Page 55 of Wild in Minnesota

We got back to the cabin, and I was ready to call it a night and find my way to Fern. “This has been a great.” I spoke to the room.

Tawnee clapped her hands. “It’s not over yet. Girls, let’s meet in Fern’s room in ten minutes. I have facials, champagne, and girl-time planned.” She walked over and gave Ed a kiss. “See you in the morning.”

My heart sank as Tawnee pushed Fern up the stairs. She looked over her shoulder and gave me a tiny wave.

I don’t always plot a murder at three a.m., but when I do, it’s because I couldn’t sleep through all of Tawnee’s damn snoring. Yes, it was almost time to give someone a really good throat massage using both hands, but I resisted. Not the night with Gabe I’d hoped for, but my cousin and the girls were pretty fun until the whole snoring like a motorcycle thing occurred.

After a quick shower, I pulled on my cozy soft black sweats and blue zippy jacket before I quickly swiped on some mascara, blush, and lip-gloss, barely able to contain myself. An unknown happiness was oozing out of me at the thought of not saying goodbye to Gabe today. I looked down at the ring on my finger as my heart did a dirty Tango. We would be together again.

I would go visit my parents and friends while the Minnesota Wild had their away game run. I would curl up on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, and sip hot chocolate as I watched him play on television. Of course, that wasn’t true. In reality, I would sit with my dad, smoke cigars, drink beer, and curse at the TV. The only way to watch the Wild.

I tossed my suitcase on the bed, knowing I should throw my crap inside, but I literally couldn’t wait to get downstairs to see Gabe.

I was just about to enter the kitchen when my ears perked up as I heard my name. I stepped aside and peeked around the corner to see Gabe and Ed seated alone at the kitchen table with their backs to me.

“I didn’t see this coming either.” Gabe’s voice was quiet. “But the second we met, I don’t know, there was a pull to her I never expected.”

Ed leaned up on the table. “There are millions of women, and you go after Dave’s sister? This is so bad.”

“No, it’s not bad. It’s like the most amazing thing that’s happened to me.” Gabe ran his hand through his hair. “It’s weird because it’s just so easy and familiar somehow.”

My heart fluttered at his words. How could this man be talking about me like this? He was the human version of the sun. The cheese to my macaroni. The sprinkles to my fucking donut. Ahh.

Ed’s voice was hushed. “Speaking of familiar, I about choked when we were in the hot tub. What about her butterfly tattoo? It’s identical to Amy’s, isn’t it? The colors? It’s like the same one. And in the exact same spot.”

Amy? Something about Ed’s tone was making my stomach churn. What was happening?

“Just a coincidence.”

The silence between them sent an uneasiness through me.

“A coincidence? Come on, man. The same fucking tattoo in the same spot? That’s why she’s familiar. What are the odds?”

Gabe shrugged, and his voice dropped. “These things happen, I guess. Do you want to hear something else that’s a little crazy? I found out she got it at the same tattoo shop where Amy got hers.”

Ed shook his head. “This is nuts. I don’t know what’s going on, but to be honest, I don’t like it.”

Gabe let out a long breath, “There’s one more thing.”

Ed’s head shot toward him. I guess we both were waiting with baited breath.

“Well, I came here a few days ago, and she was here doing all the bridesmaid projects. Anyway, we’d hung out for a day, and then she went into town and the fender bender she mentioned was a little more than that.”

“Okay?” Ed leaned back in his chair.

“There was freezing rain and ice, and when I couldn’t reach her, I went out looking. I found her when her car had gone through a guard rail, down a ravine, and hit a tree.”

“Shit.”

“When I got to the car, the dash was all jacked up, and her legs were trapped so she couldn’t get out of the car.” He inhaled deeply. “The tree holding the car was almost all the way out of the ground, and if I hadn’t arrived when I did, the tree would’ve gone down, and she would’ve ended up in the river. Trapped in the car.”

Ed let out a long breath. “Just like Amy.”

My jaw hit the floor as I processed his sentence. Amy was Gabe’s high school sweetheart, his wife who’d been killed in an accident. Amy drowned in a car?

“But I got to Fern. She’s safe.” his voice was defensive.

Ed leaned up on the table. “You got to her like you couldn’t get to Amy.”

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