Page 85 of The Pretenders of Copper County
I knew better than to trust Nicky, but the second he’d mentioned family and needing my help, my brain had short-circuited, and I hadn’t thought at all.
Nicky knew Danny’s nickname, knew Danny wasn’t in Alaska, probably knew all along about the plea deal—“He hasn’t signed it yet, though, right?”—but if he knew all that, he had to know I wasn’t involved in Danny’s business—well,thatbusiness, anyway—so what could he want with me? Why would he be looking for me at all?
“Chris?” Watt asked.
I lifted my head, and his curious expression transformed instantly to concern.
“Whoa, hey now.” Watt crouched down and patted my knee. “What happened? Shit, Chris. Did someone die?”
My eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t tell Watt the truth, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to form sentences anyway.
“Shit.Shit. Why did I ask that?” he muttered under his breath. “Can I… What can I do, Chris? Do you need tea? Or chocolate? When my wife was upset, she used to like chocolate?—”
I shook my head. “Nobody died, Watt. I just… I need Reed.”
I had to tell Reed—warn him—Nicky was coming here.
“Fuck, of course. Yeah.” Watt stood. “And you said he’s in town, right? Want me to take you? Or…” He gave my face another more critical look. “Or maybe I’ll just go find him for you and send him back.”
“Please? I’ll stay here in case he comes home.” I ran my hands over my face. Reed would want me to stay here, I thought. Probably. If Nicky was on his way, whatever his intention was, he’d be less likely to find me out here at the campground, surely.
And then once Reed was back… once he was back, I’d tell him I’d done the one thing he’d warned against from the very beginning and let someone know where we were.
I’d tell him that even though he’d trusted me and believed I was capable, even though he’d helped me to feel more confident and empowered than I ever had in my whole life… I’d let him down.
What if he got in trouble with his bosses again because he’d trusted me when he shouldn’t have? What if he lost the job he loved more than anything? I’d never forgive myself.He’dnever forgive me.
“He’s going to be so angry,” I whispered.
“Angry?” Watt looked mystified. “You mean Reed? I don’t know what’s happening here, so I guess it’s possible, but if he’s pissed, he’ll get over it. He’s in love with you. A man’ll forgive a whole lot for the person he loves.”
I gave Watt a sad smile. He was so sweet, but he had no idea that Reed and I weren’t the newlyweds we’d claimed to be.
Reed cared about me, I believed that. But love? The kind of love I felt for him? I didn’t think so. Especially not after this…
And only now that the possibility was gone for good did I realize how much I’d hoped that at some point, he might.
I tried to smile. “Thank you, Watt. You’re a really good friend.”
My smile must not have been convincing because it seemed to make Watt more panicked. “Uh, you too? Look, I’ll be back in half an hour. Tops. The best thing about a small town is there aren’t many places he could be, right? So just… hang tight.”
He grabbed his phone from my hand and nearly sprinted for his car.
But after he left, I couldn’t make myself settle. I kept replaying my conversation with Nicky, alternately terrifying myself and telling myself I was overreacting. After an hour passed, I began pacing the small cabin. At noon, when the sky began to darken like a storm was coming, I began jumping with every gust of wind. And when the rain began, an hour after that, I was truly panicked.
Where the heck was Reed?
Even if he was angry, I knew he’d come when I needed him. And as much as I dreaded confessing what I’d done, I wanted him with me. Wanted his overprotectiveness and his smile, his snark and his scowls, his steadfast presenceand those grunts he used in place of full sentences. I wantedhim, period.
For as long as I could, in any way I could have him.
It was almost a relief when Dolores, dressed in a sky-blue raincoat with cherries printed on it, knocked on the door a little before two.
“Where’d you disappear to earlier, kiddo?” she demanded, stepping inside. She looked me up and down, much like Watt had. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry about earlier. I… I had to do something. But I’m okay. Just a little nervous ’cause Reed’s not home from town yet,” I explained, which wasn’t a lie.
Dolores nodded sympathetically. “It’s really blowing around out there. Just got home from town myself. I needed some veggies for dinner—well, more like Bob needs veggies, and I need Fanaille cupcakes.” She winked.
