Brenda Novak

by Home to Whiskey Creek

  Addy had long since stopped asking herself these kinds of questions, but tonight seemed to be the night for facing harsh realities. She hadn’t yet decided what to do about Darlene. She’d planned to discuss the situation with Gran, but Gran seemed so happy, Addy didn’t want to ruin the evening by dumping work woes in her lap.

  “You get some rest,” she told her. “I have to go back to the restaurant.”

  Gran seemed surprised by this. “Why can’t Darlene close?”

  Addy had already explained that Darlene had taken a personal day. “She’s off, remember?”

  “Oh, that’s right. But you’ve been working too hard this week. I’m sorry so much is falling on you.”

  She bent to kiss Gran’s wrinkled cheek. “I don’t mind.”

  “At least those nasty bruises are almost gone. Have you heard from Chief Stacy?”

  Not since he’d come by to inform her that Shania wasn’t providing Aaron with an alibi. “No. But I’m sure he’ll call if there’s anything new.”

  “I’m disappointed he hasn’t apprehended the culprit. I expected more.”

  “He’ll get him eventually,” she murmured, and turned on a TV show Gran liked before leaving the house. She was just getting into her truck when she realized there was a note under her windshield wipers.

  She glanced around but saw no one, except the people driving on the street that passed Gran’s and went on to wind through town.

  After throwing her purse inside and putting the key in the ignition, she climbed back out to retrieve the note.

  It was half a sheet of copy paper and contained three typed words with no signature. I’m watching you.

  18

  Noah punched the end button and dropped his cell phone on the couch beside him. That was the third time he’d tried talking to his mother about the strange comment she’d made last weekend. He wanted to know what she meant by saying someone had tried to “torment” their family. That couldn’t be interpreted as the throwaway statement she’d been trying to suggest it was ever since. But she wouldn’t go near the subject again. Whenever he pressed her, even if he knew his father was gone, she’d say it was nothing.

  “It sure seemed like something when you didn’t want Dad to hear,” he grumbled to his empty living room, and slid down so he could rest his head on the back of the couch.

  It had been one hell of a week. Normally he sailed through autumn. Unlike the energy and effort required when he was racing, in the off-season he had nothing particularly demanding to cope with. Sure, he’d been feeling a little empty and dissatisfied recently, as various friends married and moved on with their lives. But, other than Cody’s death, he’d faced no monumental problems in all of his thirty-three years. Until last Saturday, when everything had gone haywire.

  Leaning over, he retrieved his phone and checked the call log. Nothing from Addy or Baxter. Again.

  Shit! He understood why Baxter hadn’t been in touch. He wasn’t quite sure what to do about that, or if he could do anything. Maybe Baxter would be better off on his own. But he missed his best friend. And it didn’t make the situation any easier that Addy hadn’t tried to reach him, either. It’d been five days since they’d slept together and he hadn’t heard a single word from her. Not “I had a nice time.” Not “Are you still coming to dinner on Saturday?” Not even “I just want to be friends.”

  Silence. That was all. As if he didn’t matter enough for her to give him a second thought.

  He should’ve gotten her number—if she’d been willing to give it to him. But he’d had no reason to think that would be any more successful. They’d been so compatible, enjoyed themselves so much. He’d thought the great sex, if nothing else, would bring her back. He was certainly dying to see her....

  Trading his phone for the football lying on the carpet near his feet, he passed it from hand to hand. He’d heard she was working at Just Like Mom’s. He’d been tempted to go in there, see what her reaction might be. Maybe it would remind her that he’d asked to see her again, or at least elicit an excuse as to why she hadn’t responded to his dinner invitation.

  But he hadn’t wanted to make her feel cornered, hadn’t wanted to push too hard.

  “Damn,” he breathed. How could she kiss him as hungrily as she had, as if she’d been craving the taste of him her whole life, and then...walk away without a backward glance?

