Chapter 19 #2
“Me?” I blinked over at him. “I know a few guitar techniques. I don’t have the experience or education I’m talking about.”
Jake shrugged. “Your dad does. Or he knows people who do. He could help her. The way he helped her get the new guitar.”
“Our family’s charitable foundation helped her with a new guitar,” I corrected. “After I made the request to an established program that provides instruments for student musicians in need.”
He gave me an indulgent look. “C’mon, Wolfe, we don’t need to tiptoe around it. You’re Jude Marian’s son. He’d do it if you asked.”
And there it was.
It had been a long time since I’d been in this position, but I remembered my body’s reaction well. My chest constricted, and my skin felt both cold and sweaty.
I hugged the daypack in my lap and inhaled. “I’d like you to take me back to the campground, please.”
Jake’s face fell. “Why? Because I asked for your help?”
“Honestly? Yes. You said it must be wild growing up with Jude Marian? Well, it was. But it’s pretty hurtful when the only thing anyone wants from you is a connection to your dad.”
Jake let out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry. You’re right. That probably sucked. It’s just…” His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “You don’t get a lot of opportunities in a place like Hush. At least I don’t.”
His voice was pleading and sincere, and… well, musical talent wasn’t the only thing I’d inherited from Jude Marian. I’d gotten his bleeding heart, too.
“I’m sorry,” I began, laying a hand on his forearm.
“No, I am,” Jake interrupted suddenly, laying his free hand over mine.
“Really. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Wolfe.
It’s just… I love my sister. Shay’s all I’ve got.
I’m all she’s got, too. I know you feel like I overstepped.
” He turned his head and gave me puppy dog eyes that begged for understanding.
“But what wouldn’t you do to make someone you love happy?
To make sure they have the bright future they deserve? ”
I bit my lip. I had no interest in helping someone who wanted to use me for my connections. Especially when it would benefit someone who’d just stolen something precious from me.
But I understood Jake’s desire to help his sister. I couldn’t entirely fault him for that.
He spoke again, soft and careful. “Anyway, my timing’s shitty. I wanted to show you the overlook, have a nice picnic. Be friends, like you said.” He gave me a hopeful smile. “So let’s forget this for now and go hike, okay? If you’re leaving soon, this might be our only chance.”
An uncomfortable mix of guilt and lingering resentment made my chest tight.
I wanted nothing more than to be back in the van, in Trace’s arms. He’d listen while I poured out this whole story, make an insightful comment here or there, and make me feel better immediately. Then I’d kiss his gorgeous mouth and feel even better.
But I felt bad for Jake. And while I wasn’t going to launch his sister’s music career for him, the least I could do was follow through on our hike.
“Okay,” I agreed, opening the truck door and hopping out.
Jake grabbed his own pack and followed me to the trailhead, immediately moving into easier conversation about all the trails in the area, one of the things he loved most about growing up around here.
It took a few minutes before my shoulders came down from around my ears, but then I began to enjoy myself.
It was a beautiful day, and just like yesterday, I was enjoying the chance to stretch and move my body.
The hike was as incredible as Jake had promised, too, winding up through Black Canyon and past a pretty waterfall.
Pretty soon, I was rolling my eyes at myself for my earlier concerns. Jake was friendly, apologetic, gentle, and interested. He hadn’t mentioned my father again or said a single word about my journal.
It turned out I was a naive, trusting idiot.
When we finally stopped for lunch at the overlook, I was tired. The trail was much longer than Jake had said—three hours up, which meant it’d be nearly three more hours back.
The food was amazing, though, and the conversation continued. Jake asked about my life in California, and I did my best to avoid any identifying information that wasn’t already out there in public spaces. I also told Jake about some of the hikes I’d done at previous stops on my road trip.
But when he asked what had led me to doing the vanlife thing, I kept it vague. “Just wanted an adventure.”
“I’d love to do that someday,” Jake said. “Soon, I think.”
“Yeah?” I glanced over at him. “What about Jake’s Place?”
My real question was about the debt. Hadn’t he said he was in money trouble?
He gave me a small smile. “I’ve got a plan for that.”
“I’m glad. But I bet you’ll miss Colorado if you leave.” I leaned back on the towel and gazed up at the clouds. “The sky is insane.”
