Page 3 of Second Chance Savior

When I got into a flow state, I could work for days at a time with only occasional breaks for food, exercise, and sleep. I did need all three, contrary to what my buddies sometimes assumed about me. But years of training, plus sheer stubbornness, had taught me to ignore my body’s limitations.

Annoying best friends, though? They were noisier. Andmuch harder to disregard. I knew it becauseIhad been the annoying best friend a time or two.

Me:

Right. What time is the party?

Trace:

6:30

I’ll be there

If you’re not, I’m dragging you out of that apartment. Aiden has big plans for tonight. It will mean a lot to him that we’re all there.

Scarlett is standing over your shoulder telling you what to write isn’t she

No comment

Trace and Scarlett had a point though. I had to get off my ass. I’d been following one rabbit hole after another in my research into Charlotte McKinley, and if I didn’t move from this room, my muscles would atrophy.

My joints cracked as I stood up to stretch, like I was an old man. Yikes. Welcome to thirty-five.

I dove to the ground to bang out my usual set of pushups. Then jumped up and grabbed onto the pull-up bar attached to my doorway. Knocked out eighteen.

After a quick protein shake, extra powdered greens, I changed into running clothes and headed out the door.

Half an hour later, I was jogging down the street toward Trace and Scarlett’s house. I’d made my favorite scenic loop around Hartley’s quaint business district. Now I was going to pay my bestie an unexpected visit. Just to get him back for threatening me earlier. I was ornery like that.

I pounded my fist on his front door.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming.” The door flew open. Tracestood there, looking like a feral mountain-man with his long hair and beard and that menacing scowl. But the sunflower pattern on the tea towel in his hands told a different story, along with the wet splatters on his T-shirt.

I leaned into the doorframe. “Aren’t you just a perfect picture of domesticity?”

He rolled his eyes and swung the towel so it draped over his shoulder. “Scarlett’s at work. I’m picking up after two teenagers who have no idea how bad their rooms smell. You’re too early for the party.”

“Hoped we could talk.”

He widened the door and stepped aside so I could enter. “Is this about Stillwater? I assume that’s what you’ve been working on so furiously. Found a new lead?”

“A wrinkle I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of. I could use a sounding-board.”

“I can chat, but you have to make yourself useful at the same time. I have strict instructions to make everything perfect.”

“From Scarlett?”

“No, man. From Aiden. He’s going to pop the question tonight at the party. He’s trying to act like it’s no big deal, but he’s sweating it.”

I scoffed. “As if Jessi will say anything but yes.”

We went out to the backyard. Soft clouds blotted out the blue of the sky and hid the sun. The smells of fresh cut grass and pines came from the nearby woods. Strings of lights and decorations that I assumed were for tonight’s party hung overhead.

Maybe I wasn’t a believer in traditional crap like marriage. Not for me. But I did want my friends to be happy. I hoped tonight went well for Aiden and Jessi.

Trace wheeled the grill to one side and pulled off its cover. “So what’s on your mind? Whatever it is, it’s got you distracted.”

I made a rude sound with my lips. “I don’t get distracted.”

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