  The contradiction made no sense, but the irony of his thoughts didn’t escape him. He was getting his just deserts. He’d put many women through what he was going through now—not because he’d wanted to but because he hadn’t felt strongly enough to develop a deeper relationship. Acknowledging the disappointment he’d caused didn’t make his own disappointment any easier, though.

  He tossed the football higher in the air. What was his night with Addy really about? Had she come home with him for old times’ sake? To prove to herself that she wasn’t missing out on anything, after all? To see if she could finally get his attention and leave him wanting more?

  If so, she was definitely having her revenge. He was obsessed with her, and he couldn’t even confide in Baxter, like he would’ve if life had been normal. He hadn’t spoken to Bax for as long as he hadn’t spoken to Addy. But Noah had noticed a for-sale sign in his yard. The sight of it had made him sick, still made him sad.

  He wanted that sign to come down and for everything to go back to the way it used to be. But if Baxter couldn’t get the kind of love he needed here in Whiskey Creek—and that was impossible if it included romantic love with him—he should be free to find happiness elsewhere.

  Squinting, Noah tried to read the clock on the opposite wall, but it’d gotten dark since he’d come home and he hadn’t bothered to turn on a light. He checked the time on his phone instead.

  It was only nine. What was he going to do with the rest of his evening? Sitting home alone sucked. Every other night this week he’d stayed late at the shop, fixing bikes his tech could have fixed during the day. He wasn’t interested in going out with Riley or Ted to meet girls. He was too intrigued by the one he’d found. He didn’t want to see his other friends, anyway. They’d just want to discuss what was going on with Baxter. Since Baxter had put his house up for sale, Noah had received numerous calls from almost everyone—Ted, Eve, Cheyenne, Riley, even Gail from Simon’s film location in Canada. They all asked why Baxter was moving, but Noah couldn’t tell them any other reason than the one Baxter had given himself—that he was doing it to be closer to work. After insisting that something else must be going on, they hung up more frustrated and curious than when they’d called. Before long, they’d call back and try again by asking how he felt about Baxter’s leaving and how he was going to handle it.

  He evaded those questions, too, because he didn’t know the answers. He’d never been without Bax for any extended period.

  Hoping to distract himself from his recent misery, he grabbed the remote and turned on Sports Center. But his interest waned after an hour or so. How many times could a guy watch a clip of a bad call in a football game and hear the analysts discuss it?

  Finally, too restless and bored to hold out any longer, he went in search of Addy.

  * * *

  Noah was glad when he found Addy’s 4-Runner parked at the restaurant. It would be far more comfortable to go in and get a meal, he decided—it didn’t matter that he’d had a burger earlier—than to knock on Addy’s grandmother’s door at ten-fifteen.

  Because it was a school night, there weren’t many patrons inside. The hostess, Tilly Bowman, led him toward a booth on the far side of the restaurant, but he didn’t see Addy. He supposed she was in the back.

  Carl Inera sat in the corner with several guys Noah had never seen before. He got the impression they were transacting a business deal, but given Carl’s reputation for selling drugs, Noah didn’t want to know any more.

  Gail’s brother, Joe, sat at a different table with his two daughters. Other than that, the restaurant was empty.

&nb
sp; “Hey, what’s up?” Joe said when Noah stopped to say hello.

  “Not a lot. What’s up with you?”

  He motioned to his kids. “They don’t have school tomorrow so they’re spending Halloween out here with me.”

  Noah eyed their ice cream sundaes. “Looks like they’re getting an early start.”

  “They have to come here every visit.”

  “We love it!” Josephine, the youngest at eight or nine, grinned up at him. She was cute because she had a lot of personality, but she wasn’t as pretty as her older sister, who was the spitting image of her father.

  “I heard from Gail this week,” Noah said.

  “So did I,” Joe responded. “I guess everyone’s pretty worked up about Baxter moving, huh? What’s going on with that?”

