Chapter Thirteen

A fter enduring a long Friday at school, Amanda slid into her car and went to put her keys in the ignition. She stopped short and caressed the Lake Life keychain Kasey had given her. He truly was the sweetest guy.

With a sigh, she started the engine. Fifteen years old now, the Honda had been her mom’s car. It was time for her to buy a new one, except right now her extra money went toward renovating the house. Plus, the car brought up memories of her mom and dad. Of course, she didn’t need the car as a reminder of her parents, she thought of them a lot. Missed them, loved them, remembered the good times, the bad times, the laughter, and the tears.

Her phone chimed. Barry . He must have cell service. She raised her finger to swipe his name. Dread filled her. It was sweet of him to check on her today, but she couldn’t face the sympathy in his voice. Unsure why she was having this reaction, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath in hopes of easing the dread.

Suddenly, the memory of ten years ago played through her mind. Three police officers stood in front of her. One said, “Amanda, your parents were involved in a head-on collision. I am sorry to tell you, neither survived.”

Her entire world crumbled.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

She’d come to loathe those words. She understood people truly meant them. However, they sounded so deficient, so disconnected. Every time someone said them to her, a grating scraped her brain. How awful to think of the condolences she’d received that way. It showed how overwrought she’d been at the time.

How do you process the instant death of both your parents, especially when the only other family you have is “across the pond,” as her grandparents say?

She’d learned of a survivor from the wreck and gone to the hospital every day to check on the guy. He stayed in a coma for two weeks and came out of it the day she left for college. She never met the man and didn’t want to. What would she say to him?

Those two weeks had been a nightmare. In between her time at the hospital, she sold the furniture in their apartment and planned a funeral service honoring Mom and Dad. The funeral home used money from her dad’s life insurance and helped Amanda file to receive the rest. Her grandparents and a couple of other family members arrived the week of the funeral. A dozen or so people attended the service—family and a few of Mom and Dad’s coworkers.

Their deaths were so unnecessary.

Tightness ached in her chest. She tried techniques she’d learned to make her mind focus on the space in her body. On the space around her. On light illuminating her from the inside.

None of the thoughts held. They flitted in and out.

She swayed back and forth in the seat.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Nothing helped. All she could see was the pity on the officers’ faces. All she could feel was the numbing shock of the news.

A broken cry came from her heart.

If only, if only, if only...

~

B uzz. Kasey’s phone sounded from the roof of the ’65 Chevy pickup. He and his dad had been tinkering with the engine. His dad inherited the truck when his grandfather passed away years ago. It’d been parked behind the garage ever since. At breakfast, he convinced his dad to try to get it running. Kasey thought it’d distract his mind from thoughts of Amanda.

No such luck.

Even so, it was keeping him busy.

Buzz.

He finished tightening the fuel pump and straightened from where he was hunched over the motor to grab his phone. A number he didn’t recognize crawled across the screen. He set the phone back on the roof.

“What are you doing for your next shoot?” his dad asked.

“Hiking and climbing part of the Alps.”

Dad shook his head. “Climbing again?”

“Yeah. Those shows have been highly-viewed episodes.”

“All your episodes are highly viewed.”

Kasey laughed. “Spoken like a dad.”

“Guilty. I wish you didn’t feel the need to do such extreme challenges.” His dad stopped working and looked at Kasey. “You’ve always been a daredevil, but even you must admit some of your shows are overly dangerous.”

“I never take undo risks.”

“I’m not certain about that. I’m thankful Beau put safety clauses in your contract because you and Harper would’ve gotten you killed by now without them.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Dad grunted. “How much longer are you going to do the show?”

“I’m not sure.” He spun away from his dad to get a tool.

“Once you find something or someone more important, you’ll stop, or at least stop doing such high-risk feats.”

His dad’s words struck like a jab into Kasey’s gut. Once you find something or someone more important, you’ll stop. They mirrored Mr. Marshall’s words from last night. I traded wrestling for something more important.

Kasey wasn’t sure there’d ever be anything more important to him than doing the show. Whether it was because of his ADHD or something else, he’d felt unsettled most of his life. Playing sports, camping, and fishing had been his way to combat the feeling. After the holdup, though, the feeling got worse. Yet, on the first day of shooting Hunter Kase, his mind focused and calmed. Like he’d found his place in the world. Sure, not all the stunts he did were fun, some dangerous, others tedious to the extreme. Still, they kept his mind and body occupied. And filming the show filled him with purpose.

The image of Amanda at the lake popped into his head. When he was around her, he felt peaceful. Something about her relaxed him and slowed his racing mind.

He’d also never experienced such a strong connection to a woman. It wasn’t only the incredibly hot kiss they shared. Since the night of Quinn’s party, he’d felt comfortable around Amanda. Hell, she was the first person he’d confided in about his fiasco with Harper.

But last night when Amanda asked him to leave, she’d been serious and resigned to ending things before they even began. He couldn’t give up Hunter Kase and the traveling to test out a relationship with her. That was nuts.

He’d respect her wishes and let her go. Easier said than done—he already missed her understanding blue eyes, her playfulness, and her delectable cake-like scent.

His phone buzzed again.

Frustrated, he turned around and picked it up. The calls were from the same number. He opened his voicemail and listened to the first message. “Please give me a call. I need your help. It involves Amanda Crane. She—”

Silence. The connection must have been cut off.

