especially right when I had joined and they were wondering who the hell I was versus Malcolm.
I was the drummer, not the lead singer, not even the only woman in the band.
Briar and Gabriel had to deal with way more scrutiny than I usually did.
However, news of what Jeremiah had done to me had made the news circuit.
I wanted to feel shame, had nearly curled myself into a ball, and wanted to hide.
And part of me still did. However, I knew who had leaked my mistakes.
Brigid and Jeremiah were searching for something they could hold on to. They wanted my name connected to theirs and needed to be close to me. It had taken me far too long to realize that, and it had almost been too late.
If I were in the news, maybe they would be able to get closer to me.
They wanted money. They wanted connections.
And Jeremiah wanted access to me. They were still together—as they continued to text and send photos of themselves.
They were still doing drugs, still begging for money.
But they were not the most important people in my life.
I had to leave them behind in order to walk away.
“I see that look on your face. I hope you’re not letting those parasites encroach on your thoughts and bring any guilt to your heart.
” Teagan squeezed my hand, and I smiled at her as we walked by a group of tourists.
They did a double-take when they saw me and pulled out their phones.
Elizabeth moved forward slightly, blocking their view, and thankfully, they didn’t protest.
“First, yes, I was thinking of Jeremiah, but I’ll do my best not to. He’s had enough real estate in my thoughts and life, thank you very much. And second, thank you, Elizabeth. You don’t have to do that, though. I’m used to people taking random photos of me.”
“It doesn’t need to become commonplace for you in Ashford Creek.
I mean, when Atlas comes to town, he has to deal with it constantly from tourists, but those within the town treat him like their prodigal son and hero for the first hour and then remember he’s human.
They protect him.” Elizabeth nearly tripped over her own feet.
The other woman must have realized she’d mentioned the one man she did her best never to speak of. Elizabeth did not speak of Atlas. Ever. I didn’t know what happened between the two of them, or exactly what things were now, but there had to be some hurt there. Or at least some form of feeling.
Or maybe I was projecting.
“Anyway, we’re heading to the brewery, right?” Elizabeth asked, changing the subject, her voice only slightly high-pitched.
Teagan studied her friend for a moment before putting on a soft smile. “Yes, because we’re getting both of you out of the house more often.”
I cleared my throat. “I’ve been leaving. I promise.”
“You’ve been spending most of your time with my brother.”
“I have no idea what to say to you about that.” I’d never become friends with the family of the people in my life I’d developed feelings or a relationship with. Not that Bodhi and I had a relationship. That name would be far too complicated and heavy for whatever the hell we had going on.
“I don’t need details. In fact, I don’t want any. As long as you’re both happy.”
Worry covered her face, and I swallowed hard, knowing she was right in that emotion.
The mountain man I tried not to think about and I had no idea what we were doing.
I could hurt Bodhi. Just like he could hurt me.
Though not in the way Jeremiah had—Bodhi would never do that.
Only he was still in love with his wife.
The ghost between us. And while I never wanted to push her out of his life, or his memory, I didn’t know where I stood.
Not to mention, I would be leaving town soon to continue my journey in my life and career. Then what would become of us?
There was no us.
The man I couldn’t fall for had set his roots in Ashford Creek, and I traveled often.
As is evidenced by the person taking a photo of me now, my life was in the spotlight.
Bodhi hid on his land for a reason—for grief, but also because people knew him.
They knew his family. They remembered Courtney and the two children who would never laugh and skip down Ashford Creek’s streets.
And the worst of it all was that there were some here who had doubts in their hearts about what kind of man he could be.
I thought back to one random social media post where some tourist had brought up Bodhi. Somebody had spilled details of our relationship that weren’t quite true, but close enough to it that the influencer had latched onto it.
Not only had they brought up Jeremiah’s abuse—something they didn’t understand or know the details of—they mentioned Bodhi’s tragedy.
And they put doubt over his innocence, even though he’d had nothing to do with it.
Simply writing a single line created a frenzy in the comments.
My stomach rolled, and I did my best not to let that show on my face.
I didn’t want Teagan to worry about me. As she was already doing so about her brother.
Thankfully, we made it to Teagan’s SUV, and we piled inside. We were headed toward the brewery. While we could walk to most places in Ashford Creek, the brewery was on the north end.
Bodhi had said he would try to come, but I didn’t think he would make it.
Not with that social media post echoing between us that morning.
I wouldn’t want him to face curious, even hostile, looks, so I would spend some time with my new friends and then go back to the cabin.
Our own secluded oasis. A break from reality.
Felicity and Keely, a newer resident and Felicity’s best friend, had a table for us in the corner as we walked past the large line that was there for their four-packs.
“This place is busy,” I said over the noise.
“They did a surprise label drop today, even though there was a countdown online. People knew something was coming, just not what.” Felicity shrugged. “Callum’s doing some interesting things, and people are excited. I’m also not allowed to help anymore, because random men kept hitting on me.”
She rolled her eyes, and I pressed my lips together.
Teagan just shook her head before going to get a beer for each of us.
Some others in the line glared at us, but since we weren’t getting four-packs but rather something from draft, they would have to deal with it. There was a tasting area for a reason.
I settled back into the corner, appreciating the shadows that it provided. While I was used to being in the center of attention, I didn’t like the fact that people knew my business now. That they would question my choices.
I had been the one to stay with Jeremiah. The one to help Brigid her entire life, trying to keep her on the good side of choices. And I’d failed in every other reaction. And now they had turned their eyes on Bodhi, and I wasn’t sure I could forgive myself for that.
“I’m going to head out. My car’s already here, so why don’t I drop you off?” Elizabeth said softly. Teagan had gone to help Callum, Felicity right on her tail, and it was getting later than I had planned.
“I appreciate it. I just want to check on him. You know?”
Elizabeth gave me a knowing look before freezing. I looked up to see someone had turned on the TV, and Atlas was there, in the middle of an interview with a beautiful blonde. Another brunette stood beside him, laughing, and Elizabeth’s knuckles turned white as she squeezed her keys.
“Let’s get out of here before the dinner crowd gets here.”
“We can do that.” I followed her to her car, although I was confused as to whether there was an actual dinner crowd at the brewery ever.
But I didn’t question her. What if what Elizabeth was going through happened to Bodhi when I left?
We hadn’t made any promises, only that we were for each other in this moment.
I had to go back to my own reality soon, though.
And when that happened, I’d have to leave him behind.
Like Elizabeth had been left behind.
“Sorry about that,” Elizabeth said as we headed onto the main road toward the forest. “Seeing his face just surprised me, is all.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“I’m not pining for him or anything. I’ve dated since he left. It’s been over a decade since we were together. I just hate the pitying looks that some of the town still gives me.”
“And then every time he comes back to town, he is the prodigal son?” I asked.