Drama Finds a Way
Maddox
As the four of us studied the famous rock formation, Delaney said with a laugh, "Forget Devil's Kitchen. They should've called it the Ice Box."
I knew what she meant. The day was sunny, but the wind off the water was chilly. If we hadn't been walking for nearly an hour, we would've been freezing our asses off.
As it was, we'd all unzipped our jackets just to keep from overheating.
Tessa looked to Delaney with a smile. "Hey, you're the one who wanted to keep going."
Tessa was right. It was Delaney who'd suggested continuing to walk once we'd left the Main Street shopping area. Cold or not, none of us had minded. The stroll was going surprisingly fast, with us talking back and forth on the nearly deserted stretch of road while only a few cyclists rolled past.
Delaney replied, "Yeah, because I wanted Maddox to see this." Smiling, she moved closer to my side. "See? Totally worth it, right?"
I wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a squeeze. "Hell, yeah."
I meant it, too.
Just off the road, Devil's Kitchen loomed large, uneven and slightly jagged. Beneath the rocky overhang, a wide opening yawned before us. From where we stood, it looked like a cave.
Delaney gave me a soft bump to the hip. "You mean it, right? I know it was a long walk."
A few feet away, Ryder laughed. "Hey, it wasn't that long. It's not like you made us walk to China."
Delaney scoffed. "Technically, I didn't make you at all. You could've said no, remember?"
In fact, two people had said no – Griff and Maisie – who'd begged off because they were busy closing up the bike shop for the season. Later, the six of us would be meeting up again for dinner, but for now, it was just us four.
Four, six – I was good either way, as long as Delaney was part of the group.
I'd been on plenty of vacations, but none had felt like this, natural and easy with no cameras or drama.
But it wasn't all a vacation.
I was working. Just not now.
During the past week, there had been plenty of days when Delaney had gone off with Tessa or Maisie, sometimes both, leaving me to get a few things done.
And number-one on that list?
Making sure Delaney never had to worry again about the man who'd threatened her.
When it was over, she'd feel relieved. But she'd feel something else, too – something that wouldn't make her smile, which was why I'd been keeping the details to myself.
For now.
Why bother her today with something that would only upset her tomorrow?
Delaney pulled away and reached for my hand. "Let's get a closer look." She glanced at Tessa and Ryder. "You guys can keep going. We'll catch up."
Huh. So they weren't invited.
Interesting.
Ryder snorted. "Sure you will."
Delaney rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah. Because we're totally going to make out in there."
My gaze dipped to her lips. Actually, that wasn't a bad idea.
Tessa laughed as she and Ryder continued down the road. Over her shoulder, she called out, "If you don't catch up soon, we'll send a search party."
Delaney tugged me toward the opening, and together, we stepped inside. Alone with Delaney, I gave the formation a quick once-over. The covered space was only a few paces deep. Still, if things ever went sideways, there were worse places to hole up.
With Delaney's hand in mine, I took a moment to look it over, appreciating the natural wonder of the place. But then, Delaney looked to me with a smile, and I only had eyes for her.
In a soft voice, she said, "You know…we could make out just a little."
I grinned. "Yeah?"
But we never had the chance, because just then, we heard loud voices outside – one male, one female. They were bickering.
Delaney let go of my hand as we turned toward the opening.
Nobody was there. Whoever it was, they'd apparently stopped just out of sight.
The guy was saying, "Oh come on, it's not like he drowned her himself."
"Not that you know of," the girl shot back. "And if you ask me, he's got a lot of nerve, showing his face in public while Sloane's still missing."
Fuck.
I was pretty sure I knew who they were – a couple we'd spotted earlier while leaving that taffy shop on Main Street. The guy hadn't given me a second glance, but the girl had stopped to glower in my direction.
Delaney hadn't noticed, and for her sake, I'd wanted to keep it that way. It was half the reason I'd agreed so quickly to the longer walk – anything to spare Delaney the drama.
But apparently, it had followed after us like a shadow.
The guy said with a scoff, "And you're not even sure it's him."
"Oh, it's him, alright," the girl insisted. "I'd recognize that asshole anywhere. And what's he doing with her?"
The guy paused. "Her?"
"You know. That chick he was with. Do you think she's just dumb? Or as heartless as he is?"
I stiffened. When I looked to Delaney, her face had gone pale.
Outside, the guy replied, "She didn't look dumb to me."
"Alright, so she's heartless." A note of smugness crept into her voice. "Me? I wouldn't date Maddox McGuiness for all the fudge on Main Street."
The guy laughed. "You are such a liar."
