Page 36 of Believe in Caloosa Springs

Once I’d finally taken a breath, I felt my shoulders slump. On pure instinct, I leaned against Porter’s side. He put his arms around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. God, he was so fucking sweet. Especially after the way I’d just completely blown him off. I just took the whole poison oak thing as a sign to just keep my distance and forget about him. I was going to leave town and put this whole mess behind me. The problem was, forgetting about Porter was a lot harder than I had originally anticipated. He was just so sweet, and oddly handsome.

Okay, ‘oddly’ was the wrong word. Porter wasveryattractive. By conventional standards, he was probably a perfect 10. Blondhair, blue eyes, beautiful smile. The quintessentialboy next door.Problem was, I’d never been attracted to anyone who looked like that before. I liked bikers. Douchebags with tattoos and dark hair. Guys who looked like they would set you on fire if you even looked at them the wrong way.

Not someone who could be cast as the lead on the next season ofThe Bachelor.

“Think I can get it home?” George asked, turning away from me to face Wyatt.

“I think so,” Wyatt shrugged. “Back wheels looked clear. You did worse last month when you spun out into Ty’s fence.”

George chuckled. “Forgot about that.”

Wyatt narrowed his eyes in response.

“I’ll pay for the body work,” I repeated.

George peered at me for a long moment. Just as my skin was beginning to prickle under the old man’s scrutiny, he turned to the bartender.

“Jackie, what’s my tab runnin’ these days?”

“Fifty-seven…before tip,” the blonde-haired barkeep annunciated sharply.

George looked back over his shoulder. “Well, you heard the lady, son. And, by the way… I’m averygenerous tipper.” He finished the statement with a wink in Jackie’s direction.

Jackie let out something between a snort and a laugh. “You’re so full of shit, George.” As if to say she’d had enough of our foolishness, she turned around and grabbed the rag that was slung over her left shoulder to continue wiping down the bar.

“So Tian is off the hook if he pays your bar tab? Is that what I’m hearing?” Porter asked.

“Yeah. Long as this lovely lady will get me another round, and you’ll take the sheriff with you when you leave.”

Wyatt frowned, but didn’t say anything.

I blinked a few times, trying to make sure the whole thing hadn’t been a hallucination before digging my wallet out of my pants pocket and laying a $100 bill down on the bar.

“Thank you so much,” I stammered. I’m really sorry.”

Porter and I turned to leave. “Hey, aren’t you forgetting something?”

I turned back to see George flick his thumb in Wyatt’s direction.

Wyatt sighed. “I’ll be back around closing time to make sure you get home safe, George. You stay put and don’t get any dumbass ideas.”

“Christ on a cracker,” George muttered into the rim of the fresh glass Jackie had just set down in front of him.

“Thanks, kid!” Jackie called as she picked the bill up off the bar and tucked it into her bra, a wide smile blooming across her face.

While we were in the saloon, Tyler had managed to get Mandy’s Jeep untangled from George’s old Ford. Things actually didn’t seem as bad as I had originally thought. There were a few minor dents towards the bottom of the Jeep’s grill, but it all looked cosmetic. George’s car was definitely the worse for wear, but also still looked drivable. I stood still for a moment and blinked a few times. I couldn’t believe I got to walk away from this shit for only a hundred bucks. Well, plus whatever it was going to costto get the Jeep repaired. How incredibly lucky I had been was not lost on me. Lucky I hadn’t been hurt, lucky I hadn’t caused more damage, lucky I’d skated thousands of dollars for a measly, overdue bar bill. But, most of all, lucky that somehow, by the grace of some god, somewhere, Porter was there.

He had been such a calming presence at a moment when I was freaking the fuck out. I probably would have passed out from nerves after the accident if he hadn't been there to hold me. I had gotten so lightheaded, I thought I was gonna hit the ground, but he just kept whispering soothing things into my ear as he held on tight. I think it was probably the safest I’d felt in a long time. I was going to have to examine that later, when I had more brain power.

“We should get some ice on that wrist of yours,” Porter suggested.

“I could just stick it into the snow on the side of the road,” I joked.

“Jeep’s just fine, Tian,” Wyatt announced. “Couple scrapes, but you’re fine to drive it.”

I could feel myself grimace at the thought of getting back behind the wheel just then.

As if sensing my discomfort, Porter spoke up. “Would you feel better if I took you home?”

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