Chapter 14

When I woke up, he was gone. I had the cabin to myself. I took a long shower and spent twenty minutes blow drying my hair. The whole time I was thinking about last night. Why had Jason chosen Ava to question? I could have provided him with the same information. Why hadn't he asked me to return to the police station with him?

As soon as Jason and Ava had left, Ryan had slid into the booth opposite me. We had spent a frustrating fifteen minutes talking about the hair salon. He wouldn't say why he was asking all these questions, just that they were a part of an "ongoing investigation." I tried to be as helpful as I could, but some of the questions seemed pretty stupid. Were there any recurring deliveries? Were there any massive improvement projects that involved contractors? No and no. As far as I could tell, the hair salon was functioning as it had for the past six years. We invited clients in and cut their hair. There wasn't anything else going on.

I took the exchange as an opportunity to study Ava's ex. He was cute, in a small-town, innocent kind of way. I knew all about how he had cheated on Ava with the high school prom queen, who was now a semi-alcoholic divorcée with two kids. It was the same old story, depressing because it was so common. Ryan hadn't been able to keep it in his pants, and Ava deserved better.

When I had finally finished primping, I dressed for work and climbed into my car. I was no longer alone up here on the mountain. It wasn't my secret retreat anymore. Even though Jason wasn't physically here, I was reminded of him at every turn. The tire marks from his truck were easy to identify in the dirt. I would have to get used to having a roommate, I thought reluctantly. It would be so much easier if he wasn't so hot and confusing.

I eased off the brake and pointed my car down the hill, coasting until I reached the main road. At work, I found Ava reading a magazine. There were no customers yet.

I hurried over to talk to her. "Tell me about last night," I demanded before I even sat down.

Ava folded the magazine back onto the end table in the waiting area. "You first."

"Ryan was a perfect gentleman," I said quickly, "though I know he is not."

"Did he ask about me?" Ava wondered.

I shook my head. "Did Jason ask about me?"

"No," Ava said. "He was more concerned about things going on in the salon. He asked me if we had any major renovations recently or if we received any shipments."

"That's what Ryan asked me," I said.

"Jason was talking about those four women who died of the drug overdose," Ava rushed on, her eyes haunted with worry. "You don't think they had something to do with our salon, do you?"

"No," I said to put her fears to bed.

"Then why were they asking all those questions?"

I sighed. "Maybe they're asking all the businesses on Main Street."

Ava scowled. "I don't think so." She looked up at me, an idea forming in her mind. "What if you ask Jason at the cabin? Get him to open up to you. Find out what's really going on?"

"I don't think…" I hesitated, trying to figure out a way to explain the messed-up situation at the cabin. "We don't have that kind of relationship."

Ava looked surprised. "What kind of relationship do you have?"

"It's complicated," I sighed.

"Girl, I'm about to get some popcorn," Ava laughed. "Spill."

"We had sex," I blurted out.

Ava squeaked in delight. "How was it? Oh, is he as big as he looks?"

I blushed. "Bigger."

She clapped excitedly. "What happened? Where were you? How many times? I need all the details."

"Once," I said, "but it was…" I remembered being thrust up against the hallway wall, grinding my hips into his. "The best sex I've ever had."

"That's wonderful." Ava put her hand over mine. "I'm so happy for you."

"I'm not so sure…" I let my attention wander to the shelves of product in the waiting area. "I think it might have been a mistake."

Ava nodded sagely. "Mind-blowing sex is often a mistake."

I laughed.

"Seriously," she said. "Think about it. Do women have mind-blowing sex with their husbands? Probably not."

I sighed. Every marriage was different, and I was willing to bet that some women were completely satisfied when it came to marital relations. "I just don't know why he wanted to talk to you last night."

"I don't think it was Jason's idea," Ava said sadly.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Did you see how Ryan completely avoided looking at me?" Ava winced, uncomfortable even with the memory.

"No." I shook my head. I had been so focused on Jason I hadn't paid any attention to Ava or Ryan.

"It was like that last week too," she said sadly. "I guess it's really over between us."

"Good," I said.

She sighed.

"Seriously, Ava." I adopted my "mom" tone. "He treated you horribly. I can't understand why you would want to get back together with him."

"He has a good job…" Ava began, looking down at her hands. "And he's cute."

"Ava…" I moaned, wishing I could make her see the light.

"Anyway," Ava moved on, realizing she was in danger of wallowing, "I bet Ryan asked if he could talk to you, and Jason agreed."

I considered it. It made sense. I had been angry at Jason for no reason. He hadn't snubbed me, and there was still a chance that the sex had meant just as much to him as it had to me. I thought back over how I had acted last night when he had come home. I hadn't said anything to him and walked out of the living room when he had tried to say hello.

"Oh." I felt the air escape my lungs in a dejected sigh. "I think I messed things up again."

"How?" Ava wondered.

"I thought that he…" When I tried to put my suspicions into words, it just sounded worse than ever.

