Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

It’sbeautiful here in the orchard—especially from the cabin roof.

I’m taking a break from identifying leaks to gaze across the trees… and to think for a little while. Lord knows I have enough to think about. Plus, I have a flask of ice-cold lemonade that Kieran insisted on sending me with.

I stare out over the gnarly, overgrown trees, slowly shaking my head. Everything feels so much more hopeful than yesterday. I’m feeling so much more relaxed, happy, even confident.

Part of that is Kieran… and part of that is remembering to blow off steam this morning. Not to be crude, but I’m going to need to open that pressure valve regularly, one way or another.

Otherwise, I might just blow.

If I’m a fermenting tank full of cider… Kieran must be the wild yeast that drifted in on the breeze and kicked off a whole chain reaction. But I can never tell him that.

Imagine his face.

I grin and swig my lemonade, shaking my head as I turn my face into the spring afternoon sunshine.

I’m not wrong. Kieran is wild, unpredictable, and potent. He blew into my life, and my whole plan blew out the window. Even thinking about him makes me almost dizzy, which is probably bad when I’m on a roof. But he’s so sweet. And I don’t think he’s been treated well all that often.

I want to treat him well. And then treat him in every filthy way I can think of.Definitely not the right thing to think about on the roof…

“Hey!”

A deep voice startles me. Three guys are stepping off the road into the orchard, and something tells me I know them.

I just haven’t seen them in a real long time.

“Hey! Sorry, give me a sec.”

I screw the top back onto the flask and scramble down the ladder, and by the time I’m on the ground, I’m sure of it. Even all these years later, I know all three of those faces.

Alph, Carter, and Murph.

“Holy shit!”

“Recognize us?” Alph grins, reaching out to hug me one-armed around the shoulder and slap my back.

“I sure as fuck do.” The other guys lean in to take their turns, and then we all step back as I put my hands on my hips and stare between them all. “You remember me? Or did Kieran put you up to this?”

“Yeah, nah, man,” Carter laughs. “He told us, but we remembered you. Zach and Drew are at work, but you’ll see them soon. Oh, and… you remember Flick? This one’s little brother?” He points at Alph. “Felix is all grown up now.”

“And marrying Carter,” Alph adds, elbowing his best friend as I laugh with surprise.

“Really? Whoa. Congrats, dude.”

“Really.” Carter grins. “And this one,” he jerks his thumb at Alph, “found a guy of his own.”

A guy?

We were all at that age where we didn’t really talk about girls—or boys—but I sorta knew about Carter. Alph? That surprises me.

“And he just put a ring on it,” Carter adds, and Alph grins with pride.

“Holy crap. Congrats to you too!”

The moment I look at Murph and open my mouth, he shakes his head.

“Nope.”

I guess some things never change.

Murph was the quietest of the bunch, but I swear he’s gotten even better at saying more with less. I don’t remember if we ever said two words to each other when we were alone together. But it was a nice, comfortable silence.

“His turn next,” Alph says cheerfully, clapping Murph’s shoulder.

All Murph says—in the exact same tone—is the exact same thing.

“Nope.”

The three of us burst out laughing, and even Murph joins in.

Then it’s my turn to catch them up. “I ended up studying marketing. Took a gap year to work in orchards around the country. Came back, finished my degree, lived in Vancouver for a few years, until I realized how much I want to be here.”

“Is it true that you’re starting Sunrise Cider up again?” Alph grins. “That would be so cool. Can’t get more local than that.”

I can’t help bracing myself for the reaction I get from pretty much everyone. “Yep. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Alph claps my shoulder. Carter’s holding out his hand for a high-five. And even Murph inclines his head in a slow nod of approval.

“Really?” I look around at them, half-heartedly slapping my palm against Carter’s. “Most people think it’s sort of… crazy?”

Carter shrugs. “Good. You’ll fit right in. Who else is gonna live on Sunrise?”

Huh. He’s got a point.

“What about you?” Alph asks. “Is there someone…?”

I sigh. “No. Nothing serious. I tried dating a couple guys here and there. But I was so career-focused in Vancouver, there was never any time.”

Carter nods wisely. “You can’t live your life like that. I’m sure glad I came home. Life’s too short.”

Then he pauses and glances apologetically at me, but I just smile and nod, because he’s right.

I don’t say anything, and neither do they for a few moments. We just stand here, listening to the birds in the trees and smelling the ocean, looking at the dappled light streaming through the thick branches… making the most of this moment together.

Then Carter stretches and groans. “Okay. Listen, I gotta take off so I don’t miss the ferry. I’m heading over for a meeting. I’ll catch you guys soon though, yeah?”

“Me too.” Murph raises a finger to salute me and Alph. “Break’s over.”

I’m still smiling to myself as I turn to look at Alph, and then the orchard.

“I’m glad you think it’s gonna work, though,” I say at last. “My family thinks it’s not gonna work. Even I have my moments wondering what the hell I’ve done.”

Alph snorts and claps my shoulder again. “We’ll rally behind you—all of us. This ain’t Vancouver, man. You have a whole bunch of neighbours now. People who care.”

I nod slowly, because of course I can’t help but think of Kieran. “Yeah. Yeah, they do. So, speaking of… Kieran?” Alph’s grin tells me he knows who I mean. “What’s his deal?”

Alph pauses and looks at me knowingly.

Waytoo knowingly.

I thought I was being real casual with that question. But the longer he looks at me, the more flustered I start feeling.

Finally, Alph hums and nods. “I think he’s been waiting a long time for his Prince Charming.”

He is?!I bite my lip, trying to play it cool, but I’m pretty sure the excitement is all over my face. “I mean… I don’t even have a wheelbarrow, much less a horse.”

Alph laughs. “No wonder it took you so long to return to our little realm.” Then he leans down and grabs a stick to brandish at me. “Right, Sir Gage?”

Despite my sheepish groan, I have to laugh. I know exactly what he’s talking about: my favourite game growing up.

Knights and Dragons.

“Man, we rescued so many maidens that summer.”

Alph winks. “And sweet, helpless princes. I seem to remember we were equal-opportunity rescuers.”

He’s right. The details that mattered back then were different. We were mostly interested in perfecting our dragon roars, running for cover in the orchard, and laughing until our sides hurt.

I had no idea that one day, I’d be a lot more interested in the story of the guy who was waiting in that tower.

“Ow!”

Years later, I can still instantly place the feeling of a stick jabbing me in the ribs. And I know the only honourable way to respond. I throw myself onto the grass and roll out of range, grabbing the first stick I see.

“Unchivalrous knave! Stand and pay for your insult!”

I launch myself to my feet, clattering my stick against his. We’re both out of breath and laughing already, but I manage to retaliate, poking my stick right into his stomach before he dashes behind the nearest tree for cover.

Then the sheepishness returns, and I glance furtively at the beach and the road.

Phew. Nobody’s watching.

If anyone else sees this… I don’t think they’ll take me very seriously as the new owner of Sunrise Cider.

But Alph isn’t finished.

“Pfff. If you wanna rescue our wandering prince, you’ll have to fight tougher dragons than me, Sir Gage.”

“Hey.” My cheeks burn. I glare at Alph, and I actually halfway mean it.

He just grins smugly, waggling the stick as he taunts me. “Or have you forgotten how to stand and fight for your honour?”

I can’t let him get away with that. My self-consciousness vanishes as I raise my stick high overhead, preparing to narrate my victory just like old times.

“Charge!”