Page 8 of Bourbon Bliss
“Gibson Bodine.” He took my hand in a firm grip and shook. “Really. Thank you.”
“Anytime. Looks like you’re going to need a tow.”
“Yeah, damn it. Fucking deer.”
I stepped aside and waited while Gibson made a few calls. He paced back and forth next to his car, his gravelly voice thick with frustration. I cupped my hands in front of my face and blew into them. It was damn cold out here.
When he finished, he slid his phone into the back pocket of his jeans. “My brother’s on his way. He lives in town, so he’s only a few minutes away. Tow truck is on its way, too.”
“All right. You want me to hang out until they get here?”
“No, man, you can go. It’s colder than shit out here.” He glanced at his car, his expression pained. “Thanks for stopping.”
“Of course. You sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah, I’m not hurt. Can’t say the same for her.” He nodded toward the Charger. “But I’ll fix her.”
I said goodbye to Gibson Bodine but took my time once I got back in my car. Pretended to look at my phone for a few minutes while the heat blasted. He’d said he was fine, but I didn’t want to leave him out here alone, just in case.
It didn’t take long before another car pulled up and a guy got out. Only then did I get back on the highway and continue on to Bootleg Springs.
* * *
The little placeI was renting was just outside town, on the shores of the pristine mountain lake. No ice crusted the top of the water. Steam rose from the surface and I remembered the hot springs. Looked like the lake water was warm enough to stay liquid, even through the cold winter.
The sky was clear and white snow coated the trees. The peace and quiet was going to do me some good. Even after witnessing that car accident, I could feel myself relaxing, my stress unraveling.
Felt good. I liked this place already.
My sister was not one to waste time. She wanted to get together the second I arrived, so once I got my things situated in my rental cabin, I drove into town to meet her.
Bootleg Springs was the definition of quaint. Clean streets, fresh paint on many of the building façades. Hand-painted signs announced businesses like Yee Haw Yarn and Coffee, the Rusty Tool, and Moonshine Diner, where I was meeting Shelby.
Warm air scented with a rich mixture of delicious food smells greeted me when I walked inside. My stomach rumbled. I spotted Shelby at a booth near the back, her face lighting up with a big smile.
She stood as I approached, and I wrapped her in a bear hug. Gave her a good squeeze. She was a lot smaller than me, but then I was six foot five, so most people were. Her brown hair was pulled back and she wore a light gray sweater and jeans. We looked oddly alike, considering we weren’t biologically related. My parents had adopted Shelby when she was a baby.
“Hey, sis,” I said as I slid into the booth opposite her. “Long time no see.”
“Hey, GT. You look great. How’s the knee?”
I straightened my leg beneath the table and rubbed above my knee cap. “It’s good.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not lying. It is good. Could be better, though.”
She nodded. “How are you doing with… you know. Everything else.”
“You mean the end of my football career?”
“Yeah, that.”
“I’m all right.” I put my hands up in protest before she could disagree with me. “Shelby, I swear. I knew it was coming. Besides, I’m too old to keep getting beat to hell like that. I’m lucky the worst of it is my knee.”
“True. But this is a big deal. I know you’ve talked about retiring before, but it must be hard to have the choice out of your hands.”
“I’ve made my peace with it.”