"I am not!"
"Right." His tone grew teasing. "That's why you couldn't stop staring at him."
"I was 'staring' because I hate him."
"Maybe. But you'd still do him if he asked."
"Do him?" she sputtered. "You're such an ass. I can't believe I'm dating you."
"Me neither," he laughed. "There's no accounting for taste, huh?"
"You know what?" Her voice sharpened. "I hope we do see them again, because I'll be telling that chick exactly what I think of her."
I froze. The hell she would.
The guy said, "So you're gonna tell her off, but not him?"
"Fine. I'll tell him off, too."
Shit. If she wanted to tell me off, she could go ahead. But there was no way in hell I'd be leaving Delaney open for that kind of attack.
I'd be dealing with this head-on.
But when I started moving toward the opening, Delaney made a grab for my arm. Her grip tightened as she whispered, "Where are you going?"
I flicked my head toward the sounds of their voices. "You can't guess?"
"But…what are you gonna do?"
I kept my voice low, but I refused to whisper. "I'm gonna nip it in the bud."
She frowned. "And what does that mean?"
I looked down at her hand. "Let go, and you'll find out."
"Then I'll come with you."
"The hell you will."
Her chin lifted. "I'm not afraid, if that's what you think."
I didn't. She looked more fierce than fearful, but that didn't change anything. I deliberately softened my tone. "Listen, this is my problem, not yours."
"No. It's our problem."
For that, I could've kissed her, but it only stiffened my resolve. "Nope." Once again, I eyed her hand. "So, you wanna let go?"
"Not particularly." But then, with obvious reluctance, she did, whispering, "I just don't want you to fight or anything, okay?"
"Don't worry." And with that, I turned and strode toward the opening even as the couple continued to bicker.
The guy was saying, "Bullshit. You're so full of it."
"The hell I am. I'd tell both of them off."
I stepped out into the sunlight. "Or, you could tell me off twice."
Standing a few paces away, they whirled to look. The guy was blond and wore a navy windbreaker. The girl was thin with long braided hair and ridiculously oversized sunglasses. Her arms were crossed so tight, it was a wonder she hadn't cracked a rib.
Neither said a word as they stood, frozen, staring back at me.
I looked to the girl. "Go ahead." I spread out my arms. "I'm right here."
She swallowed. "Um…what?"
"Go ahead and tell me off." My jaw flexed. "Twice."
She gave a nervous laugh. "Me? Um…I was just joking." She looked to the guy. "Don't just stand there. Tell him."
The guy snorted. "Screw that. I'm waiting for you to actually do it."
She dropped her arms. "Do what?"
"Tell him off." He was smirking now. "You said you were gonna, right?"
She looked ready to strangle him. "You are such an asshole. Aren't you supposed to be sticking up for me?"
"Why?" he scoffed. "It's not like he's attacking you."
"Yeah, but he's totally glaring."
The guy shrugged. "So are you."
"Oh come on!" she said. "You can't even tell if I'm glaring. Hello? Sunglasses, remember?"
"Hell yeah, I remember. It was the second pair you bought today."
She ripped off her sunglasses and hurled them to the ground. "Oh, yeah? Congratulations. You're buying me a third. How do you like that?"
He laughed. "Hey, why do I have to buy them?"
"Because this is all your fault. I wanted to hit the Pink Pony, remember? But nooooo, you had to drag me out on a hike." Her mouth twisted. "I fucking hate hikes."
He smiled. "I know. That's why I suggested it." He gave her a lingering once-over. "You're hot when you're pissed."
She paused. "Really?"
"Hell, yeah."
And now, they looked two seconds away from hate-fucking right in front of me.
I spoke up. "Hey! I'm still waiting."
Neither turned to look. They were too busy undressing each other with their eyes.
I felt the air shift as Delaney stepped up beside me. In a hushed voice, she said, "Huh. That didn't go anything like I expected."
I turned to look at her. "Yeah, me neither."
She glanced toward the couple. "So…what now?"
I turned and called out to them. "Hey! Last chance."
They still didn't look. Instead, the girl made a little shooing motion with her hand. "Oh, just go away, will ya?"
At my side, Delaney whispered, "You know…we probably should." She reached for my hand. "I mean, Ryder and Tessa must be way ahead by now."
I said nothing, but when she gave my hand a light tug, I went with her, leaving the couple to do whatever without us.
I wasn't happy. So much for making out.
But this wasn't the reason I was pissed. Delaney and I had plenty of time alone. What we didn't have was a guarantee that drama wouldn't find us again.
Yes. Even here.