Page 43 of Crossroads

Thankfully, we made it to Teagan’s SUV, and we piled inside. We were headed toward the brewery. While we could walk to most places in Ashford Creek, the brewery was on the north end.

Bodhi had said he would try to come, but I didn’t think he would make it. Not with that social media post echoing between us that morning. I wouldn’t want him to face curious, even hostile, looks, so I would spend some time with my new friends and then go back to the cabin. Our own secluded oasis. A break from reality.

Felicity and Keely, a newer resident and Felicity’s best friend, had a table for us in the corner as we walked past the large line that was there for their four-packs.

“This place is busy,” I said over the noise.

“They did a surprise label drop today, even though there was a countdown online. People knew something was coming, just not what.” Felicity shrugged. “Callum’s doing some interesting things, and people are excited. I’m also not allowed to help anymore, because random men kept hitting on me.”

She rolled her eyes, and I pressed my lips together. Teagan just shook her head before going to get a beer for each of us. Some others in the line glared at us, but since we weren’t getting four-packs but rather something from draft, they would have to deal with it. There was a tasting area for a reason.

I settled back into the corner, appreciating the shadows that it provided. While I was used to being in the center of attention, I didn’t like the fact that people knew my business now. That they would question my choices.

I had been the one to stay with Jeremiah. The one to help Brigid her entire life, trying to keep her on the good side of choices. And I’d failed in every other reaction. And now they had turned their eyes on Bodhi, and I wasn’t sure I could forgive myself for that.

“I’m going to head out. My car’s already here, so why don’t I drop you off?” Elizabeth said softly. Teagan had gone to help Callum, Felicity right on her tail, and it was getting later than I had planned.

“I appreciate it. I just want to check on him. You know?”

Elizabeth gave me a knowing look before freezing. I looked up to see someone had turned on the TV, and Atlas was there, in the middle of an interview with a beautiful blonde. Another brunette stood beside him, laughing, and Elizabeth’s knuckles turned white as she squeezed her keys.

“Let’s get out of here before the dinner crowd gets here.”

“We can do that.” I followed her to her car, although I was confused as to whether there was an actual dinner crowd at the brewery ever. But I didn’t question her. What if what Elizabeth was going through happened to Bodhi when I left? We hadn’t made any promises, only that we were for each other in this moment. I had to go back to my own reality soon, though. And when that happened, I’d have to leave him behind.

Like Elizabeth had been left behind.

“Sorry about that,” Elizabeth said as we headed onto the main road toward the forest. “Seeing his face just surprised me, is all.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“I’m not pining for him or anything. I’ve dated since he left. It’s been over a decade since we were together. I just hate the pitying looks that some of the town still gives me.”

“And then every time he comes back to town, he is the prodigal son?” I asked.

“Pretty much. And I am the poor girl who was left behind. Even though nobody has any idea what happened. And I don’t want to get into it beyond that. I just hate the looks.” She glanced over at me before turning down the lane. “Just like the ones that you get walking down the street because they’re so worried about what the band is doing or your sister or your ex. And then they’re focused on Bodhi, and of course, his past comes out. It’s just ridiculous. People need to mind their manners and keep to themselves.” She paused at the gate and swallowed hard. “And here I am, making this about me when you have to deal with things like this all the time.”

I leaned to the side and gave her an awkward hug. Touch was my love language, but I’d been bad at showing it recently. “Don’t worry about me. Thank you for the ride, Elizabeth. And for being my friend.”

She grinned at me, and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. Freaking stunning. And I thought about how Atlas Carter was an idiot for many reasons.

We said our goodbyes, and I walked past Bodhi’s quiet house and toward the cabin that had become my home. I stood on my porch, wondering if I should bother Bodhi and humming the melody that wouldn’t quit.

We spoke like a Sunday sermon.

Hands in your pockets, full of grace.

Instead of seeing the smoke behind you.

But I was busy staring at your face.

I shivered, knowing that didn’t sound like a Wilder song. But I couldn’t get Jeremiah out of my mind.

I hadn’t loved him. Not the way you should for a long-term relationship. And I had thought I’d walked away soon enough. But he caught me anyway. Shivering, I decided to go inside, write down a few lyrics, and then go see what Bodhi was up to. He hadn’t come to say hi to me when Elizabeth had dropped me off, but I knew he was still in the workshop, busy on a few commissions. We didn’t live together. I wasn’t even sure what we were to each other. I would not push. Bodhi needed time to think, and frankly, so did I.

I turned the knob on my cabin door and frowned. Had I left it unlocked? Maybe. Though I knew I was usually more careful than that with what had happened. Bodhi must have been inside to fix something and left it unlocked since he owned the cabin. I pushed that thought away and walked inside. The lights were off, and even though the days were long, since we were up in the mountains with the heavy tree cover, the cabin was still decently dark. I turned on a small lamp and blinked, wondering when I had moved my notebooks from the bedroom into the living room. An eerie feeling settled over me, with the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I turned and let out a scream.

“Bitch!” Brigid jumped on me, her hands curled into talons, and tried to rake her fingernails down my face. I shoved at her shoulder, knocking her back.