"Slept with you and then hit on me?" Ava finished.

"Yeah," I admitted.

She patted my hand.

The door swung open, making the bells ring. Bella walked in, ready for her twelve o'clock appointment. Ava stood up to greet her, and I busied myself with straightening up until another customer demanded my attention. As I worked, I wondered how I could make it up to Jason. I didn't relish the idea of having a long and awkward conversation about how I thought he had been a prick. It was too early in our relationship to falsely accuse him of wrongdoing.

I decided to get him a present, but what? A bottle of vodka or a six-pack seemed too suggestive. I didn't want to indicate that I was horny or looking for another hookup, though that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I could get him a clock or a lamp or some other equally bland housewarming gift. But I wanted it to be special. After worrying over it in my mind for at least half the day, I decided on the perfect gift. I would go to the local hardware store and get him something for his woodworking. Hadn't he said he wanted to make a coffee table?

I finished up my shift and locked up for the day, waving goodbye to Ava. The hardware store was on the same strip as the hair salon, only two blocks down. I walked quickly, thinking about what I was going to get. Did he need some woodworking tools? Or a book of projects?

I opened the door and stepped inside, my senses assaulted by rows and rows of tools. I realized in an instant that I was completely lost. A local teenager stocking the shelves looked up and took pity on me.

"Can I help you find something?" he asked.

"Yes," I said thankfully. "I'm looking for a gift for a friend who does woodworking."

"Woodworking supplies are in the back." He turned and led the way through crowded aisles to the back of the store. Crammed into a display area no wider than a yardstick were an assortment of tools and accessories that I couldn't identify. Which ones did he need? I glanced at the kid in panic.

"Maybe you could get him a gift card?" the boy suggested.

"Yes," I agreed. That was perfect. Then Jason could come here and pick out whatever he wanted.

I followed the boy back to the register and paid for the gift card. I had just slipped it into my purse when the door opened, and Macy stepped in. She was in the middle of a conversation with her husband and had a baby strapped to her chest.

"It doesn't make any sense," Macy was saying. "If they wanted you to uninstall the firewall, they should have just said." She looked up to see me standing at the register, her face breaking into a smile. "Lindsey!" Dillon and Nicky, Macy's husband and son, squeezed through the door behind her. "I'll catch up," she told them.

The boys smiled before diving into the depths of the hardware store in search of something they needed.

"What are you doing here?" Macy was clearly surprised.

"Oh, I came to get a gift for someone." I sidestepped the question, not ready to announce my intentions to the world.

"Is it Jason?" she asked slyly.

I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Did he move into the cabin?"

I nodded again, thinking of our frantic lovemaking session.

"I have to hear all about it."

"Do you want to go get dinner?" I asked cautiously. It seemed like Macy had her hands full, but the question couldn't hurt.

Dillon came up behind his wife, put his arms around her, and said, "You go ahead. I'll take the kids home."

"Really?" Macy brightened.

"Sure." He kissed her ear, and I couldn't help but feeling I was gazing in on an intimate act.

Dillon paid for his purchases and walked the family out to their car. Macy disentangled herself from the baby and put her in the car seat. I watched their ballet with a mixture of jealousy and pride. I was thrilled for Macy and Dillon that they had found a partner in life, and I wondered what it would be like to have help all the time. To wake up and share the most mundane tasks, to raise tiny human beings together.

Finally, Macy turned around. "Shall we go?" She looked excited, like Cinderella about to embark on an evening of magic.

I laughed. "Sure, where do you want to go?"

"The Lucky Lady?" Macy suggested.

We walked back to my car and drove to the Lady. Inside, it was cozy and busy but not slammed. We found a seat and sat down, then ordered drinks and appetizers to share. When the chicken wings came, we got messy fingers and couldn't figure out how to work the napkin dispenser on the table.

"Excuse me." Macy stood up and invaded someone else's table. "Can we borrow some napkins?" Her fingers were drenched with barbeque sauce, and she was having trouble keeping a straight face.

As soon as she returned with the napkins, we both broke into hysterics. It was good to count Macy among my friends. I had a feeling that we might grow even closer. If Dillon was friends with Jason and we were all living in neighboring cabins, the chances of a lasting friendship were high.

"So, tell me about Jason." Macy wiped sauce from her fingers. "Geez, I'm as messy as the kids."

"He's nice," I said hesitantly. "I think it's going to work out fine."

"What's the gift for?" she asked.

"It's a… housewarming gift," I lied. Studying her face, I decided to confess. "I also misjudged him, so it's an apology gift as well."

Macy nodded.

"He likes woodworking," I added.

"I wasn't sure about Dillon when we first met," Macy admitted, "but he's a good man. Jason is too. I think it will all work out." I held my glass across the table for a tap. Macy obliged, saying, "Cheers."

We drank and enjoyed the rest of our meal, trading stories about cabins and the rugged men who lived in them. When I drove Macy home, I realized just how close our respective homesteads were and how lucky I was to have a friend in the neighborhood.