But I wasn’t getting an attracted to you vibe from Gibs. He was protective—which I enjoyed—and did his part to make it look like we were together. But despite those little moments—like his arm around me at the bonfire, or the way he’d looked at me when we’d been singing together—I felt the force of his friend-zoning.
So I let it go.
I went into his bedroom, where I’d been keeping my things, and changed into a cute summer dress. It was one of my favorites because it never wrinkled, no matter how scrunched up it was in my bag.
Gibson pushed the door open behind me and I turned. Oh dear sweet lord, he was in nothing but a towel, slung low around his hips, his skin damp and glistening. My eyes traced down the length of his body. Past a dusting of chest hair. Solid abs. A trail of body hair that disappeared beneath that towel. A droplet of water slid down his chest, between his pecs, tracing a wet path to his belly button.
Holy shit. With clothes on, Gibson was ruggedly handsome in a don’t approach me kind of way. But half-naked, he was stunning. A glorious specimen of rough, powerful man that sent my hormones into a tailspin of unbridled lust.
“Sorry,” he said, backing out the door. “Didn’t realize you were in here.”
“No, it’s fine,” I choked out, then cleared my throat to try to cover. “I’m done.”
We stood there for a long moment, staring at each other. A slip of his hand and that towel would drop right to the floor. As if powered by a force I couldn’t control, my eyes slid down his body again. Was he hard underneath that towel?
I felt my cheeks warm, and I was not a blusher. He cleared his throat and moved aside. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I darted past him. I needed to get him out of my line of vision before I did something embarrassing. Like licked the water off his neck.
The bedroom door shut behind me and I sank down onto the couch. What was I doing? Gibson and I had been good friends, but I’d never been so crazy around him. When we were younger, even my little teenage crush hadn’t been that big of a deal. I’d liked him, but it hadn’t bothered me that we couldn’t be more. I hadn’t thought about it all that much. Just enjoyed spending time with him.
And that time sure had been special.
15
CALLIE
Thirteen years ago
Moonshine Diner was packed, the smell of sunscreen thick in the air. It seemed like half the population of Bootleg Springs High School had decided to come in from the midday heat, piling into booths for the lunch special—a pepperoni roll and a Pepsi.
I sat with Tanya Varney and Lacey Dickerson, sipping what was left of my Pepsi. It was mostly ice, now. They leaned close to each other, whispering and giggling about the boys in the booth behind us. They lived here year-round, so they knew each other well. But like all the kids in Bootleg, they were always nice to me when I was here summers. Included me like I was one of them. It was one of the reasons I liked it here.
“What about you, Callie?” Tanya asked. “Do you have a boyfriend back at school?”
“No, there aren’t any boys I like enough.” That was partially true. There were plenty of boys at my high school in Virginia who were cute, but none that I liked that way. But it wouldn’t have mattered if I had. My parents would never allow me to date. However, I didn’t like talking about my parents unless I had to, so I left that part out.
“Really?” she asked. “Not a single one?”
I shrugged. “Not really.”
“I bet you could date Amos Sheridan if you wanted to,” Lacey said, lowering her voice. He was sitting right behind us. “He’s so cute and I bet he likes you.”
My eyes flicked to the boys in the other booth. Amos was cute. A lot of the boys in Bootleg Springs were cute. It made hanging out at the lake with all the local kids more fun. The other girls mooned over them, and the boys loved to show off.
Fun or not, I was more of an observer than a participant. I had to be.
“I don’t know, Lacey,” I said. “I bet he likes you more than me.”
“Oh my god, Bowie Bodine just walked in,” Tanya whispered. “He’s so gorgeous.”
Bowie sauntered in, wearing a battered baseball cap and a t-shirt that showed his athletic frame. Like all the Bodine boys, he was nice to look at. He paused at a small table near the window and said something to his brother, Jameson.
