Chapter 7
“One more story?” Little Max gazed at Summer with the pleading look she could never resist.
But she shook her head firmly, checking her watch yet again. “Time for nuh-night. We can read more stories tomorrow.”
“I want to wait for Daddy.” Tears bubbled out of Max’s eyes.
“I know, little man.” Summer bent to kiss his forehead and smooth his hair. “Dad will kiss you when he gets home.”
“One more story. Please, Aunt Sunny,” Max sobbed, using the nickname TJ had given her long ago.
Summer sighed and sank back onto the edge of the bed, trying not to be annoyed that her brother was late. It would be nice if he had called—or at least responded to her texts—but he’d probably just stopped at that little restaurant he liked up in the hills on the way home from his trail run. She checked the time again, even though no more than thirty seconds could have gone by, trying to shake the little niggle of worry that said TJ would never miss bedtime without at least calling to say goodnight to his son. And that even getting dinner wouldn’t make him this late.
Maybe he’d twisted his ankle. Maybe he’d had car trouble. Maybe, maybe, maybe . . .
The word thrummed in her head as she began to read Danny and the Dinosaur for the eight-thousandth time since Max was born.
She knew the story so well that she barely needed to pay attention to the page, and her mind continued to rove over the possible reasons her brother was late, all the while trying to push the darker possibilities aside.
Maybe she should text Benjamin to see if he’d heard from TJ. Or at least knew exactly which trail he would have taken. She knew for a fact that Benjamin hadn’t gone along on the run because when she’d oh-so-casually asked her brother if Benjamin was going with him, he’d shaken his head and said, “He bailed on me. Said he had other plans.”
She hadn’t been able to keep the words from popping out of her mouth: “What other plans?”
TJ had looked at her, sighed, and said, “I think a date. I’m sorry.”
She’d waved off the apology. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. You’re the one who wants us to get together, not me.”
TJ had given her that look that said he thought he knew her better than she knew herself, and she’d told him to shut up and get going and that was the last she’d heard from him.
Please don’t let anything bad happen to him, she prayed as she kept reading.
They might drive each other crazy at times, but TJ was the only person in the world who had always been there for her.
She heard a soft snore and glanced down to find Max’s eyes closed, tears still shining on his cheeks.
Carefully, she eased herself off the bed and pulled the covers up over him. Then she kissed him and turned off the light.
As soon as she was in the hallway, she texted her brother one more time, deciding that if he didn’t get back to her within the next thirty minutes, she would contact Benjamin. Or the police.
“Thanks for dinner.” Jasmine slipped through the door Benjamin held open for her. “It was nice to meet your coworkers.”
Benjamin chuckled, shaking his head at the setting sun. “I think be harassed by my coworkers is more accurate.” In the course of the evening, every single server had somehow managed to make a trip past their table, and even Chloe had popped her head out of the kitchen, sending him a thumbs-up before ducking back inside. “Thanks for being such a good sport.”
Jasmine laughed, tucking her glossy blonde hair behind her ear. “I think it’s sweet. They all clearly love working with you.”
Benjamin shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a lovable guy.”
Jasmine laughed again, and Benjamin tried to get his heart to jump at the sound. It was light and pleasant and came easily—even at his dumbest jokes—and yet, every time he heard it, he couldn’t help but think of Summer’s laugh, deeper, slower, harder to win—but all the more rewarding for it.
“So now what?” Jasmine asked as Benjamin opened the passenger door of his Gremlin for her.
He glanced at his watch. “Well, it’s almost nine p.m. on a Sunday, so this town is pretty much asleep . . .”
“What about a walk in the park?” Jasmine suggested. “It’s a beautiful night, and the stars should be coming out soon.”
“Sure. That sounds nice.” Benjamin told himself that it did sound nice. He liked the park, he liked stars, and he liked Jasmine.
And anyway, putting off the end of their date meant he could put off the decision of whether or not to kiss her for the first time at least a little longer.
It wasn’t that he dreaded the thought of kissing her or anything. It was just that he didn’t have a burning desire to kiss her—not like the desire he’d had to kiss Summer the other week. That desire had been . . . overwhelming and overpowering and all-consuming.
“The gazebo looks so pretty at night,” Jasmine gushed as Benjamin pulled into the parking lot at Founder’s Park, and he guiltily pulled his thoughts back to her.
“Yeah, it does.” Benjamin stared at the gazebo, the soft white lights draped around its edges giving it a perfect romantic glow.
They got out of the car and walked silently toward it. The night was warm but not sticky, and crickets chirped from within the soft beds of flowers.
Benjamin tried to suck up some morsel of romance from the setting. But all he could think about was bringing Summer here.
And that was when he realized he couldn’t keep doing this. Even if he and Summer never got together, it wasn’t fair to Jasmine to keep seeing her when he was thinking about someone else.
“Listen.” He stopped at the bottom of the gazebo steps.
Jasmine gave him a questioning look, and Benjamin swallowed. He didn’t want to hurt her. “I don’t know how to say this, but—”
His phone dinged and then dinged again. And again.
Jasmine raised an eyebrow, and he fumbled for it. “Sorry. It’s probably the restaurant. I just need to . . .”
