Chapter 7

SEVEN

IT WAS THE STUFF of Hallmark movies. From the top of the Ferris wheel, Lahela had a bird’s-eye view of downtown Miracle Springs and the festival below. That is, if she wasn’t sneaking peeks at Briggs sitting next to her. Or thinking that with his right arm stretched behind her, she’d only need to scoot a little to her left and she could tuck herself into his side.

It surprised her how much that’s where she wanted to be ... almost as much as the anxiousness that had her doubting Daphne’s assertion that Briggs might like her as more than friends. If he did, why hadn’t he asked her out yet?

The ride slowed to a stop at the platform and the ride attendant let them out. Briggs reached for her hand to help her out. Good manners, that’s all. Yet, his fingers lingered around hers as they walked back into the crowd still enjoying the day.

“Would you like to go for a walk along the river?” Briggs’s voice, impossibly deep but somehow tender, sent an undercurrent of excitement charging through her. “Or we can go, if you’re ready?”

“No.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m not ready to leave yet.”

Briggs’s lips tipped up at the edges, and with a nod, he walked her to the river’s edge.

Lahela’s heart thumped a little heavier behind her rib cage. Why was something so simple as hand-holding enough to drive up the level of attraction? It didn’t just make her feel wanted but also protected.

“Are you having a good time?”

Lahela watched a family on bikes ride past them. The park on the other side of the trail was filled with people enjoying the day. Carefree smiles, laughter, and squeals of delight from the kids on the rides filled the air. Briggs’s thumb brushed across the top of her knuckles and a burst of sweet contentment rushed through her. “The best time.”

“How about I go get us something to drink? Lemonade? Sweet tea? Soda?”

“I’d love some lemonade.”

Briggs tipped his Stetson and it made her smile. “Two lemonades coming up.”

“And I’ll find us somewhere to sit.” Lahela eyed the mostly full picnic tables around them. She pointed to a spot beneath a large cottonwood tree. “What about over there?”

“Perfect.”

Their eyes lingered for a few seconds before he backed up, and Lahela couldn’t help the wide smile filling her face as she started for their spot. Their spot. She could get lost in those hazel eyes.

“Ms. Young!”

She turned and recognized the towheaded boy running across the grass toward her and two more of her students running behind him.

“Samson!” He stopped short of crashing into her. Lahela’s smile moved to the sibling pair. “You guys having fun?”

“Yes!” Ginny Allen gave her a gap-toothed smile. “My flamingo escaped.”

“Mine too,” her twin brother, Hudson, said. He waved Lahela closer and cupped his hands near his mouth. “Mom said that so Ginny would stop crying.”

“I didn’t cry,” Ginny protested and gave her brother a shove.

“Okay, well ...” Lahela knelt to get to their eye level. “Just think of all the new friends Pink Floyd has now.”

Lahela’s cell phone rang in her purse, and her smile tightened for a second until she remembered Briggs was getting their drinks and maybe had a question. She pulled her phone out and the hope that it was Briggs vanished.

“Are you going to answer that?” Hudson asked.

“Yeah, um, no.” She declined the call and was about to drop her phone back in her purse when she got the notification of an incoming text. She swiped it open, then regretted her action immediately.

It was more photos like last night. A photo of her outside her house carrying the muffins to Mr. Dunn. Unable to stop herself, she swiped to the next photo. Her and Briggs with their flamingos by the river. Them on the Ferris wheel. Her breathing turned shallow at the last one of her with Samson, Hudson, and Ginny from seconds ago.

Her gaze shot up, protectiveness surging through her as she stepped closer to her students. They were chattering about something, but she couldn’t make sense of it over the buzzing in her ears.

“Where are your parents?”

“Sitting over there.” Hudson pointed to a picnic table near the food vendors. “Samson came with us.”

“Okay. How about we head over there.”

Lahela walked them that direction, her eyes stopping on every person holding a cell phone up. She fought for any sign of recognition or at least some kind of awareness that they might be watching her. It wasn’t so much fear as it was anger pulsing hot beneath her skin.

Whoever was doing this to her had crossed the line. Harassing her was one thing, but taking photos of her students? She wasn’t going to let them get away with that. As soon as she found Briggs, she’d talk to him about going to the police station and filing a report.

“Why are we walking so fast?” Ginny asked, her freckled cheeks flushed.

