Chapter 7 #3
Painfully aware of how long I’ve been staring, I hitch my thumb over my shoulder.
“Any chance you could show me how to change a tire? I just moved in next door and tried to find a tutorial online, but there’s no service up here, and the lug nuts are stuck.
I’ve got,” swiftly rifling through my wallet, I cringe, “ten bucks, but if you’re cool with an I.O.U, I’ll hit up an ATM when I’m in town. ”
He scowls. “I’m not taking your money, I’d be honored to help.”
Honored? Seriously? Laying it on a little thick there, dude.
“Never met someone that excited about free manual labor, but to each their own, I guess.”
A slow smirk curves his lips. “What can I say, I enjoy getting my hands dirty.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Does that line ever work for you?”
“That depends. Is it?”
“Swing and a miss, I’m afraid.”
“Good, that was terrible, even for me. Keep up those high standards, you’ll devastate half the idiots in town in no time.” He offers his hand to shake with a genuine smile. “Ledger.”
“Ever.”
As soon as my palm slides against his, his arm jolts like I shocked him. Apology on the tip of my tongue, I attempt to wrench my hand back, but he holds firm, staring at me with enough intensity that I squirm self-consciously.
“Ever,” he repeats numbly, nostrils flaring as he catches his breath, pulse fluttering wildly in his neck. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”
Weird response, but okay.
“Um, me either? Never saw myself as a mountain kind of girl, but as long as Oscar wasn’t lying and the internet here is solid, I suppose it doesn’t really matter where I settle down.”
That scowl is back in full force. “He left you stranded to search for help on foot alone? What a pathetic excuse of a man. Why don’t you wait inside while I deal with him, then I’ll help you burn his shit in the backyard.”
I snort. “While I appreciate you being ready to throw down over my honor, Oscar’s not my boyfriend.
He’s a nice old man that I met at a gas station in the middle of nowhere that pointed me in this direction.
” It hits me then, and I blurt, “Wait, are you that Ledger?! Do you know who I’m talking about? ”
Ledger’s lips part in surprise. “That Oscar? I worked in his shop long enough to save up for a bus ticket out of that hellhole.” Furrowing his brow, he adds, “Why do you ask?”
“I was passing through and did the dart thing. Once he saw I was coming here, he asked if I ran into you to pass along that he’d love to hear how you’re doing. Didn’t think it’d be so easy to find you though. What are the odds, right?”
A pensive look covers his face I can’t quite interpret before he slowly nods, studying me closer. “Fate works in mysterious ways.”
A breeze blows the hair out of my face and he stills, a low growl rising in his chest as he gently grips my chin, tilting my face for a closer look. “Is this why you moved here?” A thunderous expression takes over his face. “Tell me you only got gas and didn’t step foot in that godsforsaken town.”
I freeze, surprised at his sudden intensity. “No, nothing like that. I walked into a doorway.”
He narrows his eyes, not buying it, and to be fair, I can’t really blame him.
It sounds like the oldest, weakest excuse in the book next to falling down the stairs.
“No, seriously. I was reading on my phone and distracted. Trust me, if anyone punched me in the face, I’d hit em back.
This was just me being careless, I promise. ”
His thumb gently traces the perfect dark line in the center of the bruise, and I can tell the moment he accepts I’m telling him the truth. I’m just not sure why he cares one way or another.
Still frowning, he gestures toward my driveway. “Let’s take care of this tire so you don’t run into anything else, then.”
Funny story about that…
He falls into step beside me, putting himself on the side of the sidewalk by the street. “Well, aren't you a gentleman?”
“Hardly, but I have my moments,” he replies with a wink.
When a car drives past, his palm comes up to hover over my lower back, almost as if he’s prepared to shove me out of the way, and drops as soon as the threat’s passed.
Yet, he manages it all with a relaxed air, as if his instincts are constantly assessing potential dangers, but he isn’t the least bit concerned about them.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. If I was built like a warrior god, I’d be drowning in confidence, too.
Muggers probably take one look at Ledger and give him their wallets. And a blow job for wasting his time.
Once we’re safely in my driveway, Ledger steps away from my side to inspect my tire. Unfortunately, he’s far too observant and pauses, rounding the car to look at the front, jaw clenching. “Ever?”
An embarrassed blush creeps up my cheeks. “Yes?”
“Why’s there a giant dent in your bumper?”
Great, he’s going to think I run into everything, now. Doors. People. Way to make a good first impression.
“I… maaaaaaay have bumped into someone on my way into town. But in my defense, if you’re going to wear all black walking onto a mountain road at night, you should really look both ways.”
“Are you alright?”
Confusion tempers my embarrassment. “Definitely better than the other guy. Pretty sure I’m never getting all the bloodstains out of my backseat.”
I realize I should’ve kept that tidbit to myself about the same time as Ledger’s eye twitches. “Let me get this straight. You picked up a complete stranger off the side of the road and drove him here?” At my wary nod, he growls, “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
“He came out of the woods looking like he got into a fight with a blender and lost; I couldn’t exactly leave him there to finish getting murdered!
There wasn’t any cell service, and I’m not built for prison.
” I shrug, hands up in helpless surrender.
“Kidnapping him was the only reasonable option left.”
Eyes closed, he pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a few deep breaths. “Let me see your phone.” He holds out his free hand.
Hesitantly, I unlock it and set it in his waiting palm.
