Page 15 of One Hell of a Deal

Buster’s was crowded, and after our soup and sandwiches, the sampler pie platter we devoured explained why. I have never tasted anything so delicious, and it was impossible to choose a favorite. Max insisted the coconut crème was the best, but for me, the chocolate cherry mouse and the raspberry almond were both superior. The sweet contents in my stomach have left little room for air, making the promise of a long nature walk quite appealing.

The rain cleared out, as Max said it would, and the Susquehanna trail is even more picturesque than I could have imagined. The air is damp and cool, and the river is muddy and swollen from the rains, providing a roaring yet peaceful soundtrack as we walk side by side on the gravel path along the bank.

The heaviness in my stomach is finally starting to settle. I glance over at Max, who seems lost in thought as we march on, and I find myself suddenly more curious about who he is. I can’t tell if he’s in the mood to talk, so I start off with some light chatter.

“This is a really beautiful place,” I say. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“What’s that?” he says, jerking his head like he forgot I was here. “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was somewhere else for a minute. It is nice, right?”

I nod. “Where were you? Anything on your mind you want to share?”

“Nothing too interesting, I’m afraid. I was thinking about how much Lulu has changed since I saw her last. She has lost a lot of weight. I hope she isn’t using again.”

“She was pretty skinny,” I say, unsure of how else to react. “She used to use drugs?”

He nods. “She’s been clean for a long time. I hope losing Garett didn’t put her over the edge.”

I bite my lip. If she did relapse, it's just another thing to tag on to the list of damage I caused, and now my guts feel full again. But I am curious about one thing. “Did you know she has visions? Has she always been psychic?”

“Not a clue. And honestly, I’m still sorting through all of it in my head. But enough of that for now,” he says, pointing up the path. “The river bends up ahead, and there’s a large boulder we can climb up to see the most gorgeous views.”

“That sounds amazing.”

“We can hang out there for a bit before we head back. Find ourselves a room for the night.”

“Works for me,” I say as we continue in silence. A few minutes pass, and we arrive at the curve in the trail. The boulder is a couple of feet taller than I am, and a surge of anxiety runs through me. There’s no way I can crawl up there.

He laughs. My face must be giving away my feelings of terror.

“Around the front,” he says as he circles the side of the massive rock, and I follow, relieved to see that the side facing the river is tiered and navigable. “I need you too much to kill you off by making you scale a rock wall.”

It’s me laughing now. This I can handle. He helps me up to the top, following close behind, and we sit on the highest surface, facing the river, with our legs dangling over the side. The view is breathtaking, with a clear line of sight for miles in each direction.

“I think I could sit here forever,” I say, smiling as I take it all in. “How did you find this place?”

“Garrett did. Believe it or not, we used to spend the summers camping illegally in the woods over there. It was awesome, but I never really appreciated it much back then. I guess that’s youth for you.”

“What about girls?” I ask, feeling heat run into my cheeks. “This spot seems romantic.”

He leans away and looks at me like I have said something absurd, and my face sears even hotter. “I suppose this rock has seen its share of foolin’ around.

I look down at my hands and pick at my nails. “I wonder, if I dare ask, but what about you? You are not a young teen anymore. Why aren’t you with a mate?”

“A mate?” he laughs, and now I feel stupid. “I’ve had my share of women, if you must know. Just none of my relationships stuck.”

“Why do you think that is?” I press, curious as to why a man with so much to offer is still alone.

He blows out a deep sigh. “I haven’t found the right one, I suppose. I have a very demanding job, and that takes up most of my time. Most women don’t understand that.”

I nod, pretending to understand. “Don’t you get lonely? I’ve been alone for just a few days, and I feel sad and empty most of the time.”

“Sometimes I do,” he says, looking me in the eyes as his face softens. “I guess I am too busy to pay much attention to it. But why the sudden interest in my love life?”

“Sorry,” I say with a shaky chuckle. “I guess I’m just trying to sort out all of this human emotion. I see an attractive, successful, and kind man, and from the collection of souls I have dealt with, you are superior to the average. A girl would be lucky to have you, is all.”

He cocks his head at me and smiles. “You really think so?”

“I do,” I say and touch his leg softly. I don’t think he knows how good he really is.

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