Page 48 of The Marrying Kind
“Of course you did, you’re amazing. That much is obvious. Are the people treating you okay?” There, that sounded subtle, right?
“The people here are so friendly, but they are in the business of making sure tourists have fun, so it’s probably just their job to be nice to me.”
“Psh. I’m sure it’s because they see how awesome you are ...”
I trailed off because I wanted to ask a million more questions. Are you lonely? Are you meeting any guys? Is there any chance you might get tired of traveling?
Instead, I just listened as Ella told me about her first pig roast on the beach, about hiking up a volcano, taking a helicopter ride, learning how to play the ukulele, parasailing, ziplining, learning to ride a motorcycle, and riding horses on the beach.
“Dear God, what’s next on the list?” I asked, wondering how long this list could possibly be.
“I’m heading back toward the East Coast to check off things like Niagara Falls, New York City, and DC. Then I’m heading overseas for the rest of the year.”
The rest of the year?Fuck me. It was only just now March.
I held back the urge to ask her to stop by as she crossed the country. “If you want a home base to crash for Christmas, you know where to find us.”
She gave me a smile that I couldn’t read. “You never know. Shit, I’ve been talking so long about me, I forgot to ask what’s been going on with you.”
“You know how it is around here, very predictable. Nothing new to—”
I paused with a startle because CJ was standing at my back door, knocking. I must have made a face, because Ella was suddenly asking me if everything was okay.
“Hey, um, someone’s, um, I have to run. Take care, Ella,” I said quickly and cut the call, dropping the pink sleep shorts into the trash at the same time.
When I pulled open the door, CJ stood there smiling, holding out my wallet. “You left this at the bar.”
“Shit, you didn’t have to drive all the way up here. I would’ve come down.”
CJ shivered from the chilly March air, and I held the door open wide so she could step inside. “No worries, I was heading home anyway.”
Taking the wallet from her hand, I shoved it into my back pocket. “Well, thanks again,” I said awkwardly, not exactly sure what was supposed to come next.
No, that was a lie. I knew what was supposed to come next, only I had no interest in that happening.
“Underestimated how slippery that mountain road was.” CJ looked up at me expectantly.
Peeking around her, I noticed she didn’t have a truck or SUV, just an old Toyota. Closing my eyes for a beat, I took a breath. “You can crash on my couch if you need to.”
“That wouldn’t be any trouble?” she asked.
“Naw, have at it. Blankets and pillows are in the hall closet. I have to be out early to help Noah, so just lock up when you go.”
CJ slipped off her boots and crossed through the kitchen to the living room.
I paused at the trash can and looked down at Ella’s pink sleep shorts. Then in one quick motion, I plucked them out—thankfully, nothing nasty was in there—and jammed them back in my pocket before I bounded up the stairs.
“Night, Austen,” CJ called up to me after a while.
“Night,” I called back as I clenched the sleep shorts in my fist.
20
WHERE’S YOUR SENSE OF ADVENTURE?
Ella
Several months later
