Page 140 of Love Me Reckless

“Zach has auxiliary lighting in our garage.” Sofie turns into their neighborhood.

“It’s probably blowing like crazy up on the mountain today,” Ava says. “I’ll bet that’s not fun for Sawyer.”

I feel like I should know this about him, but he’s only ever said good things about his workdays.

“I’m sure growing up in Alaska made him tough,” Sofie says with a laugh.

The houses on Sofie and Zach’s street are dark, giving the late morning a gloomy feel. Add in the whooshing tree limbs and the thick gray skies and it could be the backdrop from a horror movie.

Inside Sofie and Zach’s house, it’s dark, but using our phones for flashlights, we locate the giant battery-operated lights on a shelf in the garage and carry them to the bathroom. Once the lights are on, the room takes on a steely glow, but it’s enough to get us started.

I check my phone while Sofie and Ava gather supplies.

There’s a broadcast from the ranch regarding the power outage. Many homes have secondary power from generators, something Birch was eager to eliminate because with solar, every house would have built in reserve power all the time. No need for a noisy, polluting machine.

Sawyer hasn’t replied to myI miss youtext from earlier, but if the power is out on the mountain, the mechanics will have their hands full today.

Birch has called five times.

That same unease tickles my gut. Five times?

He’s also sent a single text.

I warned you

I stare at my screen as dread sinks through me. Birch has warned me about a lot of things. Which one is he referencing now?

Does it have something to do with my debit card not working?

I don’t know how to reply to him, so I don’t.

I should do as Ava says and call my bank, but they likely can’t tell me anything until the power is restored. And I’m a little too scared for the truth right now.

Sofie’s dad shows up right as Sheldon and Hutch arrive, leaving me and Ava to finish the taping while she directs the unloading of the dresser Sofie bought from a family in Rose Lake.

“So how are you really doing?” Ava asks softly.

I give my friend a thoughtful glance. “I’m good in a way I haven’t felt before.”

Ava pours some paint into the pan while I unwrap the new rollers and a package of foam brushes.

“But there’s still… uncertainty.” If I think about it too hard, an anxious feeling creeps into my gut. Do I want Sawyer too much? This is all so new… what does the future hold for us? I keep checking my watch, counting down the hours until he gets off work and we can be together again. We have one more night at the vacation rental together, but what happens after that?

“What worries you the most?” Ava lifts the paint-soaked roller to the wall and rolls it up, creating a buttery yellow stripe to cover the drab desert tan.

“Birch going after Sawyer because of me.”

Ava chuffs a laugh. “Sawyer seems totally capable fending for himself.”

“I don’t want Sawyer to have to pay for my actions.” I dip my foam brush into the paint can and start dabbing the nearest corner, where the roller won’t reach.

“Ah, I see. Is there anything you can do about it?”

“The logical choice would be to break things off.”

Ava pauses. “Would that fix your problem?”

My hands tremble as I dip my brush into the paint can. “If it’s not too late… yes.”

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