HIDDEN CREEK NOW: a hidden creek high novel

by Kidman, Jaxson

  Once outside, I took a deep breath of the warm air.

  I shut my eyes and exhaled.

  Everything is perfect. Everything will be perfect. No matter what happens.

  I licked my lips and was dying for a cigarette.

  But I made a promise to Kinney.

  Last night was it (again).

  This morning I woke up to a note slipped under my door.

  Handwritten from him. Telling me he was going to fuck up the vows so he wanted to get it right before we were married. Saying that he promised to travel less, be home more, and let me decide where we wanted to travel. Together. My choice. Anywhere in the world. And if my choice was to sit in the bakery and drink coffee and talk, he would be there.

  I had never read anything so sweet from him before.

  Promises made.

  Promises that were going to be kept.

  That was the whole point of marriage.

  If we couldn’t keep our promises, then we’d just end up as another divorced couple.

  Chapter 12

  THEN

  Jett

  I opened my eyes and reached for the nightstand.

  I grabbed the glass and took a drink of what was left in it.

  It tasted like stale water. With a tiny little bit of whiskey mixed in.

  My eyes peeled opened and I looked at the clock.

  “Fuck,” I whispered.

  I was hungover. I was late.

  My head slowly turned to the other side of the bed.

  The way the covers were thrown around…

  I wasn’t alone.

  I also wasn’t even home.

  I was somewhere else.

  In some apartment.

  “Fuck,” I whispered again.

  I got out of the bed and grabbed my clothes.

  The only thing I had been wearing was… nothing.

  I whispered fuck one more time and heard the sound of the shower running in the bathroom. Then came the sound of a woman’s voice. Singing. I didn’t know the song. I sure as hell didn’t recognize her voice… or remember the name of the woman…

  I got the hell out of the apartment building and when I saw my truck sitting crooked in a parking spot, I felt like throwing up.

  This shit was going to catch up to me.

  And soon.

  But not today.

  No. Not today.

  Today was my fucking day.

  The date that would be etched into my mind for the rest of my life.

  I’d spend every waking hour teetering on the decision to show up to the wedding and do something stupid. After all, I was invited, right? I could show up with my invitation and let it be known that I wanted my goddamn plate of salmon with the honey dijon glaze.

  I laughed and got into my truck and got the fuck away from that stranger’s place.

  There was a part of me that felt like shit. Only because I wasn’t sure what I said last night to make this happen. Was it known to be a one night thing? Or did I promise breakfast and more?

  I hit a drive thru for some coffee and a greasy breakfast sandwich and then I sped to get to the shop.

  As if being late wasn’t bad enough, Dusty pulled me over a mile from the shop and tossed me a speeding ticket with the biggest smile on his face I’d ever seen. Before I could even open my mouth to say something, he leaned into the truck and told me I was more than hungover and if I said one word he’d make me go through a DUI test and would have no problem laughing as I was hauled away.

  So I took the ticket, finished my coffee, and drove the last mile to the shop a little slower.

  Pop was waiting for me outside.

  “Dusty pulled me over,” I said.

  “Bullshit,” he said.

  “Want to see the speeding ticket?” I asked.

  Pop put his arm out. “That’s the least of your worries. You look like shit. Who’s bed did you roll out of?”

  “Actually, it was a pretty comfortable bed. I should have stayed. She was in the shower too. I really missed out on that one.”

  “What’s the lucky girl’s name?” Pop asked.

  I curled my lip and walked away.

  He walked after me and grabbed my shoulder. “Get into the fucking office right now, Jett.”

  Rhyno and Tony were busy at work.

  They looked at me for a split second before looking away.

  I almost felt like I was going into the office to have Pop take me out for good.

  Good day for it, huh?

  Pop slammed the door shut behind him. “Do you think I was born yesterday?”

  “Why?” I asked.

  He opened the top drawer of his desk and took out a wad of cash.

  He pushed it across the desk.

  “Is that a Christmas bonus?” I asked. “A little early in the year for that, huh?”

  “That’s yours,” he said. “You get the hell out of this town today. Go do whatever you have to do to get through it. But no driving. Christ, Jett, I swear if you drive drunk I’ll fucking break your arms and legs myself. You know what happened to your best friend.”

  “I don’t need a history lesson,” I said.

  “Good. Take the cash and go. There’s plenty for a decent hotel and more than plenty for drinks, a cab ride, whatever. Find some pretty girl. Swoon her all night. Just get out of here.”

  “So that’s it, huh? You can’t say something to me? Can’t be there for me?”

  “This isn’t about that,” Pop said. “There’s nothing that can be said or done, Jett. Want me to hug you? Tell you you’re handsome? Take the cash and go hurt yourself for the day and night. I want you back here tomorrow. You can work the hangover off then. Got it?”

  I stared at the money.

  Then I looked back up at Pop.

  He was dead serious.

  I reached for the money and slowly put my hand around it.

  I tucked the money into my pocket and felt worthless.

  There was a lot of reasons to feel that way today.

