26
Layla
Liam has just gotten off the phone with a very excited, hyped-up Jackson. He’s having the best time at his grandparents’ house and was on a sugar high from leftover Halloween candy and pre-Thanksgiving treats. He asked if I was still at their house as soon as he got on the phone and wanted to say hi to me. After discussing the new cards he got and the sweets he ate for a few minutes, I said goodbye and gave the phone back to Liam.
Liam had checked on the roads shortly before that and found that they were finally plowed and clear to drive on. He called Jackson immediately after that to let him know that he’d be there in the late afternoon to pick him up.
To my surprise, I also got a message from the owner of my cabin earlier letting me know that he has a friend in the area who was on the way to fix the heater. It should hopefully be done in a few hours.
I hadn’t expected that to be taken care of today. After being snowed in together for two days we’re finally going to part. I feel a pang of disappointment. I know it has to end eventually though.
“You should come with me,” Liam says, looking hopeful.
“No, you need to have your family time. And I really should get back to my place.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. But I can’t thank you enough for letting me intrude. I had the best time.”
“Me too. And you weren’t intruding. Stop that,” he smiles, kissing my nose.
“I wonder how long it’s going to take for the cabin to heat up again.”
“Hopefully he’ll start it up when he’s done fixing it, and it’ll start warming back up before you get there.”
“Hopefully.”
“Tell Jackson I’ll see him soon?” I don’t want to be too presumptuous, but it definitely feels like we’ll be seeing each other again.
“Definitely.”
We still have a couple of hours left together, but it’s starting to feel weird, our looming departure so close after spending all this time together. Like we were trapped in a little bubble in time here in his home, and as soon as we leave, real life starts up again. Even though it’s still not real life for me, since I’m still going to be on vacation escaping reality. But I don’t want to leave here and be forced to face the difficulties of our situation.
**
I’m back in my cabin and it’s freezing. Two giant blankets cover my lap and I’m wearing a beanie and sweater. Liam even came in when he dropped me off and made sure the heater and thermostat were working, then he cranked it up to heat the cabin up quicker. The heater is, in fact, working again, but it has a lot of catching up to do after being out of service for two days.
Liam left a bit reluctantly, asking me once more if I wanted to go with him. Part of me wanted to say yes, but another part thought it would be better for us to have some time apart, so he can focus on visiting his family. Besides, I’m not ready to meet his family yet—I have no idea what we even are.
Still, I can’t help but think of Liam and Jackson as I sit here, freezing my butt off. The way Jackson has warmed up to me so quickly, and how I’m becoming very fond of him. He’s turned out to be such a cool little dude. The way Liam is so fun and loving with him melts my heart. Then I think of that little blue truck, and I realize I still haven’t heard the story behind it and why it’s so important…I make a mental note to ask the next time I see them.
**
I end up jumping in a scorching hot shower, throwing an outfit together, and leaving the cabin. It’s too cold. I drive around for a while, checking out a couple places, but eventually end up in the parking lot of Dex’s restaurant, wondering if I should go inside or just drive home. I sit in my warm car for several minutes debating and soaking in the heat.
I decide to go inside.
There are only a few groups of people in the restaurant. Not too busy. Soft jazz music plays in the background, and the place smells like something savory and mouth-watering. I take a seat toward the end of the bar where it’s empty and look out at the water, lost in thought while I wait for someone to come by. I think about how dad would have loved it here. The view is incredible, and the vibe is very hometown, locally owned.
“Hi,” a soft, kind voice says, breaking me out of my reverie.
I turn toward the voice behind the bar. It’s the same server from the other night, but I can’t seem to remember her name, so I glance at her name tag: Carly.
“Hi,” I say, flashing a wide grin. Maybe too wide. I dial it back a little.
“Back again, huh? Can I get you a drink?”
“Actually, I think I’ll just grab a bite to eat.”
“Let me grab you a menu,” she replies, smiling.
She’s back in a flash and hands it to me. I decide to order the same appetizer that Liam and I shared the other night—bruschetta. It was incredible. I’ve thought about it several times since then.
I clear my throat. “So…have you worked here long?”
“Yeah…” she pauses, her gaze lingering on me, unsure. I can’t quite tell what’s running through her mind, but after a moment she continues, her tone a bit more relaxed now. Less guarded. “A few years. The hours are flexible, which is good for my daughter’s hectic schedule.”
“Oh, that’s nice. How old is she?” I ask.
“She’s nine. And already a huge ball of attitude.” She chuckles.
“That sounds like fun.”
“It is,” she replies, smiling. “So, how has your stay been so far? Are the people treating you nicely?”
“It’s great,” I say, nodding. But I leave it at that. I don’t want to share about Liam or the time we spent together. That feels like something special, like it’s just between the two of us for now. I suppose Daniela and Dex are clued into it too, but I don’t take Dex as the gossiping type.
Possibly sensing something in my tone, she responds, “Liam is a great guy, you know. He’s always helping people out around here, whether it’s sponsoring soccer teams or jumping someone’s car or buying way too many things from my daughter’s school fundraiser, he always seems to show up,” she says.
Maybe once upon a time, she felt something for him and wished for more, but I don’t sense any bitterness from her now. Carly seems like a genuine, kind person.
“I’m sensing that,” I note, returning the smile.
“Layla?” A loud male voice calls from down the bar. “What are you doing here all by yourself?”
I turn to find Dex grinning from ear to ear, walking over as soon as we make eye contact.
“Oh, just wanted to escape my frigid cabin for an hour or two. And I was hungry,” I say. “Are you always here working?”
