Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Zane
“If this doesn’t fix the old girl, are you finally going to buy a new truck?” I ask, using a rag to wipe the grease from my hands. “Preferably in another brand? You know what they say about Fords.”
“Don’t start—”
“Found-On-Road-Dead.”
Ryland snorts. “First of all, she’s never died on me before this. Secondly, I’m not retiring her. This truck is a part of the family. I’m not about to toss her aside just because she needs a little TLC.”
“Part of the family, huh?” I glance at the faded-orange paint and dented fender then back at him. “You know, Ford trucks aren’t exactly known for their reliability.”
“Will you stop—”
“Fix-Or-Repair-Daily. Fast-Only-Rolling-Downhill. The list goes on.”
Ryland grins, shaking his head. “Listen, she’s going to be running like new after I replace this ignition coil. She’s as reliable as they come. Unlike some people, who wouldn’t know reliability if it hit them in the face.”
I raise a brow. “Hey, I’ll have you know I’m perfectly reliable. Just…selectively so.”
“Selective is code for laziness,” he mutters, tightening a bolt.
I laugh, knowing his words aren’t true and that he’s only poking fun at me. I jab him lightly in the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that. But seriously, you might want to think about getting a new truck.”
“Nope.”
“Not even after driving mine for two weeks?”
“You know what they say about Chevrolet… Can-Hear-Every-Valve-Rattle-On-Long-Extended-Trips.”
“Ha-Ha. What about a Dodge, then? I saw you eyeing Luke’s the other day.”
“Drips-Oil…Drops-Grease-Everywhere.”
A loud cackle escapes me. “Alright, alright. I get it.”
Ryland shakes his head before getting into the driver’s seat. “Alright, moment of truth.” He turns the key, and the engine coughs, sputters, then roars to life.
I blink at him, impressed despite myself. “Well, I don’t believe it. Looks like it really was a bad coil.”
Ryland pumps his fist. “I told you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get too cocky. This only bought her a few more weeks of grace.” I grin, shaking my head.
“Hey! You got the truck running,” someone says from behind us.
Ryland and I turn toward Maxinne, who’s bending down to give Sven a pat. She straightens and smiles brightly at us. As her eyes dart to me for a heartbeat, I feel it again. That tug in my chest that I’m always fighting to ignore. I stand there, staring at her, momentarily dazed.
“It needed a coil replacement,” Ryland announces, shutting the truck door behind him. “I’m Ryland. I’d shake your hand, but…” He holds up his grease-stained palms.
“It’s fine. I’m Maxinne,” she chuckles, eyes moving past Ryland and landing on me for a split second. My pulse quickens in response, so I force my attention back toward the engine. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Ashton.”
“Hopefully all good things.”
“Mainly good things.” She grins as her gaze drifts to the truck. “Ashton mentioned you drove an old Ford—or as we call them, Fix-Or-Repair-Daily.”
I tilt my head back to laugh loudly. “You hear that, Ry? She gets it.” My smile grows as I face Maxinne.
Ryland claps me on the shoulder. “I don’t care what anyone says about this truck. If she was good enough for our grandfather to drive, she’s good enough for me.”
Maxinne’s smile falls. “Your grandfather’s truck? Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry for saying that. I didn’t mean to—”
“Max, it’s okay,” I assure her. “I’ve been giving him crap about this old truck all day.”
Her brow creases with worry, and my hand twitches to reach out to take her hand, to reassure her it’s really okay. I glance down at the ground instead, noticing the worn sneakers she’s wearing and the backpack she has sitting next to her on the ground.
“Are you about to go hiking?”
“Yeah?” she answers, sounding more like a question.
“Alone?”
“Yeah.” She shrugs casually.
I suppress a groan, reaching behind my neck to give it a quick squeeze, and a tightness settles into my shoulders.
“You know, Zane should go with you. He’s a pro when it comes to hiking,” Ryland states, winking at me once Maxinne looks back down at her shoes.
I give Ryland a look that silently says, “Dude, what are you doing to me?”
She must sense my hesitation because she quickly waves it off. “Oh, I couldn’t ask him to do that. I’m sure I can figure it out myself.”
I’ve spent years wandering these mountains, and there are plenty of places where a wrong turn can add several miles to a hike before you even realize you’re lost. The idea of her heading out there by herself doesn’t sit right with me.
I’d never hear the end of it if Ashton found out I let his sister get stranded somewhere.
At least, that’s what I tell myself. Maybe after today, I can find her a hiking buddy to go with her.
