6. Brock

Chapter six

Brock

I called my best friend Jackie for advice when I got home last night. I didn't know what to do and thought he might be able to help. He was such a joker and always trying to act up and be funny, but we were ride-or-die friends since elementary school. In fact, I didn't remember a time when I didn't know him.

And his advice was obvious. There wasn't anything I could do, and I needed to get over it.

But that guy was so cute. His hair had been kind of sticking up everywhere like he'd been running his hands through it repeatedly, and I found it adorable. Maybe something about him needing help triggered me. He'd been afraid and worried, frowning with soft lips. I wanted to make him smile.

But Jackie was right. It didn't matter.

So I'd put it behind me and went to bed.

I met Percy the next morning and loaded up the buns. I started the coffee and wiped the counter. Then, I walked up to the front to unlock the door. Like any other day.

And Eddy stood there, shifting his weight from foot to foot. I opened the door. "Well, hi. Come in." The relief I felt at seeing him alive and well was palpable and surprising.

"I-I, um. I'm sorry I left. I was scared."

"It's okay. I get it. I'm not mad." Eddy followed me into the store. "But I want to know more about what's going on, and I want to help you."

"I'm scared and don't know who to turn to," he confessed. "You feel safe. Are you?"

I stepped closer to him. He had hazel eyes with specks of blue, green, and brown. I leaned closer, and he didn't move away. So I kissed him.

A soft press of lips. He shifted beneath me, opening his mouth and welcoming me in. Our tongues twisted. Then we pulled apart.

"Well. Maybe you're actually the dangerous one." But he said it with a soft smile that I couldn't resist. I wanted to kiss that sweet mouth again. I also didn't want to run him off.

"Have you had anything to eat? Come on." I took him to the back and sat him at the bar, giving him a sticky bun and a cup of coffee. This I knew how to do. Comfort and listen.

The ring of the bell on the door grabbed my attention, but Eddy's eyes flew wide.

I put my finger over my lips. "Shh…" I pointed to the shelves and whispered, "It's a labyrinth. Hide."

I believed Eddy. First and foremost. So while he darted into the books, I made my way up front, though I didn't expect it to be anyone but a local looking for their morning coffee fix.

It wasn't. "Hi, can I help you?" What were the chances of two strangers showing up back-to-back like that? And it wasn't tourist season. "We have fresh coffee." I thumbed over my shoulder.

"Sounds nice."

He followed me back to the bar. Eddy was hidden well since I didn't see him anywhere. I poured this new guy a cup, and he started fixing it up. "Well. You might be able to help me. I've lost my brother. He's about this tall." He held his hand up to about Eddy's height. "Light brown hair and hazel eyes. Kind of plain. And kind of jumpy. Seen him?"

"No. No, I haven't," I lied. "You're the first person in a long time that's come in who I don't know. Small town." I waved my arm to indicate all of Foggy Basin. That, at least, wasn't a lie. I grew up here and knew everyone, some more personally than others. From school, dances, sports, and festivals. And some were family. Then there was always the gossip chain, alive and well. Probably not unlike other small towns.

"Well. Thanks. His name is Eddy Queen if he does come in here. And he might. He's a bookish dude." He shrugged and sipped some of the coffee. "Let him know I'm looking for him. He should call home. Yeah?"

"Sure. Happy to." I glared at the guy. I didn't like his vibe at all. I didn't think he was actually Eddy's brother, either. In fact, I seriously doubted it. He didn't look like Eddy, for starters. This guy had a different look. He was taller, his facial features more hawkish, and his hair darker. But he also gave off a vibe—cold and calculated. Eddy was warm and sweet, though nervous, but I was beginning to think he had legitimate reason to be. Any lingering thoughts that he was a little paranoid flew out the window after talking to this guy, because if he was actually Eddy's brother, I could see why he was afraid. He was fucking scary.

"Thanks." The guy left the cup on the bar and walked out. It felt rude. He didn't even offer to pay for the cup and abandoned his trash for someone else to clean up. I wanted to punch him in the face.

I walked through the shelves, looking for Eddy, and found him huddled on the floor. "Hey. Eddy." I sank down beside him and pulled him into my arms. His body trembled. "You're alright. He's gone. If you don't want to talk with your brother, I sure as hell won't make you. He seemed like a dickhead."

Eddy snuggled closer. "Yeah? You think? Well, that wasn't my brother."

"Fuck." I'd been right.

I quickly closed the shop, locked it up, and took Eddy to my place.