Page 28 of Fall Wherever They May

“Never took you for aHarry Potternerd,” he says, raising one eyebrow curiously.

“Mom lovesHarry Potter!” Tucker pipes in.

I glare, letting him know to zip his dang lips, then look back to Cal.

“Well, I’ve always taken you for a creeper, and you just keep proving me right. Looking over my shoulder at my text thread. What kind of person does that, anyway?”

I rapidly fire off several texts to Evie and River. Immediately Evie sends a schedule. I look it over. River responds to us that she has all the time in the world to help. She’s been looking for a job in marketing. You would think in a place as big as New York City, a job wouldn’t be so hard to find, but she hasn’t had any luck—just a slew of denials for lack of experience.

Tucker looks at me with pleading eyes. I look at Cal, then back to Tucker, and close out of my text thread. “It looks like we have a new little hockey player.”

“What?!” Tucker all but yells.

“See, Tuck. What did I tell you? I told you it would all work out.” Cal ruffles his hair. Then gives him a high five.

“I want to be a center just like you!” Tucker says. Cal smiles down at him.

“Alright. I’m heading out. You’re going to look at private schools tomorrow, right?”

“That’s the plan. Will I find you following me around like a creeper?”

He shrugs and chuckles. “Maybe.”

Tucker’s face lights up, and a bright, toothy smile pulls at his lips. “Yes! I didn’t know Cal was coming, but why does he have to follow us? Why can’t we just ride together?” My eyes widen, and Cal looks confused.

I shake my head. “Oh, no. He’s not—”

“I’m not following; you guys are riding with me.” Cal cuts me off mid-sentence.Wait, what? Did he just railroad me?

“Do you think it’s a good idea, with all of the . . .” I trail off and wave my hand through the air. “. . . you know, stuff going on?”

“Do you think it’s a good idea to go by yourself with all of the stuff going on?”

“River can go with us. You probably have other things to do.”

“Is River six-foot-two and two hundred ten pounds of pure muscle?” I roll my eyes.Oh my God!Can he be any more full of himself? Though, he’s not wrong. Cal continues, “Can she protect you both from events like what happened Friday? No. That girl is the size of a pixie and can barely swat off a gnat. I got this.”

“Fine!” I relent.

“See you both at eight a.m.”

CHAPTER TEN

Aspen

River and I sit on the couch, relaxing as John Mayer’s “Gravity” plays low through the speaker. Well, I’m stretched out, and River is sitting at the end petting Puck as he lies comfortably in her lap. I’m surprised no one claimed the little Teacup Yorkie. I swore I wouldn’t let him stay, but then Tucker named him and became attached. Love the name; sometimes it saves me from having to contribute to the swear jar. I can just play it off as though I was misheard. Shh. Don’t tell anyone.

It’s late, Tucker’s in bed, and after today, I just wanted to relax. And damn, am I relaxed after my second glass of wine and now working on my third.

“Have you ever paid attention to the lyrics of this song?” I ask, pointing to the speaker.

She tilts her head and listens, squinting her eyes in thought.

I laugh. “God, it is fucking depressing, River. I love some John Mayer, but this . . .” I shake my head and take a sip of wine. “Alexa, play ‘Promises’ by Calvin Harris and Sam Smith.”

An upbeat tempo begins to play.

“There, so much better.” I sit up to face her, cross my legs under me, and prop my elbow on the back of the couch. “I had a thought today.” I skim my finger around the rim of my glass making it sing. “How would you like to come work for me? I can put you in the marketing department: you can learn from the best and gain the experience you need.”

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