Page 86 of Aftermath
“Hey, you used to be friends with the sheriff’s son, Chris, right?” I asked.
“I did,” Calvin said, his brows furrowing.
“But you aren’t anymore?” I asked.
“Not since that trip I helped him and his father with three years ago.”
“Trip?”
“Remember the one I borrowed your camping gear for?” he said.
The Briarport Wilderness Trip—Id completely forgotten about the annual trip sponsored by the sheriff’s office meant to teach elementary students wilderness skills.
“I do now,” I said with a nod.
“Well, when we were on the trip, I just realized what an asshole the guy is,” he said.
“That seems to be the sentiment around town,” I murmured.
“When news reached the sheriff of another killing, Chris thought it’d be hilarious to scare the kids on the trip. Half of them wanted to leave early, thinking the Coastal Killer would be coming for our trip next,” Calvin said as he shook his head. “Made me realize that wasn’t someone I wanted to be friends with.”
A killing while they were on the trip meant…
“Mallory doesn’t like him either,” I added.
“Good. You both should stay far away from him.”
It was rare I saw Calvin’s overprotective side, but his words came out firm, with no room for argument. I appreciated the sentiment.
“I have to get to work, but I hope you have a good birthday, Len,” he said, standing and heading toward the door. “I’ll see you at the clambake, right?”
“I’d never leave you to fend for yourself with our parents,” I joked.
“Good, because you owe me for leaving me alone with them before dinner was over,” he teased back.
I watched him head out the door and back to his car before returning to the kitchen to start my breakfast and coffee.
* * *
I sat alone in the rental for hours before deciding to go for a walk to the beach. Stone had been gone all day, and I was starting to think he’d entirely forgotten my birthday.
Impossible; that man remembered everything.
Maybe he just didn’t care. Maybe birthdays were just another day to him.
He didn’t owe me anything, but I would be lying if I said my heart didn’t ache a bit at his absence. When I woke, he’d already left the house—without me.
The past few weeks, we’d become inseparable. Everywhere he went to investigate the case, he’d taken me with him. There was the possibility he just needed time to himself, but why’d it have to be today?
I’d spent so many birthdays alone, I just thought this one would be-
Don’t finish the thought.
It will only hurt more.
I kept walking down the path until it turned to sidewalk. I continued until I found an outlet that led to the water. The sand was warm against my feet as I slipped my sandals off and carried them.
There wasn’t anything I enjoyed more than this view, the waves crashing against the shore and the sun shining down on the water’s surface.
