Page 6 of Promised Summer
So what was with the uncomfortable feeling that rumbled in my stomach?
“Dude, can you not talk about my brother’s bedroom activities when I’m right here? Be thankful my parents are inside or else my mama would wash your mouth out with soap,” my brother, Jordan, replied with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
Ryker untangled himself from Sam and slung an arm over my shoulders. “This new start for you is going to be great, and we’re going to be right here by your side every step of the way.”
My stomach settled as I grabbed my friend’s hand and laughed.
“Aw, and there Ryker goes, being all sweet again. I want in on some of the action,” Dan said, creeping closer. Clay wasn’t far behind him, arms open, and determination written clearly in his eyes.
My gut told me not to get caught, so I ran.
“Get back here!” Clay’s voice boomed, and fuck was he intimidating when he used that tone! He must have learned it from his police training, because his order only made me run faster.
My friends apparently made catching me top priority because soon I was at the bottom of a dogpile of giant, muscular men. Even my brother and his boyfriend, Wren, joined in on this folly to torture me. Those traitors.
But even if I felt like I was being crushed under their hugs, my joyful laughter couldn’t be contained. Myfriends and family sometimes gave me shit, but they were always on my side.
The renovations were finished by the weekend. My friends stayed late Friday night to complete the final touches of my new porch and hot tub. They left with promises to catch up at Sunday brunch at Hector’s—my treat for all their help—and then I was alone in my cabin.
I filled up the hot tub and treated the water so I could enjoy a good soak tomorrow. Out here, with nothing but woods and nature surrounding me, the stars lit my return inside, twinkling through my bedroom window as I lay on my new bed and fell asleep.
I woke early the next morning to a clear, beautiful blue day. My cabin was quiet, which was a bit unnerving after a week of family and friends constantly coming over at all hours of the day to check up on me.
As I had my breakfast, it occurred to me just how big and empty my home felt despite it only being a two-bedroom cabin.
Had it always been this empty?
Before Deke had moved in, Ryker had lived with me for a bit. Now, I couldn’t even recall what it was like living alone. Maybe this empty feeling would settle…or maybe I should get a dog.
The idea sounded even better when I left for a walkto get some fresh air. It would be nice to have another living being in the cabin with me, plus, I’d have the added bonus of a hiking companion since my friends always refused to join me with the excuse that hiking wasn’t their thing.
I didn’t mind hiking alone most of the time, and even now, I found myself heading toward a familiar path up the short mountain behind my cabin. This wasn’t the main trail, but ever since buying the plot of land at the base of this hill, I’d trekked up to the summit so many times that a path going directly to the top had been created from my constant hikes. It wasn’t too far from the main trail, but it was a more direct route, and the benefit of having a personal route nobody knew about was that I could avoid the weekend crowds.
Which was why I was very confused when I came across a little girlcrouched beside a tree, with her hand over her face. She couldn’t have been older than four or five, so I looked around for an adult.
Nobody else was on this path aside from me and the girl. When I walked closer, I could hear her quiet sobs and the barely whisper of a cry of “Daddy.”
“Are you lost?” I called out, startling the girl. Her head flung my way, teary blue eyes wide with fear when she saw me.
I froze where I stood when I saw the blue eyes that were so familiar to the ones in my dreams but hadn’t seen in person for over a decade. They were a light blue and bright, as if they were glowing. I’d only known oneperson with eyes like that…but it couldn’t be. He didn’t live here and hadn’t returned to town since the last time we’d been together.
I shook my head, casting those thoughts behind me to focus on what was important. There was a lost, scared girl in front of me, and from the way she was so fearful of me, she had to be a city kid.
Stranger danger wasn’t really a thing here in our small town. It helped that everyone practically knew each other, and the only crime that happened around these parts was from bored teens. Thanks to that, kids around here grew up bold and not fearful of strangers.
Kneeling to be more on her level, I said, “I’m not a bad person.” I immediately cringed, realizing that was exactly what a person with evil intentions would say. Trying to put on my most reassuring, friendly smile, I tried again, “Did you get separated from your daddy?”
This time, she nodded. Her tears had stopped, probably from the shock of seeing me, but her eyes were still wet and full of apprehension.
“Your daddy is probably looking for you on the main path. How about I take you to find him?”
She nodded again. I reached out to help her stand. She hesitated and looked at my hand like it was about to bite her. I’d probably be scared too if I were in her place. My hand was bigger than her tiny head.
She was so small and definitely shouldn’t be wandering in the woods alone. What kind of irresponsible parent would take their eyes off their young childlong enough for them to get lost? Kither Springs and the surrounding area were relatively safe, but that didn’t mean someone so young should be left alone. What if she fell and rolled down the hill or something?
I was going to have strong words for her daddy—once we found him, of course.
Her little hand finally took mine as she stood, her black braided pigtails bounced with the action.