“As soon as you turn off the location services, it’ll work like normal again. It’s a safety precaution the town takes to keep this place quiet.”
That’s… suspicious. But if what the realtor was saying was true and they get a lot of people running away from shitty situations, I suppose it makes sense.
He passes it back. “I put my number in there; use it.” As I try to take my phone back, he holds tight until I meet his stern gaze. “I mean it, Ever. You have a problem, you call me. I’ll take care of it.”
My stomach flips. “You don’t even know me.”
“Not yet,” he concedes. “But I will.” Breaking our stare down, he picks up the tire iron and gets to work.
Who the hell does that? Decides they’d drop anything to help someone they just met? I don’t even think it’s simply because he’s trying to get into my pants; he looks dead serious.
“Why call you and not the police?”
“I can get there faster.” He grunts as he loosens a lug nut, making me feel a bit better about my failure. “And some problems are better handled… without the red tape.”
Can’t fuck my new neighbor, can’t fuck my new neighbor. That has disaster written all over it. But my inner mantra is sounding dangerously weak even to my ears.
My phone starts buzzing up a storm, flooding with voicemails and text messages now that I have service again. When it finally calms down, the preview for the last incoming text stays on my lockscreen for more than a blink, this one from a number not saved in my contacts.
Unknown:
Don’t do this to me, Everest. I worked too hard to secure this deal for us, don’t blow it just to punish me for making one mistake.
And there it is. Leave it to a cheater to play the victim until the bitter end. There’s no point talking to someone that doesn’t understand the concept of ‘fuck around and find out.’ But in Adam’s little world, even the consequences of his own actions are someone else’s fault.
Nope, I don’t have the mental spoons to deal with him right now.
Abandoning my phone in my purse for Future Ever to deal with, I shift the conversation into safer territory, searching Ledger’s face for any hint of a lie.
“Speaking of, I have to ask. This town definitely does things differently. Which is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but why didn’t the hospital call the cops?
Everybody’s acting like it’s no big deal I showed up to town with a bloody stranger I ran over.
And it’s making me a little paranoid waiting for the other shoe to drop. ”
Ledger finishes swapping out the tire in no time, already tightening the new lugnuts into place and packing up the tools to take to the trunk.
“Most of the residents are a mess when they first arrive, because people come here to escape shitty situations. You can’t get in if you intend to hurt someone here, but once you’re a resident or visiting one, all bets are off.
That’s why we look out for each other so fiercely.
So even if you did run the guy over, we know it was genuinely an accident.
” Closing the hatch, he offers a casual shrug, like he isn’t speaking nonsense.
“Why would we punish someone that tried to help a complete stranger?”
“Can’t get in? What do you mean? How on earth could they possibly screen for that?”
“Same way that your phone didn’t work. The technology goes way above my head, but my roommate designed it.
He’d be more than happy to geek out about it if you’re interested, but make sure to ask for the abridged version, or you’ll be there for hours.
” Despite his teasing words, there’s a fond smile on his face.
I make a mental note to stay put for an entire afternoon if that’s what it takes, because I know firsthand how shitty it feels when you’re excited about something and want to share it with someone, only to be shot down or them to walk away in the middle of the conversation.
Been there, done that, fucking hated it.
It’s a huge blow to your self-esteem and ruins some of the joy you used to feel in your passion project.
And if his roommate is talented enough to create tech that keeps this city off grid while still having access to phones and internet, as well as whatever barrier Ledger is talking about, I could happily spend an afternoon talking shop with the guy.
“Sounds good, let me know when he’s available.”
Ledger’s chest shakes with silent laughter. “Trust me, Ever. He’d happily drop whatever he was doing to talk to you, especially about technology. Just come over next time you’re free. Or, you have my number.” He winks. “Use it.”
Blushing, I nod. “Thanks again for your help. Seriously, you’re a lifesaver.” Opening my door, I toss my purse on the passenger seat and climb in. “Know anywhere that’s hiring before I drive aimlessly around town looking for Help Wanted signs?”
“Consider yourself hired.”
I twist in my seat to give him my full attention. “For… what?”
Ledger sheepishly rubs the back of his neck, a hint of pink staining his cheeks. “I own the bookstore.”
Motherfucker. Hot as hell, considerate, and he owns a bookstore?
Just take my panties already, why don’t you?
“Don't you want to know if I'm qualified first?”
Resting his arm on the roof of my car, he cages me in. “I'm not worried. Even if you struggled at first, I’d be right there to coach you through it.”
I bite my lip, stuffing my dirty thoughts into the deep recesses of my mind to enjoy when I’m alone. “How much does it pay?”
“How much do you need?”
“This is the weirdest job interview I’ve ever had,” I point out, and he grins unabashedly, showing off a dimple. A dimple. I’m so screwed. “Fifteen an hour? Health insurance would be badass, but I know it’s unlikely for this kind of position.”
“Done.” He taps the top of my SUV, backing away with a smug smile.
“And we don't need health insurance here.
Every resident contributes a thousand bucks at some point in their first year that the town leaders invest in stock.
It covers everything taxes normally would, including health care at Mercy Med, and if there's any big project or problem, they hold a town meeting to ask for donations. But nobody is obligated.”
Shock renders me completely speechless.
I don't care if this city is a giant cult. If it means I pay a one-and-done on taxes, have affordable housing, and a community that actually cares about the people that live here? Consider me officially a convert. As long as the internet doesn’t lag, I'll pray to whatever deities they want.