  And not a single reason mattered because not a single reason was going to change the inevitable.

  Julia was putting on her wedding dress… or maybe she already had it on.

  Maybe she was already fucking married.

  Maybe she…

  I felt the lump in my throat and I turned.

  I fell to the floor and threw up into the trashcan next to the small table with old magazines on it.

  “Christ,” Pop said. “Take that with you too.”

  I took the trashcan outside and saw Rhyno catching his breath.

  “Hey, Jett, you good?” Rhyno called out.

  I walked the trashcan over to him. “Got a present for you. Leftovers from last night.”

  I walked away and wiped my mouth.

  The day had only just begun.

  * * *

  The little beach town was perfect.

  Nobody knew me.

  I knew nobody.

  Distance definitely quieted the voices in my head.

  Or that could have just been the booze.

  I took it slow though.

  I settled up to the bar and ordered a shot of whiskey.

  There were three other guys sitting there.

  Living ghosts, souls lost in the bottles behind the bar.

  I bought them each a shot too.

  One by one, they all looked at me, harrowing eyes and a warning that my life could be just about the same someday.

  I nodded to them, making sure my peace offering was accepted and that they understood I was in their bar for the long haul now.

  The bartender’s name was Charlie.

  He loved to talk about the war (I wasn’t sure which one he meant) and how much he missed his wife’s tits. He had no problem going into great detail about her chest and said the person attached to them wasn’t the greatest in the world but what she did with them made up for all of that.

  A good bartender kept your glass full.

  A great bartender kept
your attention and your glass full.

  Charlie made the place his own and it was damn impossible to get up to even take a piss because I didn’t want to miss a thing. His stories were over the top but believable. Something about his stare and smile were laced with honesty. There wasn’t a damn thing he was ashamed of and nothing to hide from.

  And he was the kind of bartender who called people out.

  Including me.

  He slid me my fourth whiskey and leaned toward me.

  “You plan on racking up a big tab here?”

  “Tonight, yes.”

  “You’re not stupid enough to run out on me, are you?”

  “No.”

  “So she broke your heart and is with someone else. And now you think whiskey is going to make her disappear.”

  “If you ask me, I’d say that’s a hell of a reason to drink. And you never know something until you try it.”

  Charlie belly laughed. “Do I need to take your keys?”

  “No.”

  “No outlaw shit tonight.”

  “None,” I said. “There’s a motel down the street. I can stumble there.”

  “Better yet,” Charlie said. He pointed up. “I live above this place. Close it up with me and the couch is yours. No questions asked. Unless you have the cops looking for you.”

  “Charlie, there ain’t a damn person in the world looking for me right now,” I said.

  “Good deal,” he said. “And that drink is on me. And you won’t get another free one for the night.”

  I smiled and lifted the glass off the bar.

  I chugged the entire thing of whiskey and loved the way it burned all the way down.

  “She did a number on you, huh?” Charlie asked.

  “Pour me another and don’t ask me about her again,” I said.

  Charlie swiped the glass off the bar and nodded.

  And that was that.

  He didn’t say another word to me about her.

  And I liked that.

  Reducing Julia down to that word.

  Just her.

  No more name for her.

  I loved it.

  And, fuck, I still loved her.

  * * *

  “Jess, have a drink,” I said.

  “You seem to be drinking enough for the both of us.”

  “Just letting go for the night.”

  “Is your name really Jett?” she asked me.

  “Why, does it sound fake?” I asked.

  “A little.”

  “I promise you it’s not. See, I’m in a fucked up spot here. If I wanted to fake my name I’d have to say something like John or Jim or something.”

  Jess laughed. “That’s good stuff.”

  “So about that drink…”

  “Just one with you. I don’t know if I trust you yet or not.”

  “Ah, right. Can I save you some trouble?”

  “You can try,” she said.

  “Don’t trust me, Jess. Don’t even come close to it.”

  “But I’m talking to you. Why would I talk to someone I don’t trust?”

  I turned to face her. “Only you can answer that, sweetheart. I’m a stranger in town, right? I figure it this way. You’re thinking the same as me. Strangers are fun. Passing through. Nothing to worry about. I’m not counting on you and you’re not counting on me.”

  “So we have a bar relationship.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A relationship based on drinks,” Jess said.

  “Right.”

  “That’s not the worst thing ever. Want to tell me why you’re here?”

  “I stopped here. I decided to stay.”

  “You just came in for one drink?”

  “I’m not sure anyone comes into a place like this for one drink.”

  “Well,” Jess said, “I bet in their head they tell themselves that.”

  “Good point,” I said.

  I studied everything about her.

  Brown hair, brown eyes, not dressed like she was looking to pick someone up for one night of fun.

  As I studied her, a guy walked up to her and pointed. “Do I know you?”

  “No,” she said.

  “Are you sure. I thought I-”

  Jess put her hand on my leg. “What was that?”

  “Nothing,” the guy said. “Damn. I thought you were someone else. I’m sorry.”