“Sorry, sweetie.” Lahela took hold of her hand but didn’t slow down. Should she tell their parents about the photo? Guilt ripped through her. I should’ve listened to Briggs. I should’ve reported this last night . But would that have stopped whoever it was?

Mrs. Allen rose from her seat and waved. Lahela forced a smile to her lips and hoped she didn’t look as freaked-out as she was feeling on the inside. Where was Briggs? He’d know what to do.

“Hey, Lahela.”

She paused, looking over her shoulder at the familiar but unexpected voice of her ex, Trevor West. Once upon a time the sight of him thrilled her, but it was dread coiling inside of her now. What was he doing here?

Lahela shifted her attention back to the kids. “Go back to your mom, kiddos. I’ll see you on Monday.”

All three kids skipped off, unaware of the tremor in her voice. She searched the area again for Briggs.

“You look nice.” His hand wrapped around Lahela’s arm, and she twisted herself away from his light grip. “Real nice.”

He was holding one of those tall plastic cups some of the vendors sold, filled with colorful blends of alcohol. In the time they spent dating, she’d never witnessed him drunk, but from the slight glaze to his eyes, he was well on his way.

“I’ve missed you.” Trevor took an unbalanced step toward her. “I’m glad I found you here.”

An unsettling feeling shot through her. Found her? What did that mean? Her mind went to the photos on her phone and a sudden realization turned her blood cold. Was Trevor behind the calls, texts, and photos? She started to step back, but Trevor caught her arm again and pressed in close to her.

“We were good together.” His foul breath was hot against her skin. “Why did you have to end it?”

Lahela reared her head back and tugged her arm free again. “What are you talking about? You broke up with me!”

Trevor looked confused. “Me?”

“I need to go.” She twisted on the heel of her boot and made her way through the crowd. The adrenaline was making her sweat and she felt nauseous. She needed to get away from Trevor and find Briggs. Her first thought was to go over to where Mrs. Allen was sitting with her kids, but if Trevor was behind the calls and photos, she wasn’t going to put him anywhere near her students.

“Hey, wait up.” Trevor followed. “Let’s just talk.”

She hooked a right around a corn dog stand and came to an abrupt stop. An ice machine blocked her from escaping and forced her to face Trevor again.

“Look, Lahela”—he began backing her into the tight space—“I know you want to talk about—”

Whatever Trevor was about to say was cut off with a yelp when a hand yanked him backward. The sudden movement sent Trevor’s bright pink drink flying out of his hand and across the grass. Briggs had Trevor’s shirt twisted in his hand and the darkest look she’d ever seen locked on Trevor.

“What’re you doing, man?”

“I could ask the same of you,” Briggs growled. His gaze shifted to Lahela, searching hers. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yes.”

The commotion had garnered some attention, and Lahela recognized one of Trevor’s friends—she couldn’t remember his name—walking over. Was he drunk too? Would he try to start a fight with Briggs?

Lahela stepped forward. “I’m okay, Briggs.” She put a hand on his arm, and the touch was enough to make her believe her own words. “Let him go.”

“Yeah,” Trevor seethed. “Let me go.”

“Wait.” Lahela eyed him. “Where’s your cell phone?”

Trevor smiled at Briggs like he’d won. “In my back pocket.”

“Let me see it.”

Trevor reached around, retrieved his phone, and handed it to Lahela. She held the phone up to his face so it would unlock and then opened his messages.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Trevor grabbed for his phone, but Briggs blocked him. “You can’t go through my messages.”

A quick glimpse and Lahela didn’t see what she was looking for. She wasn’t sure if she should feel relieved or bothered by the fact that Trevor hadn’t sent her the message with the photos.

“What’s going on over here?” Trevor’s friend arrived.

Lahela reached for Briggs’s arm. “Let him go.”

“I think I might escort him to the PD for a little chat.”

“For what?” Trevor nearly screeched. “I didn’t do anything, just ask her.”

Briggs’s gaze slid to hers again, and she gave a subtle shake of her head.

“He’s just drunk, man. Had a bad week.” The friend took Trevor by the arm. “I’ll take him home.”

Trevor did look a little different, but she couldn’t quite identify what it was. Whatever had turned him into this must’ve been bad. Regardless, it wasn’t her place to figure it out, because she had basically eliminated the only person who she’d thought might be behind the calls and texts. And that meant there was someone else—watching.