Page 39 of All the Missing Pieces

Trey gripped the edge of the bar, his knuckles bleaching white. “Then maybe you need to give yourself some grace too. Because if you stay on this track, you’re going to end up completely alone.”

I stared back at him for a long moment, not saying a word.

“And just so you know,” Trey went on. “Ridley has her reasons for doing this. If you would’ve taken a breath and asked, I bet she would’ve told you. Her twin sister disappeared the night before their college graduation.”

I'd thought Trey’s earlier words had packed a punch, but they had nothing on this. Ridley had a sister. A twin. And she’d gone missing.

“Took me a while to find the case since she doesn’t go by that last name publicly, but I finally did,” Trey said. “They know it was foul play. Her sister’s blood was found at the scene—a scene Ridley found. Police looked for months. No leads. Ridley’s living every single day wondering where her sister is. But she didn’t let that make her bitter. She channeled that hurt into helping others. And if you had pulled your head out, you might’ve seen that she’s actually trying to help you and Emmie both.”

Blood roared in my ears. The pounding beat of my pulse in my throat held accusation. But I didn’t try to shove any of it down.

She didn’t let that make her bitter.Trey’s words circled my brain over and over because I heard what was beneath them. I had let what happened to Em make me bitter. I’d let it hardenme. And I’d hurt people because of it. Not just Ridley, but Trey and Emerson too.

I let out a long breath, the air hissing between my teeth. “How long you been wanting to say that?”

Trey let out a huff that was almost a laugh. “Just the last five years or so.”

I met his gaze dead-on. “Next time don’t wait so long.”

“You were messed up?—”

“Doesn’t matter. I need my best fucking friend to call me on my shit.” I stood, shoving my stool back.

“Noted. I’ll ream your ass next time.”

“Good. Give my drink to Barney.”

“Where are you going?” Trey called as I headed for the door.

“Where do you think?”

Trey chuckled. “I hope she doesn’t knee you in the balls.”

I’d deserve it if she did. I wouldn’t even try to block the hit. The moment I stepped outside, I sucked in the fresh air. Even downtown, the pine scent still clung to the air. It had always been one of my favorite things about living in Shady Cove.

The sun still peeked out over the mountains as I headed for my SUV. Beeping the locks, I climbed behind the wheel and started the engine. The drive to Ridley’s campsite wasn’t long, but my brain played back every cruel thing I’d said to her on repeat.

Fuck, I was a bastard.

I didn’t have the first clue how to make this right, but I was sure as hell going to try. My SUV took the mountain road curves with ease. Three of the five campsites were filled now. One with a nicer RV, another with that same tent and now a Subaru that had seen better days, and finally that ridiculous teal camper van.

I looked at the vehicle with new eyes now though. The bumper stickers on the back marking a life lived without hersister. The bright colors a search for light in a world that could be as dark as pitch.

Parking my SUV, I shut off the engine and climbed out. And that’s when I heard the singing. The notes hit me square in the chest. It wasn’t that her voice was perfect; in fact, part of the charm was that it wasn’t. Those imperfections didn’t stop Ridley from singing full-out.

I didn’t recognize the tune, but that didn’t dull its impact. Her voice was sultry and smoky. With a rasp that had every nerve ending in my body standing at attention.

There wasn’t a damned thing I could’ve done to hold back from the pull of it. Like a siren’s song, it had me rounding the van in search of the source. If I’d been at sea, I would’ve easily crashed my ship on the rocks to get to it.

But I’d been so distracted by Ridley’s singing, I hadn’t picked up on the sound of water. Like falling rain. Only it wasn’t coming from the sky.

As I reached the other side of the van, it took me a second to figure out what I was seeing. There was some sort of contraption sticking off the side of the vehicle. It held up a curtain covered in some sort of rainbow design and a showerhead. A breeze picked up and the curtain parted just a few inches.

But those inches would be burned into my brain for the rest of time. The curve of Ridley’s waist, leading to her hip. Smooth golden skin I wanted to trace with my tongue. She turned slightly, exposing the hint of the underswell of her breast.

A single flickering glimpse and I was sunk. Everything in me responded. Wanted nothing more than to yank that curtain back and step in with her. There was just one problem.

Ridley hated me. And with good reason.

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