  He walked away.

  I lifted my eyebrow. “Who was that?”

  “Damned if I know,” Jess said. “Just didn’t feel like breaking his heart.”

  “What about mine?”

  “Yours is worth breaking,” she said. “Now buy me that drink and don’t put any cheap moves on me.”

  “What if those are the only kind I have?” I asked.

  “Then you better quit talking to me and start talking to my hand,” she said.

  “Shit,” I said.

  I think I’ve met my match tonight.

  And for five minutes straight, just talking to Jess, I didn’t think about anyone else.

  So I bought her a drink.

  Charlie nodded to her like he didn’t know her.

  That made me curious.

  She was new here too.

  Through the corners of my eyes I watched the bar slowly come to life with each passing half hour.

  And I was definitely the guy just sitting for hours, not giving a shit about life.

  “So what do we talk about if we’re not going to get know each other?” Jess asked.

  “Good question. How about fears? What’s your darkest fear?”

  “That’s easy,” she said. “Being in the middle of the ocean and falling off a boat. And just being in the water. Being waterlogged everywhere. Waiting to die. Praying for a storm to drown me. Or a shark to eat me. Can you imagine what must go through your head?”

  My eyes were wide. “Wow. That was graphic. And really quick. Do you think about that a lot?”

  “Maybe. What about you?”

  “I don’t go into the ocean.”

  “Why not?”

  “I just don’t,” I said.

  “Ah. Right. Too personal. So tell me your darkest fear.”

  I nodded. “I read this story once about a guy that died. And they buried him. But he wasn’t dead. He was just sleeping or in a coma or something. It wasn’t in this country, obviously. But… can you imagine that? Being buried alive?”

  Jess giggled. “That’s bogus.”

  “How?”

  “Who heard the guy?”

  “What?”

  “If he was buried alive, how did anyone know? Because if they opened the casket, he would have lived…”

  “So?”

  “Jett. If they opened the casket and found him dead… dead is dead.”

  “What if there were scratch marks?” I asked. “He scratched so hard he ripped his nails off. Imagine-”

  Jess moved toward me.

  Like she wanted a kiss.

  I jumped back.

  Like she was ugly.

  Fuck.

  “Okay then,” she said.

  I touched her arm. “Hey. Sorry. You caught me off guard there.”

  “You sure about that?”

  I moved my hand to her cheek. Then to the back of her head.

  I pulled her close and slowly kissed her.

  In my head I counted three seconds and stopped.

  I turned, faced the bar and ordered two more drinks.

  Jess touched my arm. “Hey. Not too much for me. I have to drive.”

  “Me too,” I said with a wink.

  “Don’t even tell me you’re one of those guys.”

  “Which guy?”

  “The one who drinks like a fool and then drives home. You know, getting personal for a second, my best friend from high school was killed by a drunk driver. Coming home from work. She worked at this little pet store in town. Side note, I used to go after closing and play with all the animals. Anyway, she was leaving the store at t
en on a Saturday. Drunk driver went through a red light and hit her. She died in the hospital that night. And the drunk driver got out of his car and was unscratched and pissed that his car was messed up.”

  Yeah, sweetheart, well… let me tell you about my best friend…

  We weren’t going down that road.

  In fact, Jess could take her nice ass and walk it to someone else at the bar. Or just fucking leave.

  I looked up at the TV above the bar with a sports ticker scrolling by. I didn’t give a shit about sports though. I wanted to see what time it was. And I tried to figure out exactly what was happening at that moment with her.

  Charlie put the drinks on the bar and I grabbed both.

  “I’ll drink them then,” I said. “No fucking worries, sweetheart.”

  Jess put her hand to my left arm.

  I looked at her.

  She was studying me. Trying to read me.

  But I was like a book soaked with rain. The words turned into wet, runny ink.

  She slid her hand down my arm to my hand and took the glass.

  “This is my last one,” she said. “And you better make this night worth it.”

  “Oh yeah? You’re putting your happiness on me? That’s a mistake.”

  “I left a guy for you.”

  “You did what?” I asked.

  “That guy that walked up to me.”

  “The one who said you looked familiar?”

  Jess nodded. “That’s him. That’s Ryan.”

  “Ryan? Wait…”

  Jess giggled. “Confused?”

  “Sweetheart, I’ve been sitting here all day and night drinking like crazy. I’m not so sure you’re even real at this point. I might be just some lonely drunk in the corner talking to himself. And I’m good with that. But what you’re saying makes no sense.”

  Jess sipped her whiskey. “My best friend” - she looked at me - “not the dead one.”

  “Right,” I said.

  “My best friend felt I needed to date more. So she insisted I find someone. I said no. She did it herself for me.”

  “She picks out your dates?”

  “Tries to. She set me up online with Ryan. Now, I’ve chatted with him a few times. He’s a nice guy. He works in IT. He has a Jack Russel dog named Toby. Want to hear the rest of his stats?”

  “Stats?” I asked, laughing. “Like what? Height, weight, dick size?”