Jameson was my age, but I didn’t know him very well. He was quiet and mostly spent time with Leah Mae Larkin. They weren’t dating as far as I knew. They acted more like friends—friends who’d known each other since they were little. She spent summers here now, kind of like I did, except it was because her parents had divorced and she’d gone to live with her mom in Florida. I liked Leah Mae, but we didn’t hang out much. She was always off somewhere with Jameson.
“Bowie’s eighteen,” Lacey hissed. “That means he’s like a grown-up.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Tanya asked. “He’s only two years older.”
“Are y’all talking about my brother again?” Scarlett Bodine squished into the booth with Lacey and Tanya, and her best friend Cassidy Tucker slid in next to me. Scarlett and Cassidy were a couple of years younger, but they were nice girls. I’d always liked Scarlett’s sass.
“No,” Tanya said, but Lacey gave her the side-eye. “Okay, yeah. But I can’t help it. He’s so cute.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “I guess. He’s a pain in the ass, though. All my brothers are.”
“Shh, he’s coming,” Tanya said.
Bowie paused by our table. He grabbed Cassidy’s ponytail and gave it a little tug. “Hey, trouble.” Then he playfully punched Scarlett’s shoulder.
Scarlett rubbed her arm while Cassidy grinned up at him.
“Don’t punch me, you big fart face.” Scarlett socked him in the arm.
“Ow,” Bowie said, grabbing his arm. “What gives, Scar? I barely touched you.”
Scarlett gave him a smug smile. He grumbled something and walked away, heading for a table near the back. I noticed Cassidy didn’t take her eyes off him.
“You’re so gonna marry him,” Scarlett said.
“Shut up, I am not,” Cassidy said, but her smile said otherwise.
Amos turned and leaned over into our booth. “Y’all done? We’re heading back to the lake.”
“Sure,” Lacey said with a giggle.
“We’ll see you down there,” Scarlett said, standing to let Tanya and Lacey out. “Cass and I wanna get some lunch.”
Cassidy stood so I could get out. We said goodbye, then I followed Tanya and Lacey out the door. The knot of boys came out right after us.
I pulled on my sleeves, even though it was hot out today. Maybe I’d dip my feet in the lake to cool off. The water was bathwater warm, but it still felt refreshing. And wearing short sleeves wasn’t an option.
An engine rumbled behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and my heart did a little flip. Gibson Bodine drove by slow in his beat-up old pickup truck. He had his windows rolled down, music turned up. He wore a black muscle shirt that showed off his muscular arms and a pair of dark sunglasses.
The other girls stared, open-mouthed. Gibson Bodine was equal parts fascinating and intimidating. The type of guy the girls my age were both afraid of, and drawn to like flies to honey. The big, bad older guy, with stubble on his square jaw and a heart-stopping smile. A little scary. A little dangerous. A lot sexy.
And these girls had no idea he was my friend.
I held that secret like a treasure. I had a lot of secrets—far too many for a sixteen-year-old girl—but this was the one I cherished. A happy secret, instead of a terrible one. But still something I had to keep to myself.
So I didn’t wave when he drove by. He didn’t acknowledge me, either. He didn’t need to. We both knew.
“Last one in the lake is a bug-eyed catfish,” Amos yelled, then took off running down the street.
The rest of the boys followed, yelling insults at each other as they went.
> Tanya and Lacey started to follow. “You coming, Callie?”
I made sure not to glance in the direction Gibson had gone. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Okay, see ya.”
I turned in the opposite direction, walking up Lake Drive while the girls headed toward the lake. Sneaking away was easy. The kids and teens of Bootleg Springs roamed the town until dusk all summer long, everyone coming and going. Forming small groups, then breaking off to form new ones. No one seemed to miss me when I wandered off.
Technically I wasn’t violating any of my parents’ rules. Although there was no way they’d approve of me hanging out with Gibson Bodine. He was twenty, and most people thought of him as the bad boy in town.
I knew better. He wasn’t bad. Misunderstood, maybe. But not bad. But I still couldn’t let my parents find out.
