“Of course. It’s the only reason I’m going.”
“You’re not working?”
“Nope.”
My mind immediately drops to the gutter. I was already looking forward to working on something that didn’t involve getting cold and wet. Add in Tanner’s free-agent status and I’m wishing the next four days away.
I kiss him one last time and leave him in bed. Every footstep away from him feels wrong, but it levels out as I walk to meet Jerry at the closest lot to my apartment. Tanner has his own life, and so do I. And despite missing him already, I’m eager to get outside and make the last month of hard work count. The elusive lynx footage is the Holy Grail, but even without it, Vermont is the gift that keeps on giving. Only Tanner by my side would make it better.
The thought is errant, but strong. He knows Black Claw better than Jerry.What if—
Jerry blasts his horn. He’s waiting for me.
I hurry to where he’s parked and fold myself into his truck.
He gives me a knowing look. “Slumber party?”
“Something like that. Can I ask you something?”
“As long as it’s not where babies come from.”
“It’s really not. It’s about Tanner.”
“You didn’t think to ask him?”
“Not yet. I want to ask him to come with me one night up the trail, but I don’t want to upset him. You think it’s a bad idea?”
Jerry says nothing for a long time.
He points the truck out of Burlington and his face is so unreadable I figure I’ve made a terrible mistake even voicing the question.
But eventually, he sighs and tears his gaze away from the road for a fleeting moment that makes my chest ache. “You can ask him, son. But don’t get sore feelings if he runs a damn mile. This life is good for you, I can see it every day we’re out here, but it hurt that boy more than I can ever explain.”
Chapter Thirteen
Tanner
Jax is gone for three days. No contact because the spot he’s camped out at might as well be on the moon as far as cell service is concerned. On the fourth day, he’s resting at home, but any opportunity I might’ve had to see him is taken up by work, and Molly’s drunk-ass, dickwad boyfriend who’s apparently determined to ruin my life as well as hers.
I have no regrets as he hits the sidewalk the third time I tell him to get the fuck out of my bar. But I don’t throw him far enough, and by the time Molly’s shift is over, he’s still loitering outside.
“Wait for me,” I tell her. “I’ll drive you home when I’m done.”
She doesn’t argue. As big a fool as she is for him, she isn’t dumb enough to get in his car right now.
I leave her sniffling by the mocktail station and stomp around the bar for the rest of my shift, which is unfortunately all night long. It’s late by the time I get a minute to text Jax, and he doesn’t reply.
“I’m sorry,” Molly says as I steer my car into the parking lot outside her dorm. “I know you’d rather be with Jax than with me.”
“Doesn’t matter where I’d rather be. You think I’d let you find your own way home at this time of night?”
“My shift finished four hours ago. I could’ve got an Uber.”
True story, but Molly is strapped for cash, and I want to make sure she doesn’t have a nasty surprise waiting for her at her door. “Why are you still with that asshat anyway?”
It’s not what I meant to say, but I don’t regret that either.
Molly sighs. “Because he isn’t always an asshat. He’s pretty sweet when he’s in the right mood.”
