Page 23 of Wild Child
I nodded.
He ducked into the car, and with one last wave, disappeared onto Main Street. I watched him go with immense relief, my heart a slow plod inside me.
6
Devin
The brakes of my parents’ truck screeched as I slid to a stop outside of a wooden cabin at Adventura mountain camp.
Through the open truck window, the distant cry of kids rattled through the trees. I stepped out of the truck and slammed the door behind me. A familiar head of red hair rushed out of the cabin, then skidded to a stop.
Lizbeth’s mouth dropped open.
Seconds later, she’d crossed the space between us, and her pregnant little body slammed into mine with a tight hug.
“Devin!” she cried.
I wrapped my arms around her in an awkward embrace, her baby belly between us, gratified to see her again. When she pulled away, she nailed me on the shoulder with a fist.
“That’s for not coming to see us last time you came home! What’s the matter with you?”
“I’m sorry!”
Fury showed in those bright emerald eyes, sprinkled with hints of love. Despite being one of the sweetest people I had ever met, I definitely wouldn’t mess with her. Her hair was pulled into a bun at the base of her neck, but red tendrils flew off her forehead in the summer breeze.
“Well.” She frowned. “My sister is terrifying. I probably would have avoided her too. But still . . .”
Something else lingered in her gaze as she trailed off. Concern, maybe. I braced myself, ready to hear the inevitable sympathy, and wasn’t disappointed.
“Your Mom told me about . . . everything. I’m sorry, Dev. Sounds like it was hell over there.”
Before I could change the subject, another body stepped out of the cabin and waved, locks of hair flowing free around his face. JJ saved me as he strode over wearing a matching polo t-shirt to Lizbeth’s. Both saidAdventura Summer Camp.I met him halfway, eager to avoid the conversation Lizbeth started.
“How are you?” JJ asked and clapped me on the back. I pulled him close and returned the pounding.
“Glad to be back in the mountains,” I said. “Nothing quite like the scent of pine, is there?”
He grinned. “You’re here to see Mark, right?”
“Yeah.”
JJ jerked his head back. “He’s waiting for you inside.”
“Sweet, thanks. Can’t wait to come up to your bakery in Jackson City. I heard it’s starting to be legendary with the tourists.”
He grinned. “We’re there on the weekends. Hired some people to run it during the week in the summer while we’re here. Come up, and we’ll give you a tour and free slice of cheesecake. Or a whole cake, whatever you want.”
Lizbeth held up a thumb. “It isthebest cheesecake.”
“Soon,” I promised.
“Get in there.” JJ added to the cabin again. “He’s waiting for you.”
With a nod of thanks, I headed for the cabin while JJ looped an arm around Lizbeth’s waist, pulled her close, and then headed in the opposite direction. The gentle swish of pine needles in a summer breeze escorted me into the camp office. That scent was the final piece of returning home I needed.
JJ and Mark Bailey had been out exploring the world for most of my teen years. Our budding friendship started when Lizbeth and JJ began dating, became engaged, and then married. With JJ around Lizbeth all the time and me practically living with Ellie and her family, Mark inevitably tagged along every now and then. My business interests with Mark had brought us closer than I’d ever expected, and now I saw him as a brother.
I rapped on the cabin door, then stepped inside. Despite early summer heat rising from the carpet of pine needles outside, this cabin greeted me with a brush of cooler air. At the back of the room sat Mark, feet propped up on a desk cluttered with paperwork and pens.
