Page 85 of Revival

“I can take over, Spencer, if you’d like to get out of here,” Juniper says, moving closer to the exam table.

“I got this one.”

“Are you sure?” she asks again, her tone losing an edge of confidence.

“I got it,” I reply curtly. I don’t mean to be rude, but if she’s married to Lee, who knows what version of me the oldest Powell brother told her about.

The one where we grew up together as best friends, or the one where I screwed his sister and left.

Juniper shifts her attention to Cortney, who keeps her focus firmly on her task.

“What’d you bring me?” Cortney asks, changing the subject.

“Only the best Fairview Valley has to offer. Fairview fudge and Grandma Ruth’s homemade cinnamon buns.” Bree bustles around at my back.

Without warning, the cat rolls in my arms and catches my forearm with his back foot.

“Ah, fuck,” I grumble. A streak of red grows on the surface of one of my scars.

“Done! I’m done,” Cortney declares through the commotion. I immediately scruff the cat and slide him into his cage.

“Excellent.” I locate a string of a gauzy material and wrap it around my arm twice to stop the blood. My eyes find hers once I’m done.

“I told you to wear the sleeves,” Cortney mumbles, flitting her eyes away from my stare.

“You’re welcome.”

“Thank you.” Her tone takes on a softer edge.

I want to stay and soak in her presence, but the audience makes me feel as caged as the fluffy orange cat. I can feel their curiosity like a dense fog. A suffocating presence when all I want is fresh air.

Tipping my chin, I nod to Cortney before dragging my gaze through the other women. “You seem to have more than enough hands, so I’ll be on my way. I’ll be at the shop at five if you want me to take a look at your car when you’re finished here.”

A cloud of confusion in Cortney’s eyes quickly dissipates as understanding of the veiled invitation sets in. “Right. I’ll come right over so you don’t have to wait.”

“I’ll see you later then.” With one last nod to the group, I make my way outside into the afternoon sun.

By the time I return to the racetrack, I’m sweating. My chest is tight. My quads and hamstrings ache with the need to turn around and go back to her. As I grab a beer from Tony’s cooler, I wonder if she knows about this pull she has over me. That the moment I sat down beside her four weeks ago, my life was irrevocably altered.

For months, I didn’t know how I was going to make it through healing from the fire. There were dark times that I didn’t even know if I wanted to. I was alone and dreading every second of what the unknown future held.

Four weeks ago, that all changed.

That fire might end up being the catalyst to setting my life back on its intended path.

19

Cortney

I toredown my booth around four, packing my tent and closing my RV. I drive the beast back to Jude’s property, where we park it for the family dog sanctuary. The mobile clinic comes in handy there for vet checks. It has all the basic supplies I might need if there’s a problem with one of the rescue dogs and saves Jude a trip into town since he’s a bit of a hermit.

Without hesitation, I drive back into the heart of Fairview Valley and pull into the parking lot of Tony’s Auto Shop.

Goose bumps appear on my skin that have nothing to do with the air temperature. The heat from the summer day has only gotten worse as the afternoon fades into the evening. The events on Main Street are winding down as the locals shift to the racetrack and the bars for the evening festivities. People will get drunk late into the night while watching the races and enjoying the street dances and music until midnight curfew.

My heart thuds at the lack of people on this end of town. The parking lot is half filled with customers’ cars waiting for parts and services, but the owners are long gone. The lobby windows reveal a dark, empty interior. The only light is the bright orangeClosedsign attached to the glass.

My desire to see Spencer again wins against the feelings of stupidity creeping in. A little voice in the back of my head nags at me to leave. To go home and check on Ollie and Lincoln, and make sure they’re staying out of trouble. Or find an available friend and head to the bar like all the other locals this evening.

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