His mouth went dry as he spotted Summer’s name on his screen. His first instinct was to stuff his phone hurriedly back into his pocket. He could read it after he did this.
But his phone dinged again, and this time his screen lit up with her message. I’m starting to get worried.
“Sorry,” he mumbled again to Jasmine as he turned on the phone and tapped to go to the beginning of the string of texts from Summer.
TJ hasn’t come home yet.
Do you know where he went running?
He isn’t answering his phone or opening any of my texts.
I’m starting to get worried.
Benjamin’s eyes flicked from the time on his phone to the darkened sky. TJ had been planning to leave for his run right after church. Which meant he should have been home at least a couple of hours ago.
I’m sure he’s fine,he texted back quickly, careful not to mention all of the dangers that could befall a solo runner out on the trail. But I’ll check with my brothers. Hold tight.
He quickly scrolled to Zeb’s number.
“Is everything all right?” Jasmine’s voice jerked Benjamin’s head up. He’d almost forgotten she was there.
“Yeah. Sorry. My friend went for a run in the mountains today, and he should have been home hours ago, but his sister said he hasn’t returned and he’s not answering her texts. I just need to call my—” He cut off as his brother answered on the other end of the phone.
“Benjamin?”
“Zeb, hey. Are you busy right now?”
“I’m on patrol. Why?”
“TJ went for a trail run this afternoon, and Summer just called to say he hasn’t come home yet. You haven’t had any reports of any—” He didn’t even want to say the word, not after what Zeb had been through last year.
“No accidents.” Zeb didn’t seem to struggle with the word. “Everything has been quiet around here today.”
“That’s a relief.” Benjamin tried to let out a breath, but that still didn’t explain what had happened to TJ.
“How late is he?” Zeb asked.
“He should have been home a couple of hours ago.”
“That’s not necessarily cause for alarm. Maybe he went out for a drink or something.”
Benjamin shook his head. “He’s not that kind of guy, Zeb.”
Zeb didn’t answer, and Benjamin knew his older brother was thinking that he was being naive.
“Look, can you ask around? See if there are any reports of car trouble or anything like that?”
“Yeah, I can do that. You might want to check with Asher too.”
“He’s my next call.” Benjamin hung up and immediately dialed Asher’s number.
As he waited for the phone to ring, he glanced around to apologize to Jasmine again, but she had wandered to sit on the gazebo steps.
“What’s up, bro?” Asher sounded relaxed, but Benjamin found himself pacing with pent-up energy.
“Have you heard any reports of trouble in the mountains today?”
“No. Why?” His brother’s voice took on a sudden alertness. Asher was a park ranger, and even when he wasn’t on duty, he usually knew of any major events in the Smokies.
“You know my friend TJ? He went for a trail run earlier today, and he hasn’t come back yet.”
“He went alone?” Asher asked sharply.
Benjamin swallowed. “He wanted me to go, but I had plans.”
Asher didn’t say anything for a moment, and Benjamin tried not to let his mind dwell on all of the possibilities he hadn’t mentioned to Summer. The Smokies were a beautiful place. But they were filled with hazards too. Benjamin should have gone along with TJ.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Asher finally said. “Let me call in. Do you know where he went?”
Benjamin shook his head. “We usually take the Grayback Trail. But sometimes the Grizzly. I know he wanted to do fifteen miles today, so maybe the Draco Ridge?” He should have insisted that TJ leave his route with someone before he left.
Asher let out a low whistle. “That’s a tough run.”
“Yeah. But he was up for it.” At least Benjamin prayed he was.
“All right. Let me do some checking, and I’ll get back to you.”
“Thanks, man.” Benjamin hung up and tried to call TJ. When the call went to voice mail, he sent a text, just in case Summer’s hadn’t gone through for some reason. Where are you? People here are starting to get worried. If you’re hurt, text me your location, and we’ll get help to you. If you’re lost, then you’re not the human compass you claim to be. But text me, and we’ll come find you.
Afterward, he stood staring at his phone, trying to figure what else he could do. Was there anyone else he could call? Anywhere else he should go? Maybe up into the mountains to look for TJ himself?
“Any news?” Jasmine’s voice was soft, but it made Benjamin jump. He’d almost forgotten her again.
He moved toward where she still sat on the gazebo steps. “No. Not yet.”
“Do you want to go?” She stood as she spoke.
“Would you mind terribly? I feel like I should do . . . something.” He only wished he knew what.
“Of course.”
They started down the path silently, Benjamin’s thoughts caught up in what could have happened to TJ.
“What you were going to say before . . .” Jasmine broke into the quiet.
“Oh.” Benjamin sighed heavily. That felt like hours ago.
“It was that this isn’t working, right?” Jasmine sounded wistful, maybe, but not upset.
Benjamin nodded. “Yeah. I’m sorry. It’s not you. It’s—”
“No need to apologize.” Jasmine stopped him. “I feel that way too. I wanted it to work. But sometimes it just . . . doesn’t.”
“True.” Benjamin’s thoughts went to Summer, sitting at home, worrying. Things between them may not have worked out—might never work out—but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to be there for her. It was what TJ would want, if nothing else.
He took Jasmine home, and she promised to keep TJ in her prayers.
Benjamin thanked her and then pulled out of her driveway and headed to the place he knew he needed to be.