“Seriously,” Lincoln agreed.“How’s Kendall?”he asked.“I’m surprised you didn’t stay with her that last night.”
My heart twisted a little, and I ignored the frustration bundled like a tight coil inside me.“Her brother’s staying with her for a couple of days.I’m just hoping he’s gone when I get back.”
“Ah, Blake.He’s kind of a mess.”
“We all know what happened.”Her brother had been brutally assaulted at school by a group of kids on the football team.Not a whole lot happened in the aftermath.Those guys still roamed the hallways, the school bullies.
Blake had been on the team, but he’d been the biggest competition for the guy who was the star, and they wanted to make sure to put him in his place.They succeeded.He dropped off the team and became known as the party guy.Years later, he was still struggling to right the ship of his life and stay sober.
“How many times did he get caught drinking and driving?”Lincoln asked.
I shrugged.“Hell if I know.He lost his license though.He can’t drive.And, you know Kendall, she’s always busy taking care of everybody in her family.”
“You seem a little…” Lincoln tapped his fingers on his water bottle.“I don’t know.You might be angry.”
“I’m not angry.I guess I’m disappointed.”
“At Kendall?”
I paused, tipping my head to the side.“Yeah, I guess so.I didn’t expect her to let him stay with her, but she did.So, that’s that.”
“What the hell do you meanthat’s that?”
“I couldn’t see her the night before I left, and now we’re gone for five days.That’s what I mean.”
Lincoln narrowed his eyes.“Are you—” He paused, cutting his own words off.
“Am I what?”
“Nothing.”He shook his head.“You’ll figure it out.”
“Figure what out?”
“Well, you figured out that you love her, dumbass.When are you going to figure out that what you have with her is something most of us never get?”
“Hey, I know that.”I tried not to sound too defensive.“I’m not the one who’s busy bailing out my brother.”
“You would do anything for any of us.”Lincoln’s tone was somber.
“I know.”My throat was tight and my chest ached.
Just then, one of the guests called over to us, asking a question about the route tomorrow and effectively ending that conversation.
ChapterForty-Three
Jude
Six days later
I stood under the steaming water in the shower, savoring the heat of it and the way it pounded between my shoulder blades.Leaning forward, I rested my palms against the wall.We were home, and I was exhausted.
Exhaustion aside, it had been an amazing trip—complete with caribou, moose, and a pair of mountain goats.After my shower, I eyed my phone screen.There were three texts from Kendall.
Kendall:Missed you.
Kendall:Would love to see you tonight.
Kendall:Hope you’re back safe and sound.