  Ah, shit. Here, too? “Wish I knew,” Noah said. “He won’t tell me—other than to say it’s time for a change. My guess? He’s tired of the long commute.”

  “I can understand that. But I’m sorry to see him go. I’m sure you will be, too.”

  “We’ll remain friends, no matter where he lives.” At least, Noah hoped that was the case. If he gave Baxter a chance to sort out who he was and what he wanted, would they someday be able to redefine their relationship? He’d always assumed he’d be godfather to Baxter’s children and Baxter would be godfather to his. Now he wasn’t sure if Baxter’s plans even included children. Maybe talk of that had simply been part of the facade.

  “Gail moved away.” Noah flashed him a smile. “But we’ve managed to forgive her.”

  “Maybe you have,” Joe teased.

  “Do you know Uncle Simon?” Josephine had chocolate around her mouth, but she had a bow in her hair and was sitting in a very mature fashion with one leg crossed over the other.

  “You mean the big movie star?”

  When she blushed, as if she was as much in love with Simon as the rest of the female population, Noah chuckled. “Rich and famous. That’s a tough combination to resist, isn’t it?”

  “I just think he’s cute,” she mumbled.

  Joe laughed and changed the subject. “How’s Cheyenne?”

  “She’s good.”

  “She’s happy? I mean...with Dylan?”

  The gravity behind this question took Noah by surprise. Joe could have asked Gail about Cheyenne. Or maybe not. His sister didn’t live here anymore and had gotten so busy she didn’t socialize with Cheyenne quite as often as Noah did. “I think so, yeah.”

  He nodded. “Glad to hear it.”

  Was he really? Or was there more to that query than Joe wanted him to believe. “You and Cheyenne never...”

  “No.” He shrugged. “Dylan got there before I could, but I can’t help feeling I shouldn’t have let her get away.”

  Joe had once been interested? That came as news to Noah.

  “You seeing anyone?” Joe asked.

  Noah refused to glance over his shoulder in search of Addy, but that was where his mind went. “No.”

  “Dad needs a wife,” Summer announced in a loud and dramatic whisper.

  Joe rocked back. “I do?”

  “What does it take to find one?” Noah asked, playing along.

  Summer couldn’t tell him, but Josephine seemed perfectly serious when she piped up with the answer. “You have to fall in love with someone and prove you won’t ever stop loving them.”

  Noah suddenly felt a bit awkward. It sounded as though Summer blamed her father for breaking up their family. The way Noah had heard the story, Suzie had been cheating on Joe, but the girls probably didn’t know that. Gail had once said that Joe didn’t want anyone to know because he didn’t want his children to feel as betrayed as he did.

  “That’s how you get to happily ever after,” she stated in no uncertain terms.

  “I need a wife, too, so I’ll keep that in mind,” Noah said. “Enjoy the rest of your ice cream.” Seeing that Luanne was coming over to take his order, he gave Joe a sympathetic smile and moved to his own table.

  “Hey, good-lookin’.” Somewhere in her late forties, Luanne had been working at Just Like Mom’s forever. Noah liked her. With dark hair and eyes, and a ready smile, she was attractive—and her personality made her even more so. “You all alone tonight, honey?” she asked.

  “Are you making me an offer?” he teased.

  She grinned as she shook her head. “If only I were twenty years younger. You wouldn’t be able to keep up with me.” She raised a finger. “But I’d be careful to guard my heart. That’s for sure.”

  Noah couldn’t help bristling. He wasn’t as much of a womanizer as everyone said he was. For one thing, he’d never led anyone on, never given anyone false hope. He’d always been careful. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She didn’t soften at his wounded expression. “I’d know not to expect a commitment.”

  “Because...”

  “Because you can’t make one!” she said with a cackle.

  “That’s not true!”

  She smiled as if she didn’t believe him, and that irritated him even more. “What can I get for you?” she asked.

  “A better reputation, apparently.”

  Sobering, she gave him a searching look. “You’re sensitive tonight.”

