Page 29 of Lake Hollow Curses

“Remi, I care about you. I don’t think of you like my niece, but more like my daughter. You know you’re my rock.” I hate that. Can’t he understand that I never wanted the pressure of being his ‘rock’? This ‘care’ he feels doesn’t translate to me.

I focus on Droolius who is back licking my shoulder, huffing in my ear. There were innumerable times before I was legally considered ‘alone’ that I needed a rock. I could’ve used someone steady, protective, and present. Does he understand the irony?

“I want you to give me a chance to prove it. That you can rely on me, too,” he says after a few minutes spent silent, avoiding making eye contact. “I didn’t even know about the drownings or investigations until Wilder stopped me to chat. You need to be careful, Remington.” Hmm, I keep hearing that, but it’s difficult to do when you don’t know which way to watch for the danger.

I’m going to blame my overwrought emotions for the big sloppy hug I give him, toppling him backwards, “Whoa, yeah, okay. I…” He pats me loosely before laughing as he falls backwards. “Does this mean our talk went well?” I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s leaps and bounds further than we’ve gotten in understanding one another. I love my uncle. He and Nat are family, we share the pain of past betrayals and a legacy of one messed up ancestry.

“Your attempt at having a fatherly talk gets a solid passing grade.” Giving a playful smack to his arm, I add, “A talk with Wilder, huh? Did that happen today?”

Skip rolls his eyes. “It’s a long story, but I know now that he’s got no problem telling it like it is.”

The tears filling my eyes aren’t just because I’ll miss him... miss everyone, but because I’m not going to be alone again. I know beyond any doubt now.

Chapter Twenty

Cal Truitt

Team confused please gather the fuck here.

With each passing day that Remi doesn’t call or text back, that my calls aren’t answered, the ache in my chest grows. Grady and Charlie don’t have any idea why. Her explanations when they ask make it sound like a coincidence. But it’s not.

She has a reason, but she’s not saying what it is.

I’m afraid to ask Wilder about it, because I still don’t know if he accepts me. Years ago, after Sara died, I said a lot about him not being in prison. That he had gotten away with killing her.

Midway through my shift at James’ Flick n’ Fun, Kami saunters my way. “Did you and Remi break up?” Is there a kind way for me to ignore her? Who’s manning her bridge while she’s over here annoying the fuck out of me?

“Hi? If my memory serves me, didn’t I tell you that we could talk if work required it, otherwise it would be best not to?”

She frowns at me. “The Cal I know was never such an asshole. Maybe this whole Remi situation and her dating half the town has made you angrier than normal, or maybe I never really knew you, but even when we weren’t together you never talked to me like that.” She puts her hands on her hips, while she stays standing right in my path.

Blaming Remi for me not talking to her is wild. But she is right that I would bend over backwards to avoid conflict in the past. It was easier to turn the other cheek, bite back the words I wanted to say. But one of the many positive results of my love for Remi is owning what I feel and think. She did that for me.

I just wish I didn’t feel like she’s suddenly flipped the script on me.

“Did you need something?” I ask because she’s looking for a response, and I don’t want the drama.

She looks around for anyone that may be listening to us, then turns back speaking quietly, “Did you hear about all the drowning investigations being opened again?” How could I miss it? The Sheriff’s office posted signs all over town, my parents were told, I’m meeting later with Detective Hemminger, and Charlie won’t let me forget.

“Kami…” She’s looking for a reason to speak to me. I know this, but short of picking her up and placing her out of my way I’m stuck. “Did you have a point to make?”

Nat walks out of the ticket office, pausing when she sees me talking to Kami, before I can acknowledge her, she turns, hurrying off to the mini putt course. Great. Natalie James is the main conduit of all the gossip, and Remi is already becoming distant. I didn’t need Nat seeing Kami and I talking.

“Do you remember Jeremy?” I don’t want to go down memory lane with her, especially not about the past drownings.

Crossing my arms, I respond in agitation, “Barely. Why?”

“My mom called me when she saw all the yard signs because she remembered something weird.” Fuuuck. There is no break from it. She goes on, “Carlotta had run into her last summer, and she’d asked her if Jeremy had been in for his school physical before he had drowned. Super weird question first of all. Like so random.” I just want to sink into the concrete path. Kami’s mom works as a medical records clerk and receptionist at the small family practice clinic in town.

“Yeah, weird. So what?” Not gonna lie, the fact that she’d ask anything about Eiler doesn’t look right.

“Mmm… mom thought it was. Like what did she care about his medical history or whatever? Then she asked if he had hyperkalemia… I think I said that right. Mom told her she didn’t remember, because even though he’s dead she couldn’t tell anyone that. But he was completely healthy. She was asking questions about the condition, too. Like if someone could develop it at a young age.”

My head hurts. I won’t miss the loony toon fringe and all the theories about the past. “Neat story. Anything else?”

She glares at me. “You’re being a dick. I was only saying that mom thought Carlotta was being sketchy. Do you think she had something to do with the drownings? Everyone is always looking for some way they were connected. Who knew everyone in town better than Lala?”

My mouth drops open, my stomach bottoms out.

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