Making sure no one was watching, I cut between two buildings and made for the woods. Not far into the trees, I left the trail. I knew my way. Gibson had showed me a clearing that was deep enough in the forest that it was secluded and quiet, but close enough that I could easily make it home by dark, even if we lost track of time.
We did that pretty often.
I picked my way through the trees, careful not to stub my toe on the forest debris. As much as I worried about getting caught, I never hesitated to come. I couldn’t resist.
Gibson was already there, sitting on a fallen log, tuning his guitar. He usually parked on a dirt road and came in from the opposite direction.
He looked up at me and smiled. “Hey, Cal.”
I tugged on my sleeves, making sure they were pulled all the way down. Gibson and I shared a secret, but he didn’t know my other ones. “Hey, Gibs.”
“I learned a new song.” He strummed a chord. “Worked it out by ear, but I think I have it right.”
“What song?” I lowered myself onto the log next to him.
“Let’s see if you can guess.” He strummed a few more times.
I picked up on the melody instantly. “That’s ‘It’s Your Love.’ It’s a duet.”
“I thought you’d like that.”
Smiling, he continued playing. I listened for a minute, letting the music wash over me. I never felt as peaceful as I did when I was out here in the woods with Gibson. It wasn’t his bad boy reputation or his formidable good looks that made me risk my parents’ wrath to spend time with him. It was the connection we shared. The blissful relaxation of being away, alone in the woods, nothing but our voices and his guitar.
He looped around and started the song again, this time adding the words. His voice was like warm maple syrup, smooth and rich. I listened for a few bars, then found the harmony, singing along. He smiled as he sang, nodding to me in approval.
There was magic out here. The secrets I kept locked up so tight didn’t exist. The weight on my shoulders lifted as I sang, as if our music wove a protective cocoon around us both.
I was never as happy as when I was singing in the woods with Gibson Bodine.
16
MAYA
Gibson pounded his fist against the Tuckers’ front door. I stood next to him, resisting the urge to slip my hand in his. We weren’t pretending to be together, tonight. I hadn’t seen the Tuckers in person yet, but they already knew the truth about me, so there was no need to perpetuate the Gibson’s girlfriend Maya story. So I kept my hand firmly by my side.
But I was riddled with anxiety. I felt like Callie again. A girl with too many secrets, trying to hold the threads of her life together. Afraid of what it would mean to reveal the truth.
I took a deep breath. I’d be safe here. We weren’t in public where someone could overhear. And I knew the Tuckers were trustworthy. But the box in my mind bumped, as if the demons inside could sense their time was coming.
There were so many things inside. Things I still couldn’t see.
Gibson took my hand and squeezed. That little gesture of reassurance calmed my racing heart. Glancing up at him, I squeezed back.
Harlan Tucker opened the door, greeting us with a smile. His mustache had gone white, as had his hair, and he wore a flannel shirt with jeans. His wife Nadine appeared at his side, looking just as pretty as I remembered. Her silvery blond hair was pulled back and her green eyes were bright.
“Oh sweet heavens, look at you,” Nadine said. “Come in, come in.”
They ushered us inside and shut the door. It wasn’t quite dark out, but I noticed the curtains had been drawn. I didn’t know if that was on purpose, but I appreciated it nonetheless. Made me feel a little more secure.
Nadine wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “My goodness, Callie Kendall. Is it really you?”
I nodded and before I could answer, she wrapped me in a tight hug. I hugged her back, blinking against the sudden sting of tears.
“Now, now, let’s not smother the poor girl,” Harlan said.
Nadine didn’t let go. “I haven’t seen her in thirteen years, Harlan. I’ll smother her all I want.”
I laughed. Her motherly hug was nice. “Smother away, Mrs. Tucker.”
She pulled back, but held my arms. “Call me Nadine. It’s so good to see you. I almost didn’t believe it when Harlan told me the news. I’ve been dying to get a proper look at you. What a lovely woman you’ve become.”
“Thank you.” A part of me wanted to shy away from her scrutiny. The scar on my face was a frustrating reminder of what I’d been through, and I knew it was often the first thing people noticed. But her eyes didn’t linger there. She seemed to take all of me in, looking at me like an aunt who hadn’t seen her niece in a long time.