  “Tired of being characterized as a heartbreaker, that’s all.”

  “Honey, you can’t help it. You break hearts just walking by in those jeans.”

  This comment made him feel a bit better. “You want a big tip.” He winked at her. “I’ll have the salmon and rice.”

  “I’m not sure if we have any more salmon.”

  “Fine.” He handed her the menu the hostess had left on the table, even though he’d never opened it. “Then bring me the meat loaf and mashed potatoes.”

  “Comfort food. Good choice, considering your mood,” she added, and hurried away as if he might come after her.

  He considered calling her back to the table so he could ask if Addy was around but decided to wait and see if he spotted her without actually having to summon her. He didn’t want to put up with Luanne’s reaction, for starters.

  You’ve met your match with her. If she said that, she’d be right.

  “Good night,” Joe called when he left with his kids.

  Carl and his group finished and left soon after. Then he was the only patron still there.

  Tilly and Luanne spent most of their time in the back. From the sounds of it, they were cleaning up and getting ready to close. When Luanne brought out his food, she was wearing her coat and had her purse hanging off one shoulder. “I’m heading home, but Addy’ll be here. She’ll act as cashier and see you out.”

  Perfect. He seemed to be regaining some of his former luck. Feeling a surge of anticipation, he said good-night. He’d wanted to see Addy ever since she left his house so abruptly on Sunday morning.

  But the moment she came out to check on him, he could tell that she hadn’t realized it was him. When Luanne went home she must’ve said she still had one table or something like that.

  “Hi.” She smiled, but it looked pained, as if she wasn’t happy to see him. He actually felt that his presence was upsetting to her. And then he understood why she hadn’t called. For whatever reason, she was no longer interested.

  The rejection stung. The night they’d been so intimate had made him expect more. What he’d read into her actions then was so different from what he saw on her face now.

  But he wasn’t going to force his attention on any woman. He wanted to ask her to explain. He couldn’t understand why she’d come home with him. He was the one who’d had to talk her into climaxing, so it wasn’t as if she’d been using him. But he was afraid he’d sound as disappointed as he felt. So he threw a twenty on the table to cover the bill and slid out of the booth.

  “I’m sorry I showed up,” he said, and walked out.

  19

  It was all Addy could do not to go after Noah. The bell over the door echoed in her head as she stood in the center o
f the dining room, telling herself to buck up and move on with her night. She doubted Noah would be coming to dinner on Saturday. This created the decisive end she’d been looking for, right?

  But she couldn’t return to work. She couldn’t even make herself go over and lock the door for fear she’d run out and chase him down. She’d thought of him so many times this week, wanting to see him.

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket and stared at it. Couldn’t she call him, at least? Tell him that what was happening had nothing to do with him?

  No, because what was happening did have something to do with him, something very personal. Revealing how torn she was or telling him she cared about him but couldn’t see him would only raise questions in his mind, and those were questions she couldn’t afford to answer.

  Dropping her cell on the table, she sank into the booth he’d just vacated and looked glumly at his food, which he’d barely touched. She’d never dreamed that he’d remain interested. Not only had she acted hot and cold, what she’d been through had stunted her sexual development. Contributing to that was the fact that she still saw herself as the smart but geeky girl who hadn’t been able to turn his head fifteen years ago. Maybe that was why it was so tempting to respond to any advances he made; his attention was something she’d never had and always craved.

  “Stop! I’m not losing anything!” She spoke out loud in an effort to stem the disappointment. Even if she felt free to date Noah, what was the most she could expect? That they’d have a great time for a few months? He’d forget her once he left for Europe in the spring. He’d never hung on to any other woman. So why did she feel as if she was denying herself some fabulous opportunity?

  When the bell over the door jingled again, she turned, halfway hoping, despite everything, that it was Noah. But Kevin Colbert stood there, wearing an “at last” smirk as he jammed his hands in the pockets of his Eureka High football windbreaker.