Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” Denny added. “She was grateful you were there.”
She clearly hadn’t told them everything.
“No problem. Listen, it’s been one hell of a day, and I just got home. I’m going to jump in the shower and head to bed.”
“It’s only seven,” Evelyn said. “You’re going to bed this early?”
“I’ve got to work tomorrow, so, yeah.”
“Well, how about we have you and Brystol over for dinner Friday night? Just the four of us can celebrate?” Evelyn asked.
“I wish I could, but I have plans I can’t back out of.”
“Oh, no worries. We’ll celebrate another time.”
The disappointment in Evelyn’s voice nearly broke me. Nearly. “Sounds great. I’m so happy for you both. I really am.”
“Thanks, Gavin. We really do appreciate it,” Denny said. I could practically hear the smile in his voice.
“You bet. Talk to you guys soon.”
We exchanged goodbyes, and I ended the call. I dropped my phone to the sofa and stared blankly into space. This was going to be a long nine months.
Nothing was better than fall in Upstate New York—in Moose Village, to be exact. The leaves were starting to change color, the temperatures were in the upper to lower sixties, and the evenings were cold. My brother James hated the cold, and I wasn’t a super fan of it, but I did love it when the temperatures turned crisp outside, and you had to wear a light jacket or sweatshirt.
I was dressed in my uniform and observing the fun.
“Gavin, you’ve got to see the maze set up at the Hamilton farm.”
Turning around, I smiled and held a hand out to Kian. “You guys been already?” I asked as I looked around for Kian’s girlfriend, Cadie. She’d been known as Cadie Waterford when she first moved to Moose Village, but shortly after everyone found out she’d been on the run from the mob in Boston, we also discovered her real name was Katy Reynolds. She was still going by Cadie…and was still under FBI protection while she waited to testify against her old boyfriend’s family at the trial.
“Yeah, it was fun. About gave Cadie’s protection officer a heart attack when he lost sight of her, though.”
I smiled. “Have you seen James or Declan?”
He shook his head. “We just got here.”
“Where’s Cadie?”
“The toy store, checking in on Brystol. I’m sure you know the news.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“That’s a crazy-nice thing to do for a friend.”
“Can’t argue with you on that.”
Kian looked around at the booths lining Main Street. At The Green, a small carnival with rides and games was set up, and live music was also going until seven that night.
We started to walk down Main toward Memory Lane Toys. “I heard you and Brystol called a truce.”
I shook my head. “Yeah, well, it didn’t last long.”
We both looked up as a big group of tourists approached. It was clearly a bachelorette party because the woman at the front of the group was wearing a veil, along with a sash that read “I’m the bride.”
“Why, hello, Officer,” one of the women said. “I’m pretty sure I just broke the law somehow and need to be searched.”
“Lori!” the bride yelled, hitting her friend on the arm. “Stop it right now.”
I smiled. “Now, ladies, don’t be causing a disturbance in our quiet little town.”
“With a hot cop like you, it’s gonna be hard not to,” said a blond standing on the other side of the bride.
Kian let out a chuckle when another woman in the group stepped forward, looking at me like she wanted to tear my clothes off. “Please tell me you’re single and get off duty soon. We’ll be partying it up at the bar on the roof of our hotel later.”
“The Muddled Moose,” another called out from somewhere in the group of at least fifteen women.
Deciding this had already gone on too long, I gave a nod to the bride and motioned for Kian to start walking as I said, “You ladies enjoy the fall festival—and don’t drink and drive.”
A few of the women booed, but they quickly moved on.
“Jesus, does that happen to you all the time?”
Laughing, I replied, “Not all the time, but more than I care to admit.”
“Sucks being so handsome.”
“Says the guy who was homecoming king and had every girl in town chasing after him.”
Kian rolled his eyes.
The door opened before we got to the toy store, and Cadie walked out with Aurora and Brystol. My heart felt like it slammed against my chest when I saw Brystol. She was smiling…but once she spotted me, the smile vanished.
So we were back to that shit again.
I clapped Kian on the back. “Enjoy the festival.” Tipping my head toward the three women, I said, “Ladies, have a good day.”
“You too, Gavin!” Cadie shouted, as I continued down Main Street.
I hadn’t gotten very far when I heard my name being called. I tried to pretend I didn’t hear Brystol, but she apparently wasn’t having any of that. After calling out my name twice, she shouted as if someone was about to murder her.