“Well, kinda. This place is my life. And, you know, nothing better to do.” He shrugs. His tone is teasing but I catch a hint of sadness or something akin to it in his eyes.
“Well, I’m glad I ran into you,” I reply, smiling. I notice Carly has disappeared.
“Yeah, me too. So, where’s my guy Liam tonight? Home with Jackson?”
“At his parents’. Having dinner and picking him up.”
“Ah. You two have been spending a lot of time together?”
“Kinda…”
“He’s a good one, you know.”
“So I’ve heard,” I respond, surveying him, wondering where he’s going to go with this.
“What happened a few years back…it was terrible. Really broke him. And his family. He was in a bad place for a while, but he hid it most of the time, trying to be strong for Jackson, who was only three at the time. And Liam…he took that kid on when he was only a twenty-four-year-old bachelor. Jackson is awesome and all, but how many twenty-four-year-old dudes do you know who would happily take on that responsibility? He’s my hero.” Dex shakes his head, his shiny, straight black hair swaying a little. There’s a somber look in his almond-shaped eyes now.
“It must have been awful. I lost both my parents not long ago in a very similar way. It really messed me up for a while. I can’t imagine Liam taking all that on—especially after losing his sister. That must have been incredibly hard for him.” I don’t know how or why this conversation got so deep so quickly, but I feel comfortable opening up to him. Even though he looks like he could kill you in fifty different ways, he’s really just a big golden retriever. Kind and eager to befriend everyone.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, his tone full of pity.
“Thank you.” I smile faintly, then, diverting the topic away from my own sorrows, ask, “So, he lives in his parents’ old house?”
“Yeah, well…he’s always wanted to stay around here. And his parents are a little older, in their seventies. Kind of got over the harsh winters and the upkeep, wanted to move into the city. They help with Jackson when they can, but it made more sense for Liam to take guardianship. He’s always been really involved in Jackson’s life…loved getting a nephew to cart around these mountains on adventures. And I don’t know too much about Nick’s parents, but I know they’re older too. They fly in to visit Jackson every now and then, but not that often.”
“He seems like a natural father figure with Jackson. Like it comes so easily to him,” I note.
Dex nods with a thoughtful smile and I eat a bite of my food. Just as good as I remember. “He is,” he agrees.
“So,” I say, steering the conversation to lighter topics. “What ever happened to that old girlfriend of yours?”
He looks puzzled for a moment, the wheels turning behind his eyes. “What…Oh! Did Liam finally tell you? About your past…whatever?”
I laugh at the look of excitement on his face. “No, he didn’t tell me. I knew all along. We both did. And for some silly reason we both left it unspoken for a whole week.” I laugh again at the absurdity of it all.
Dex laughs with me. “He didn’t tell me. But I haven’t heard from him in a few of days…I’m guessing you’ve had something to do with that?” He raises his eyebrows with a knowing grin.
“Perhaps.”
Dex laughs again. “Oh yeah, so the girlfriend…Marny. She ditched me after high school. Broke my little teenage heart. She wanted to go far away for college and never look back. Liam and I…we’re hometown boys. Couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I mean I guess it depends on the circumstances…if the right girl came along…” he trails off, then shakes his head, laughing. “Nah, probably not even then.”
I laugh with him.
Just then, we both turn our heads at the sound of boisterous laughter nearby. Three guys walked up and take a seat next to Dex. Being the owner, he gives them a polite greeting before turning back to me.
We’re mid-conversation when, out of nowhere, one of them yells rather loudly, “Hey, you’re the chick from the gym!”
I look over, and sure enough, it’s the guy from the gym my first week here—the one who boxed me in. Rolling my eyes, I reply, “Yep, it’s me.” Then I turn my attention back to Dex, who is looking curious. I shake my head. “It’s nothing.”
He looks unconvinced.
The gym guy persists. “I thought you were with that other dude,” he slurs. “You sure move fast.”
Dex’s head snaps toward him. “Alright, fella. You can leave now.”
“And who are you?” The guy is standing up now, looking down at Dex who is still seated.
“I’m the owner.”
“Oooh, tough guy,” he taunts. He must have a death wish messing with Dex.
Dex finally rises, towering over the stalky man. The guy flinches but doesn’t completely back down.
“Josh!” Carly calls, hurrying over from behind the bar. “What are you doing here again?”
“Came to see you.”
“I told you not to come back, didn’t I?” Carly snaps.
“Oh, come on. You didn’t mean that,” Josh responds.
Dex steps closer to Josh with his arms crossed. His tone is sharper now. “Buddy, it’s time to go. And I better not ever see your face in here again.”
Josh raises his hands up in mock defeat as his two friends tug him away. They leave, laughing loudly as they go.
Dex shakes his head and lets out an exasperated sigh as he sits back down. “You know that guy, Carly? Has he been bothering you?”
Carly sighs. “Not really. He came in one other time, but I think you scared him off. Unfortunately, I went on a date with him a while back. Then he showed up here one day after I ghosted him.”
“You better call me or the cops immediately if he shows up again,” Dex tells her. Then he shifts his attention to me. “And how does he know you?”
I shrug. “Oh…he got in my space one day at the gym. I handled him though. Liam can tell you about it.”
Dex rolls his eyes. “What a clown.”
We all nod in agreement.
The tension in the air dissipates and I spend another hour or so chatting with Dex and Carly. When I decide to call it a night, Dex walks me to my car. I try to argue, but he insists, noting that the creep could still be lurking around anywhere. I head home to a warm cabin and just before bed, Liam messages me to say goodnight.
His return tomorrow can’t come soon enough.