The Scenic Route to Panic
Delaney
As we traveled along in the horse-drawn carriage, I gave Maddox a puzzled look. "So, who is it? Maisie and Griff?"
He'd just told me we'd be picking up two people along the way. It couldn't be Tessa and Ryder, because I could still see them standing outside the restaurant we'd just left.
Lunch had been absolutely delicious, but something in Maddox's expression made my stomach give a tiny little lurch.
He shook his head. "It's not them. But you're gonna need to trust me for a few minutes, alright?"
As the carriage continued to roll along Main Street, I gave a silent nod.
I did trust him. And yet, that crazy encounter from yesterday had left its mark. From what I could tell, just about everyone hated him – or at least, everyone with an opinion.
It's not like I cared what people thought, but it did make me wonder if I wasn't seeing things quite clearly. Back in college, Maisie had been the same way about Devon. All of her friends had hated him. And me? I'd hated him most of all.
But Maisie? She hadn't seen how rotten he was – in spite of some glaring red flags.
Was I doing the same thing with Maddox?
I didn't think so. Over the past few days, Tessa had warmed up to him considerably. And Maisie had liked him from the start.
But what did that mean?
That three of us were right, and the rest of the world was wrong?
Could I even count Tessa? She still only liked him halfway.
Mostly, she was still concerned about the thing with Sloane. Just last night, when the two of us had been alone on the front porch, she'd asked a pretty disturbing question.
If I fell off the ferry dock, would Maddox jump straight into the arms of another girl?
It was ridiculous, really, because the comparison was a huge stretch. By now, Maddox and Sloane had been broken up for ages. And Sloane had spent most of that time skewering him in the media.
Her disappearance was beyond tragic. But was Maddox truly a monster for not sobbing into his pillow?
Again, I thought of that girl from yesterday, the one who'd wanted to tell me off.
Was I heartless for letting Maddox off the hook?
Yesterday, the girl's comments had been easy to laugh off. And yet, her words had been haunting my thoughts ever since.
This was why Tessa and I had been talking alone on the porch. Without mentioning that couple, I'd asked Tessa what she thought of the situation with Sloane. In return, she'd asked me that odd question of her own – as if I made a habit of falling off ferry docks.
Still, I'd answered the question honestly. From what I'd seen of Maddox, he'd jump into the water to save me, just like I'd jump to save him.
The Maddox I knew was no monster.
Like, even today, the carriage ride had been such a lovely surprise. The horse-drawn carriage had been right there waiting for us the moment we'd left the restaurant, like Maddox had arranged it from the start.
But now, belatedly, it hit me. Of course he had.
Otherwise, why would he mention that we were picking up two more people?
Unable to stop myself, I asked, "The people we're picking up – are they anyone I know?"
He paused for way too long before replying, "Yes and no." He turned sideways in the seat to face me. "Look, I would've told you in advance, but I didn't want you to worry."
A knot of dread formed in my stomach. "Okaaaaay…now I am worried."
He let out a quiet curse. "Then it's my fault, not yours." He gave me a reassuring smile. "Just relax and enjoy the scenery, okay? When it's over, you'll be glad you did. I promise."
I tried. Really, I did.
As the hooves of the two horses clip-clopped along Main Street, I took in the sounds and sights. A couple of months ago, Main Street would have been absolutely packed.
But today?
Not so much.
Sure, bicycles were still coasting by, but not nearly as many as I'd seen on prior visits. And this wasn't the only change. It was the shops, too. Most of them were still open, but their hours were shorter, and they weren't half as busy.
And then, there were the hotels. Already, a bunch of them were closed for the season. If I stuck around another month, this place would be practically a ghost town.
There'd be no touristy carriage rides then.
My resolve to sit back and enjoy the scenery lasted barely five minutes before I turned to Maddox and asked, "So, why the secrecy?"
"It's no secret."
I gave him a skeptical look. "But it must be if you're not telling me."
"No…I just haven't told you yet. But hey, do you want to hear something funny?"
I hesitated. "I'm not sure. Do I?"
He pointed to the ferry station up ahead. "This was the point where I was gonna tell you. And now we're almost there."
I blinked. "So, you had all this scripted?"
"Pretty much."
"But why?"
He smiled. "Maybe I didn't want you jumping out of the carriage."
Yikes. "Should I be jumping?"
"Sure, if you want to be trampled." He reached out and took my hand in his. "But if you do, I'm jumping, too."
In spite of my jangled nerves, I laughed. "Okay, so we'll both jump."
"Or," he said, his tone growing serious. "You can hear the apology you've got coming."
"Wait…why would you apologize?"
"Not me." His gaze locked on mine. "The guy who threatened you."
I stifled a gasp. "So he's here on the island?"
"Yup. He's with Cal, waiting for us."
No way. "You mean Cal from the business card?"
"The same. And the other guy? He wants to apologize."
"For what? Threatening me?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Why? Because you found out who he was. I mean…you did find out, right? I'm guessing you must've, or we wouldn't be meeting him." I hesitated. "Right?"
But then, before Maddox could even reply, I asked, "But why would we do this in a carriage of all places?"
"Because," Maddox said, "I wanted a place where we could talk without people listening. Or gawking. Or interrupting." He gave my hand a tender squeeze. "And I didn't want you to feel trapped."
"But why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Tell me something. The past five minutes, were you having a good time?"
"Sure. I mean, the ride's terrific."
He gave me a look and waited.
With a sheepish smile, I confessed, "Alright, fine. I guess I was a little edgy."
"Right. So let me ask you this. Would you rather be edgy for a few hours? Or a few minutes?"
I considered the logistics. "I bet it's been more like days."
"Meaning?"
"I'm just saying, it must've taken some time to find the guy and bring him here. That's not the kind of thing you do in a single day." I searched Maddox's face. "Is it?"
"No." His voice softened. "But I didn't want you to worry. And you know what?"
"What?"
"The guy's got a hell of a story. And before you think about jumping, you need to know something."
"What's that?"
"You're in no danger. Not even a little. Or I wouldn't have brought him here at all."
I was still digesting that little nugget when I spotted the guy up ahead, standing in front of a souvenir shop we'd visited just yesterday.
Even from a distance, I recognized his dark suit and rigid stance. As the carriage rolled closer, the rest of him came into focus – the squared shoulders, the same blocky build, and the same tight expression he'd been wearing all those months ago, when he'd been standing on my front porch.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood an older man, broad-shouldered and solidly built, his gray hair catching the afternoon light. The real Cal?
The one from the business card?
It had to be.
Neither of them called out as our carriage approached. They didn't shift or glance away. They just stood there, watching as the driver expertly stopped the horses so the carriage opening was directly in front of them.
I drew in a slow breath, steadying myself.
Apology or not, what, exactly, was I about to hear?