“I don’t mind helping. Really. It’ll be easier, and safer, if you have the right gear and guide. You don’t need to do it all on your own.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “You’d do that?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Sure. We all need a little help from time to time.”
She hesitates then nods, a distracting smile tugging at her lips. “Okay. I guess that would be nice. Thank you.”
I give her a nod and glance at Ryland, who’s watching us with a smirk. He’s clearly reading more into this situation than I want him to be.
“I’ll go get the rest of my things,” she announces before making her way back to Ashton’s cabin, Sven following closely behind her.
Ryland pats me on the back. “You’re welcome.”
“Welcome for what?”
“Oh, you know.”
“No, I don’t.”
“I was only trying to help. I can sense the vibes between you two.” He gives me a knowing grin.
“Just because there are vibes doesn’t mean anything can come from it.” I shake my head, and heat creeps up my neck.
“And yet you willingly offered to help her out. That’s so sweet of you,” he teases.
I bop Ryland on the back of his head. “You know better than to butt into my…whatever this is.”
He holds up his hands in surrender. “Alright.” He tosses me my keys. “I guess you can have your truck back now that mine seems to be running.”
“Next time it breaks down, you can borrow someone else’s truck,” I tease.
“Yeah, yeah,” he chuckles before sliding into the driver’s seat. “Will we see you at church Wednesday for small groups and then for dinner on Thursday?”
“Yeah, I’ll be at both.”
“Maybe you can invite Maxinne,” he adds casually.
I nod, and he waves before shutting the door and driving down the driveway. His truck slowly disappears over the hill, and a quiet sort of satisfaction settles over me. Vibes or not, I know I did the right thing by offering to help Maxinne.
I ease my truck into the Trail and Tackle’s parking lot and cut the engine.
“Let’s get you some better gear,” I say.
Before Maxinne can reach for the door handle, I’m already out and circling around to her side. My mother raised me to be a gentleman; opening a door for a woman isn’t a habit I plan on breaking, especially not with someone riding in my truck.
When I swing the door open, Maxinne glances at me, a glimmer of surprise in her eyes before her lips curve into a small, appreciative smile. “Thank you.”
I nod once, stepping back so she can hop down.
“Anytime.” I hold the door a second longer than necessary before leading her inside.
The little bell over the door jingles, and a wave of cool air hits us, greeting us with the crisp scent of leather.
Rows of neatly organized shelves hold everything from shiny lures and spools of fishing line to stacks of flannel shirts and boots.
A wall of canoes, paddles, and life jackets lean near the back.
A bulletin board hangs near the door, its surface crowded with fishing photos, local business flyers, and hand-scribbled notices for community events.
This store is one of my favorite places in Covewood. It carries a sense of nostalgia that instantly reminds me of my Pops, who used to come in here at least twice a week. His passion for the outdoors has rubbed off on me, as I find myself here just as often.
I point toward our left. “Boots are over here.”
Twenty minutes later, we’ve picked out a pair of sturdy leather hiking boots, a couple pairs of moisture-wicking socks, and a lightweight pack big enough to hold water, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and snacks without feeling like she’s carrying too much.
It’s much better than the old, tattered backpack she was planning to use.
“This should be fine for today. I’ve got a few other things at the house you can borrow.” I hoist the pack onto her shoulders.
“Thanks. I didn’t realize I needed so much for a short hike,” Maxinne replies, adjusting the strap.
“Anything can happen out there, and it’s always better to be prepared.” I smirk at her. “Besides, I’d hate for you to come back looking like you wrestled a bear or something.”
She shoots me a mock glare. “Have you ever wrestled a bear while on a hike?”
“I might look that tough, but absolutely not.”
We share a laugh and make our way to the front of the store when a voice cuts through the low hum of chatter and stops me cold in my tracks.
“Zane?”
It’s achingly familiar, like a song I haven’t heard in years but still know every word to.
My heart thuds hard against my ribs as I turn slowly to see Lily standing behind me.
For a moment, all I can do is stare. She’s a few feet away, studying me with the same blue eyes I used to think I’d spend forever staring into.
Her blonde hair is cropped short now, and my gaze drops to where her hand is resting on a rounded belly, a thin gold band catching the fluorescent light.
My stomach twists and sours. Six years melts away in an instant, and suddenly, I’m twenty-one again, sitting at MJ’s Diner with a velvet box burning a hole in my pocket, rehearsing the words over and over again that I never got to say.
It was the same day she chose to end things between us.
The day she stared me dead in the eyes and said she had ’different plans. ’ Ones that didn’t include me.