Page 102 of Commit

“Here? Seriously?” She looks around and notices a crowd forming at the edge of the cliff.

“Good point. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“I wonder what’s going on over there,” she murmurs as she climbs in, her eyes on the crowd.

“A couple of paddleboarders were racing when I grabbed our clothes,” I lie.

“Ah, okay. I thought it was something interesting.”

“Not a sports fan?” I ask as I drive away from the lake and the dead body I left behind.

“I will be, just as soon as napping becomes an Olympic sport.”

I laugh, and she smiles before joining in with me. Reaching over, I lace my fingers through hers.

“I had fun today, Hudson. Thank you.”

I lift her hand and kiss it. Damn, I’m getting good at this romantic shit. “It’s not over yet.” I’m not ready for us to go home, even though I’ll have her all to myself there.

She’s more distant at the house. She’s reminded while she’s there that Abbot isn’t, and every day, it’s a strain on her.

I like this carefree version of her. I wonder if this is who she would have been if she wasn’t haunted by ghosts.

I take her to a bar called Milligan’s, which gets busted at least twice a year for underage drinking, but they make the best burger this side of the state line. She looks at the place, unsure, as I lead her inside and walk her to a table in the corner. The dance floor is filled with eager line dancers trying to impress, and the tables are filled with men looking to drown their sorrows in cheap beer and loose women.

“Did everyone finish work early or something?” Starling asks, looking around.

“I think most people here are in between jobs right now.”

“What can I get you?” a server asks, walking over to us.

Starling looks at me wide-eyed.

“Trust me to order for you?”

She nods, looking relieved.

“We’ll take two burgers with everything.”

“No onions on mine, please,” Starling throws out, which the server jots down.

“Sides?”

“I’d like fries and an order of onion rings. Can I also get a beer and a Coke as well?”

“You got it.” She walks away without looking at us once.

“I could rob this place, and she’d never be able to pick me out of a lineup,” Starling jokes, having noticed too.

“That’s what I like about this place. Everybody minds their own business.”

We sit and talk, keeping things light until the food comes out.

Starling takes a bite of her burger and groans. “Oh, my God.”

“Good, right?”

She nods, taking another bite.

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