I was starting to feel dozy, like the sun was working its magic on me, leaving me feeling slightly drugged and warm. My mind drifted, and I let it for just a few moments.
This was what I’d come on this trip for, after all. Moments where I could relax and think big thoughts.
“There are more clouds than yesterday, though,” I pointed out. “Seems like rain’s moving in.”
Jake turned to look at me from where he was lying on the other half of the towel. We’d already put the remains of the food back in his pack and set both packs off to the side. “Were you out here yesterday?”
I shook my head. “Not here. But same sky, you know?”
He sat up, pulling his knees to his chest, and went quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice had gone flat. “Wolfe. I’m going to need your help. With Shay.”
“I told you—”
“You blew me off. But I need you to take this seriously.”
“I am taking it—”
“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck, almost like he was embarrassed. “I don’t think you are. Because if you were, you’d understand that I’m not exactly… asking.”
I glanced over at him so quickly I got a head rush, making everything look blurry and strange. “What does that mean?”
My mouth was dry and strange, so I reached for the water bottle Jake had given me with lunch. It was almost empty now, but I was too lazy to get up and grab the one I’d brought from my pack.
Jake looked out at the horizon for a long moment, like he was deciding something. Then he said, very quietly, “I know about Fletcher Coe. The music.”
The water bottle nearly fell out of my oddly numb fingers.
Jake finally met my eyes, and what I saw there wasn’t cruelty—it was something more unsettling. He looked tired. Almost sorry. Like a man who’d taken a wrong turn a while back and had only just realized how far from the road he’d wandered.
But he also looked determined.
“I went back through your social media to confirm it,” he said, like he needed to explain himself. “I didn’t want to use it. I want you to know that.”
“Then don’t. Please,” I said quickly, as if I could convince him by asking nicely.
He shook his head. “I’ve got the mortgage company breathing down my neck and a sister to worry about.
” He ran a hand over his mouth. “I need you to help Shay. A duet video. You post it as yourself—as Fletcher—and suddenly, she’s got a shot.
It’s five minutes of your time, and I’ll keep your secrets. ”
He stopped. His voice cracked slightly. “I’m not asking you to ruin your life. It’s one video. One post. And then Shay has a shot, and I can breathe again, and you go back to California, and none of this ever—” He stopped and closed his eyes. “I just need you to say yes.”
I didn’t believe that for a second. But my brain was having trouble deciding what was real. Was he truly saying this? Was it a true threat? Why couldn’t I figure it out?
“Did Shay ask you to do this?” It was hard to believe, but how else did Jake know about Fletcher Coe?
He waved his arm. “No, Jesus. She doesn’t know anything about this.”
“But… but she’s the one who took the journal.”
Jake looked at me like I was stupid. “I’m the one who took the journal. Stop blaming shit on my sister.”
My head felt like it was floating away, like every thought was impossible to keep hold of. “You’re the one who said she—”
“Because if I told you I took it, you never would have gotten in the fucking truck!”
The first drop of rain fell. For a minute, I thought it was a tear falling from my own face. Or wet paint. Or bird shit. Or a flick from a water bottle. The sky had been blue just minutes ago. Now it was a strange rainbow of grays and greens.
“We should go before the weather gets worse,” I said quickly, pushing myself up and reaching for my daypack to put on my rain jacket.
Another wave of dizziness nearly brought me to my knees, but I forced myself upright, lurching a little before getting my balance.
Jake pushed to his feet, too. “I need you to agree, Wolfe.”
He reached for his own pack, grabbing up the towel and shoving it inside without shaking it off. He retrieved his phone and shoved that in, too.
My head spun as I wondered why my thoughts seemed so… off.
“Agree with what?” I asked, still in utter disbelief that this was happening.
“Don’t act stupid.” Something shifted in his face then—the careful, apologetic register dropped away, replaced by a kind of fraying desperation.
Like he’d worked himself so far into a situation that he couldn’t find a way back out of it anymore.
“I love my sister. I know this is messed up. But what am I supposed to do? Just watch her keep fighting for something she’ll never get without someone in her corner?
You have fucking everything. Money, connections.
I just need you to share a little of it. ”
“Jake.” I kept my voice as steady as I could, even though I was quickly realizing my body was incapable of getting me back down the mountain in my current state. “I’m not feeling well. I think I need to sit down.”