Concerned, he didn’t bother to listen to the other voicemails and hit call.

“Hello,” a man answered. “Kasey?”

“Who’s this?”

“Barry Crane. Amanda’s ex.”

What the hell? How did the guy get his number?

“I’m in Haiti, and I’m not sure how long I’ll have cell service. Amanda’s drunk at Tango Charlie’s Bar in Houston.”

“Amanda doesn’t drink.”

“Evidently, she decided to take it up today.” The phone crackled.

“She called you?”

“No, the manager of Tango Charlie’s did.”

“Why?”

“I’m her emergency contact. I had them look you up in her contacts. Can you find out what’s going on?”

“Barry, Amanda and I...”

His dad curiously studied him.

“We’re just friends.”

“Friends help each other, don’t they?” After a hesitation, Barry continued, “You’re the first guy she’s told me about since our divorce.”

A spark flared in Kasey’s chest.

“Today is the anniversary of her parents’ death. Has Amanda told you anything about how they died?”

“Only that they were killed by a drunk driver.”

“Is that all—”

The phone went dead.

~

K asey hustled into Tango Charlie’s Bar and paused for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. It was close to seven pm and still light outside. The upscale club smelled of myrrh. Leather couches were flanked by butcher block-looking end tables with live green plants. He glanced toward the bar where loud hooting and hollering could be heard over the music.

He almost swallowed his tongue.

Amanda stood atop the bar. She held a fifth bottle of something in one hand while her other hand held a shot glass as she swayed to the music. Dressed in black slacks and a pink top, she looked like she’d come straight from school. Her body moved in perfect time with the soulful music.

Just a few people were inside at this early hour. The ones egging her on were perched on stools around the bar.

A man wearing a suit approached him. “Hunter Kase. Welcome to Tango Charlie’s.”

“Are you the manager?”

“Yes, Cartwright Abrams. What can I do for you?”

“Barry Crane sent me.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize the Kasey Barry asked me to search for on Amanda’s phone was you.” He frowned. “She came in, bought a bottle of tequila, and stared at it for an hour. Finally, she asked for the manager and shoved her purse into my hands saying, ‘Don’t let me drive.’ She poured a shot and downed it. Every so often, she fills the shot glass and drinks it. Luckily, she’s not drinking from the bottle, so we’ve been able to keep track of how much she’s had. I think she’s up to nine shots in...” He pulled his phone out and checked the time. “Two hours.”

“I’m confused why you called her emergency contact?”

“When she first arrived, she asked my bartender what kind of tequila was the best and mentioned she’d never had a drink. We thought she might be in trouble.”

“Well...I appreciate your concern.” Kasey held out his hand.

Cartwright pumped it. “I’ll go retrieve her purse.”

Kasey tentatively approached where she danced. The last conversation between them had been a difficult one. He had no idea how she’d react to seeing him.

He made it to the bar.

She glanced at him, then blinked her glassy eyes. Her surprised expression quickly turned into a beaming smile. After pouring some tequila in the shot glass she held it up in a toast. “Everyone, it’s the world’s favorite reality star. The incredible Hunter Kase.”

After she clinked the shot glass against the bottle, she guzzled it.

The customers and workers turned their heads toward him at the same time. Some called out. “Hey, Hunter!” “What are you doing here?” “Your show is great.”

“Thank you.” He nodded to them. He wanted to be angry they were watching Amanda, but she was damn sexy, and he couldn’t blame them.

“You’re more handsome in person than you are on TV.” She smiled at him. “You were attractive with the beard, but are better looking without it. You were so gorgeous in the tux at Dre and Quinn’s wedding. You look good in everything. Like right now, in shorts and a t-shirt. Hot.”

She leaned over so they were eye to eye. Her eyes, such a lovely shade of blue, held him spellbound. “I’m no longer an alcohol virgin.”

“Come down and tell me why, darling.”

“ Darling. I like to hear you call me that. It makes me tingle inside.” She shivered. “Charming Kasey, even though we’re doomed to never be together, you really are a kind, sweet man.” She held out the shot glass and bottle to him.

He took them and “accidentally” tipped the bottle over when he set it down behind the counter.

Amanda didn’t even notice until the bartender rushed over with a towel to slop up the liquid. She scowled at Kasey.

“I’m a klutz.” He held out his hand.

Instead of taking it, she knelt, teetered until she landed on her ass, and turned to the bartender. “Stefan, thank you for allowing me to fulfill my Coyote Ugly dream.”

The skinny bald man with head tattoos answered, “You’re welcome.”

Her legs dangled from the counter. When she bobbled on the edge, Kasey clasped her waist so she wouldn’t fall. He carefully held on to her until her feet hit the ground, and she was stable.

“I am off to the loo,” she said in a British accent.

He knew her parents were from London, yet he’d never detected the slightest accent in her speech until now. Kasey followed her as she staggered to the restroom and waited in the hallway until she reappeared.

Cartwright met them at the door. The manager handed her purse to Kasey. “You might want to go straight to the ER and have her stomach pumped.”

“I’ll see how she is after we sit outside for a while. The fresh air should help.”

“Nothing can help me.” Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s all my fault.”

“What’s your fault, honey?” Kasey asked.

“My parents’ deaths.”

“Things without all remedy should be without regard: what’s done is done.”

~ William Shakespeare