Page 2 of Lit Up by My Brother's Best Friend

The story goes that once the men were detained, they were brought in for questioning, and it turns out that they were following a rumor that an investor had swept into town planning to start a mine. Apparently they heard he had deposited one million dollars into our bank the previous week. Not sure where they heard that doozy. Some drunk little bird through a kazoo?

And really, not sure where they thought the million dollars would be stashed considering the bank isn’t much more than a medium sized shack.

Anyway…the story had the town in stitches. For weeks, people would call each other a Johnny if they did something asinine enough. And then someone came up with the brilliant idea to commemorate such idiocy.

Now every year, people get nominated for doing stupid things. Some people pull pranks to try and get themselves on the board, like the time some kids let a dozen mice loose in the school. (Not funny, and so glad I wasn’t there for that.) Other times people get nominated in good fun, like when Ol’ Man Robbie overturned the outhouse on a drunken night diving in after a twenty he lost in the pooper. Ya. He won the fake millionaire dollar bill that year. And in case you were wondering (I know I was) he got his twenty back, too. He was so happy that he got it framed and everything; the fake bill not the twenty. It’s a badge of pride for him.

Clearly, I live in the best town ever. No one takes themselves too seriously. Which, honestly, I do love about Lit Creek. It’s part of its charm, and I’m definitely here to stay.

I just don’t want to have my name on that ridiculous board though. I’d like to think I do a decent enough job at conveying my competence to the world. I mean, ya, okay, there’s that near ten-year blip of a boyfriend that would betray the air of competence I’d like to think I have. But how the hell was I supposed to know he was going to break up with me just before our anniversary? I don’t want to go into that right now. That’s significantly more depressing than being caught in a fence with my body dangling by my leg.

Ugh. I must deserve this.

All of it. I’ve resigned myself to that fact.

And if only I thought I could rip these stupid jeans and drive myself home, I would. But…my leg is really up there and I can’t reach it. I can’t do a sit up upside down. Who do you think I am, Superwoman? I’m probably gonna start losing feeling in my toes pretty soon, and my right foot is the injured one. I can’t take any chances. I definitely need help. I have to text my bestie.

Me:Girl, I’m in a situation. Can you help me out?

Georgie:Shit. I don’t think I can. We’re already halfway up the mountain. Is it an emergency?

Me:Which mountain?

I ask because clearly I have time for conversation like that.

Georgie:Crimson Ridge. Jack wanted to take a few of us up there on a weekend while he doesn’t have too many tours. Sorry, girl. Are you ok?

Me:Just hanging out.

I chuckle to myself like an idiot.

Georgie:*curious face* But you need help?

Me:Nah. I’m all good. I’ll call my brother.

Georgie:*cringe face* He’s with us.

Me:Ok. Don’t worry about me. I’ll figure it out. Have a good trip!

Georgie:Call me if you can’t find anyone, I’ll force the boys to turn around. You know me.

I do. And that’s why I don’t ask her to come to my rescue. I stuff my phone back into my pocket.

But this is just great. All my good secret keepers are out of town. Can’t call my dad because he’s on shift.

Oh, God. I know who I have to call. I just hope I don’t wither of embarrassment on the spot when he shows up. Because I know he’ll come. He has always shown up when I needed him. And he’s always been justout of reach.

I close my eyes and pull my phone out of my pocket meanwhile thanking God it didn’t fly out and break when I gracefully tried to hop over this innocent looking fence.

My head is pounding. I must have hit it when I fell back against the fence. But that doesn’t quite explain the pounding in my heart. Here goes nothing.

Or everything.

Chapter 2

HUNTER

“I gotta take this,” I call out to my buddy Nolan, a fellow firefighter, who’s already lined up for his next shot. We have the same shifts at the firehall, so we’re both taking advantage of our night off.

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