“Ha! Yeah right,” he teases. I grin. Always giving me shit, this guy. “So, when are you coming home?”
A pang hits my heart at the word home.
“Three weeks. I’ll only be in town for a few days.”
“Great. I just finished the advanced Fire Search and Rescue training I told you about. Got promoted as Lakeside’s new fire captain. I’ll be taking over in a couple of months when the current captain retires.”
“Congrats, man! That’s huge.” I’m genuinely happy for him. Logan has always been passionate about his work. He’s more than earned this.
“Thanks. Planning on moving back a little early. Rented a small one-bedroom right next door to the station house. Nothing too fancy, but the location is perfect. I should be settled in by the time you get here.”
Suddenly, it dawns on me I haven’t thought about where I would be staying. I run a frustrated hand through my hair. “Speaking of places to stay, I need to have my assistant look into booking a hotel or private Airbnb.”
“Good luck,” Logan snorts. “Tourist season is in full swing.Do you remember what it was like when we were kids? How busy it could get at certain times of the year?”
“Barely.”
“Lakeside has gotten even bigger, my friend. Still has small town vibes. Now, it’s anything but. Every rental and hotel in every town within twenty miles is probably booked solid.”
“Shit, I didn’t even think about that.”
“Don’t sweat it. You can crash on my couch. It’s not the Four Seasons, but it should be comfortable enough for a few days.”
Relief washes over me. “You sure? I don’t want to impose.”
“Fuck off. Like you haven’t slept in worse conditions during our camping trips. Remember that time in Yosemite when it rained for three days straight and everything we owned got soaked?”
“Don’t remind me,” I groan. “Pretty sure I’ve still got mold growing in places that’ve never seen the light of day.”
We burst out laughing. It feels good—familiar. Despite the distance between us and our time apart between planned visits, Logan and I have managed to stay close. Our week-long camping trips every summer have become a sacred tradition, even if my shooting schedule forces us to reschedule sometimes.
“Hey. You should stop by and see Lizzy while you’re here,” Logan says carefully. “She’s doing really well. Working at our local tattoo shop, Skin & Ink. Painting up a storm, too.”
My stomach drops. I haven’t allowed myself to think about Lizzy much over the years, but whenever I do, it’s like a punch to the gut. Not to mention I’ve never told Logan about what happened between us. If he found out, he’d probably murder me, cut me up into little bitty pieces and bury me deep in the woods somewhere. He knows we were close as kids, but never pushed me about why I don’t talk about her, or how I change the subject anytime he brings her up.
“I don’t know, man. I’m only going to be there for three days. My schedule is going to be pretty packed. Probably won’t have much time to socialize.”
“Bullshit,” he says. “You can make time. She talks about you sometimes, you know.”
That catches me off guard. “She does?”
“Well, okay. Maybe not. More like she bitches at me if I try to talk her into seeing one of your movies. She’s been closed off about anything that has to do with you since you left for California.”
I’m not sure what to make of that. After my grandparents passed, I went to live with the Cade’s my senior year of high school. Things between Lizzy and I were... tricky at first. Until they weren’t. And that’s putting it mildly.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Logan. It’s been a really long time.”
“All I’m saying is, you two used to be close. Might be good for you both to reconnect. I wish you would tell me what happened between you two.”
“Nothing that matters. I’m not the same kid anymore,” I counter, a defensive edge creeping into my tone.
“None of us are, Rowan.” He blows out a breath. “How ‘bout we play it by ear?”
Damn it. Fucker’s not gonna to let this go. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I’m asking. So, tell me more about this new movie of yours. Am I going to be portrayed as the devastatingly handsome best friend who gets all the girls?”
Grateful for the subject change, I chuckle. “In your dreams, dickhead. Your character is the sidekick who’s always getting into trouble.”