“Mom, are you going to let them come inside, or should we move the table to the front door?” Cassidy asked. She stood in the living room with Bowie, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“Oh, don’t get your knickers in a twist.” Nadine let go of my arms. “I’m just so darn excited to see you.”
Gibson stood to the side, his arms crossed, his eyes never leaving me.
Bowie patted him on the shoulder. “Calm down, Gibs. It’s just us here.”
He grunted, dropping his arms to his sides, but he didn’t move. Or take his eyes off me.
“Dinner is just about ready,” Nadine said, ushering us in. “Let’s have a good meal before things get too serious.”
I felt Gibson’s hand on the small of my back while we walked into the dining room. Why was he doing that? Not that I minded. The gentle pressure of his big hand was calming. But also a little bit confusing. Maybe touching me when other people were around had simply become a habit already.
We sat together at their cozy table while Bowie and Cassidy helped Nadine bring in dinner. The scent of roasted chicken and gravy filled the air, making my mouth water.
The meal was amazing. Home cooking at its finest. Nadine kept the conversation light and lively, asking easy-to-answer questions of me and the others at the table. Gibson didn’t say much, but he was very polite to the Tuckers. I had a feeling it meant he liked them. He certainly respected them.
We finished eating and Bowie helped Nadine clear the table.
“I suppose we should get down to business.” Harlan folded his hands together, resting his elbows on the table. “Callie, we’re going to need you to take a DNA test.”
“It’s not that we don’t believe you,” Cassidy said. “I know you’re who you say you are. But we’re going to need proof.”
“Of course. I expected that.”
“Good,” Harlan said. “Cassidy filled me in on your story, but let me see if I have this right. You left home because you were being abused.”
I nodded, feeling Gibson stiffen beside me. “That’s correct.”
“And Jonah Bodine Sr. found you, and helped you get out of town.”
I looked down at the table, my throat suddenly thick, my heart racing. It was so hard to talk about this. I felt raw and exposed, like the old wounds on my arms would break open and start bleeding again.
“
It’s okay, dear,” Nadine said, returning to her seat. “Take your time.”
Bowie quietly took his chair next to Cassidy.
“Yes, he helped me. I was injured, and he took care of me as best he could. The next day, he and Mrs. Bodine helped me reach out to a friend I knew I could trust and arranged for a place to go. Mr. Bodine drove me there.”
“Did you ask him to keep your whereabouts a secret?” Harlan asked.
“We came up with the plan together. He didn’t want to put his family in danger, but he also wasn’t willing to send me back. We decided I needed to disappear.”
“I see,” Harlan said, nodding thoughtfully.
“I have a question about your new identity,” Cassidy said. “How’d you manage to get ID? You said you traveled a lot, but you’d need a passport for that.”
“Someone in Blue Moon arranged it for me. He said he knew a guy who knew a guy, or something like that. I realize that’s not exactly legal.” I winced.
“I was just curious,” Cassidy said.
“I reckon your passport and whatnot aren’t really our concern,” Harlan said. “We have bigger issues to deal with, here.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I want you to know, I’m ready to come forward.”
Gibson put up a hand. “No, she can’t—”
“Gibson,” Harlan said, his tone gentle. “We’re not going to make any rash decisions. I agree with y’all keeping her identity a secret for the time being. It was the right thing to do, and I don’t think that’s changed. Callie, if you come forward now, it’s your word against theirs. They’ll claim your injuries were self-harm, and you ran away.”
“What about the forensics report?” Bowie asked. “She’s sitting right here. Clearly that body ain’t her.”
“We have to prove the judge was behind it,” Harlan said. “It’s damn suspicious, but that’s not enough. And you need to understand, I don’t have the jurisdiction to run a proper investigation against Judge Kendall. Not when it crosses state lines. I need to get the FBI involved.”
Highball Rush: Bootleg Springs Book 6 Page 12