I pick up my cell and dial Red’s number. She answers on the third ring. “Wine?”
I laugh. “You know it. I’m on my way.”
“See ya soon.” She hangs up, and I drop the phone onto the passenger seat.
Red, as we call her, is my best friend and has been since she bagged my groceries the day after I moved to town. Her real name is Sandy, but her hair is flaming red. Too bad she was bald when she was born, or her mother could have named her appropriately. Her house is only two blocks from the station, so I get there in no time. She’s already at the door holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.
I laugh as I climb out of the car and walk toward the door.
“I thought wine on the terrace would be perfect for tonight’s weather.”
I glance at her, “You mean your back patio?”
She shrugs, causing her red, springy curls to bounce. “Whatever. I was trying to be fancy.”
“No point in trying to woo me, Red. I’m easy tonight,” I joke.
“Yay! I’ll put away this good stuff and drag out the cheap shit if you’re giving it up for free,” she teases as we make our way through her house and out the back door to the perfect patio.
I really do love my cabin, but I may have to steal this idea. The pathway is bricked, leading to the patio where a couch, chairs, table sit in a fireplace. It has an outdoor TV above it, which we never use but is good for hosting parties when it’s baseball season. There’s a built-in grill, smoker, and bar. Her husband must have broken the bank building all of this.
“How much did all this cost again?”
She tilts her head as she gives me those eyes. “Girl, Matt went overboard on this. But now, I don’t have to buy him an anniversary present, and I still use it. So win-win, I guess.” She giggles as she pours the wine.
She hands over the glass and takes her own. “Spill it. I know something is bothering you. Is it the new sheriff you were talking about? Is he an ass? I know you were worried about that.”
I nod my head. “The sheriff made it to town today. His name is Bryce Moore, and he’s not an asshole. At least, not that I’ve seen yet anyway.”
“So what’s got you all stressed? Look at you! You’re as stiff as a board.”
I take a sip and let out a long exhale. “Red, he’s gorgeous. Like, drop dead fucking gorgeous.”
Her lips turn up into an ornery smile while her eyes fix themselves on me for all the juicy gossip. “Tell me more!”
I take another drink. “He’s tall, like a good foot taller than I am. But he’s not like the type of guys you see around here. You know, usually, if they’re that tall, they’re either a bean pole or big around. No in-between. But this guy, Red.” I shake my head. “He’s built. I bet his bicep is as big around as my head. He has a narrow stomach and a wide chest. He has dark hair he keeps cut short, a light beard that’s more like a five o’clock shadow, and these green eyes that cut right through me. I swear, when he shook my hand, I felt it in my toes.”
She squeals and giggles. “Sounds like you found your match made in heaven.” She sits back and crosses her long legs.
“That’s the problem, Red. I can’t date him. And honestly, I think he likes me too. I kept catching him staring at me.”
“Of course, he was staring at you. Have you seen you? You’re gorgeous, Nina.”
“It doesn’t matter how I look. But it matters that we work together.”
“Only for a little while, though, right? I mean, eventually, you’ll be leaving to do that youth center thing.”
I nod again. “Yeah, I know. I just feel like the timing is horrible. I mean, if I become friends with him now, I’m worried we’ll become such good friends and won’t want to date in the future. But I can’t date him now. So what do I do? Do I just keep my distance?”
“No way! Trust me. If he’s as good as you say he is, your friendship will only make the relationship that much better.”
“So, you’re saying I should get to know him, become friends?”
“Yes. I mean, what if you keep these feelings all bottled up until whenever you leave and finally date him, only to realize you both have nothing in common? Then all this would be for nothing. Get to know the guy. Become his friend. See if you guys have anything in common. Then make whatever move you think you need to make.”
I nod. That all makes sense. Why didn’t I think of that? This is why I like to keep Red around. She puts things into perspective for me and gives it to me straight. None of that being nice nonsense.
“So, you think you could talk Matt into building me a patio like this?”
She laughs. “Girl, by the end of this, he was ready to build a time machine so he could go back in time and stop himself from doing it. But he’s happy it’s done.”
“Guess I need a time machine so I can go back in time and steal him away from you before you two ever meet. Then this patio will be mine,” I joke.
“If you build a time machine, you better use it for way better things than getting a patio. I’m talking huge, like creating the internet or something.”
We both laugh and sip our wine, talking and giggling until the bottle is empty.
Four
Bryce
I stick around the office until seven, when I finally clock out for the night. I’ve figured out the computers for the most part, and I got my office exactly how I want it. I’ve moved the desk and chairs around so that when you walk into my office, I’m sitting right across from the door. I left the filing cabinet where they were, but now they’re no longer behind my desk, and I put up the degrees, licenses, and awards I’ve won over the years. I even stacked the bookcase with books, trophies, and framed pictures. The whole place seems a lot more welcoming now. Hopefully, this makes everyone feel that much more at home when they come into my office with something on their minds.
I have a mini-fridge packed up at the new house, and I plan on taking it in with me tomorrow to keep my office stocked with water, soda, and juice. I don’t eat much, but I drink like a fish. With all the physical training I do, staying hydrated is the hardest part. I find it easier to do if I keep an abundance of fluids readily available.
I make the quick drive up the mountain where my new place is and go in and change into my workout clothes before sticking my earbuds in and going for a jog. I jog up the mountain, preferring to take the easy way out on the way back. I jog somewhere around two miles to warm up and then run another two miles.
I’m surprised to find a small cabin tucked away in the trees, with a pond at the side of it. I didn’t realize anyone lives this high up on the mountain. There’s a big window in the front of the house, and the lights are on inside. I strain my eyes to see a blonde moving about. There’s a silver car in the drive—the same car I saw at The Place and the station today. Nina. She must live here. I can’t believe she lives up here all alone. Or maybe she doesn’t. We didn’t have time to get into personal stuff today, but she didn’t have on a ring. I know that much. But it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a boyfriend.
Before, I was hoping she was single so that I might work up the courage to ask her out, but now, I’m hoping she has a man around the house to help with some of the upkeep. There’s smoke billowing out of the chimney pipe in the roof—thick gray smoke, not steam. That means her place is heated by a wood-burning stove or fireplace of some kind. I can’t picture her out here swinging an ax to chop wood. The grass in front of the small porch is overgrown, and so are the weeds around the pond. I wonder if she takes care of this whole place alone or if maybe she hires out a groundskeeper.