Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Skylar

I paused outside The Rusty Hook, shivering even though the temperature still hovered in the eighties. "Do you mind driving?"

"I don't have a car."

"We can take mine." I dug the key fob from my pocket and handed it to Brooks.

He nodded and headed toward my gold Bentley, shimmering in the dwindling daylight. Sunset had only come recently, the purple-blue sky still streaked with orange.

It was a gorgeous view worthy of a painting, but I couldn't appreciate it.

My mind replayed Blaize's words. Pathetic. Weak. Needy.

They would hurt less if I didn't believe them. Blaize had a way of making me believe. Or maybe, somewhere inside, I agreed with him and always had.

Brooks slid into the driver's seat. "I can't believe you're letting me drive this car."

"Don't tell me you actually like this monstrosity?"

He smirked. "Not what I'd choose for myself, but it's got to be expensive."

"I've got good insurance. And if you wreck it, I can finally get rid of it."

The fewer reminders of Blaize, the better.

Brooks started the engine and checked the rearview mirror. "You're an enigma, Skylar Addison."

"I'm something, all right."

Brooks picked up my hand and squeezed it gently. "You're something good, Sky. Don't forget that."

His hand was large and warm and comforting. I gently tugged free of his hold. I couldn't let my guard down. Bad enough I'd climbed into a car with him and was letting him drive me god knew where.

Blaize had me so spun up I couldn't think straight. When Brooks offered to take me to this cook-out, I'd seized on the escape.

I shouldn't trust him to take care of me, and yet, I did.

Brooks drove toward the western edge of town. With the convertible top down, the wind whipped my hair into my eyes, but the physical distraction anchored me in the here and now. I needed that.

Brooks's friend, Sawyer, lived in an RV park. A sign at the entrance read LandShark Retreat.

We found an empty spot in a graveled parking area, then walked through the trees toward the glimmering lights ahead. It was fully dark now, the last remnants of dusk turning to velvet night.

I followed Brooks through a maze of RVs in all shapes and sizes. There were expensive looking buses, more modest campers, and aging, rusted ones that looked as if they'd been there for thirty years.

"That's Sawyer's place, straight ahead," Brooks said. "There's a handful of people, so it won't be overwhelming, but you also won't be alone with me."

I cast him a startled glance. The understanding in his gaze made my emotions rush to the surface. I swallowed through my tight throat. "That sounds good."

Voices drifted to us as we neared.

"We need to get you a life."

"Yeah, I wish. I don't have time for a life. I got bills to pay, dude."

"Come with me to the pub. I'll teach you another way."

"Tempting, Yoda."

"That'd be Obi Wan, wouldn't it?" a third voice, this one female, interjected.

"Whatever. You want to make a living without busting your ass, I can help you out."

Beside me, Brooks called out. "Unfortunately, he doesn't have a daddy to take care of him like you do."

A group of four looked our way, a teardrop-sized camper behind them. The guy at the grill, tall and lanky with messy brown hair, was probably Sawyer, since this was his place. A gorgeous dark-haired guy sprawled in a lounger under an awning that was strung with blue lights. A redhead with curls and Brooks's cousin, Fisher, who I'd met briefly, sat at a picnic table, plates of food in front of them.

"Yo, Brooks," the gorgeous one called. "I didn't know you were bringing arm candy!"

Brooks rolled his eyes, telling me under his breath, "The idiot is Cash. Never take him seriously."

I smiled nervously. Everyone was staring, and not just at me. They seemed to think Brooks had grown a second head. Maybe he really didn't get out of the pub often enough?

"This is Skylar," Brooks told his friends. "Be cool. He doesn't know many people in town."

Cash stood and stretched, his T-shirt rising enough to display a tanned strip of abs. "Well, if you need anyone to teach you to be a proper Swallower—"

A collective groan went up.

"Stop embarrassing yourself," Brooks said, an edge to his voice.

"No wonder your attempts to teach me to flirt failed," Fisher joked.

"Pretty sure you're too guileless to flirt," Poppy said.

"Guileless?"

"It means you're transparent," I said. "But honesty isn't such a bad trait."

Everyone's attention returned to me, curiosity in their eyes. I raised my hand in an awkward wave. "Hi."

There was a round of confused greetings, no one seeming to understand why Brooks had brought me along. Not that I had any intention of informing them. It was bad enough that Brooks had seen into the ugly underbelly of my past.

"Well, being guileless is better than being shameless like Cash, I guess," Fisher said.

The friends broke into laughter, and Cash shrugged, seeming unbothered by their teasing.

"It works when I need it to. I guess you all are just immune to the Cash charm."

Brooks grabbed a plate and started dishing up food, then slid it in front of me. "Sit. Eat something."

My face warmed. He was still taking care of me. "Thanks."

Fisher pushed his plate across the table before Brooks made a second serving for himself. "Take mine. I'm not that hungry."

"Since when?" Poppy asked, sounding astonished.

"You're usually a bottomless pit." Brooks looked at the untouched hamburger, potato salad, and pile of Doritos. "You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah. I've got to take off soon, anyway."

The friends all exchanged looks, then Poppy said, "Hold up. Wait a second."

Fisher stood. "I gotta run—"

She grabbed his arm and tugged him down. "Sit down, liar, and spill it."

He gasped. "I'm not a liar. I'm guileless. Brooks's smart friend said so."

"He's rich. No one said he was smart," Cash joked.

"Dude," Brooks said. "Watch it."

"It's fine," I said with a shrug. "He's not wrong."

"Wow, could this night get any weirder?" Fisher said, trying to deflect. "Brooks finally makes a friend, and he's…" He waved a hand toward me. " Nice. "

"And you're not eating," Poppy said. "And you're leaving early."

"Well, you know, too many late nights and my mom worries."

"Nice try," Poppy said, "but you hate it when your mom treats you like a kid, and you go out of your way to assert your independence."

He groaned. "Can we stop with the psychoanalyzing?"

"When you spill your secrets."

He glanced uneasily at me. I got it. I was an outsider, and he didn't want to confide with me there.

"I need to make a quick call," I lied. "I'll just go down by the water."

Brooks stood. "I'll walk you down. I'm pretty sure I don't want to hear this secret. Some things about your cousin, you just don't want to know."

I let out a quiet laugh, surprising myself. My phone rang in my hand, and my heart tumbled. An unknown number. I'd blocked the one Blaize called from before, but it hadn't been his number. He could call me from another phone anytime he liked. I couldn't block them all.

I froze, paralyzed by anxiety until Brooks silenced the phone for me. "Let's go for that walk."

I stood on shaky legs, and he pressed his broad hand against the small of my back, lending me strength as we strolled away from the group.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah. I won't answer an unknown number again."

He nodded. "Did you really want to make a call, or did you just need space? I can leave you alone if—"

"No, don't." Right or wrong, his presence comforted me. I didn't trust my judgment, not anymore, but right now I wasn't strong enough to push away my only friend. "I, uh, actually should call my dad. He ran into Blaize recently, so…"

Brooks made a disgusted noise. "That name just screams arrogant asshole."

A surprised laugh escaped me. I didn't think anything about my ex could ever amuse me. But his name was pretentious. It fit him too well.

At times, I couldn't figure out what I'd ever seen in him. He was attractive with a fit body, nice hair, and an authoritative attitude. I mistook that need to control for confidence.

But he wasn't confident, not like Brooks was. His jealous nature proved that. He couldn't handle me going out without him, spending time with other friends, or making decisions.

Yet, he had this disturbing talent for convincing people he was the nicest guy ever. Few got to see his true colors, as Brooks had. Maybe that was partly why I let Brooks stand close while I pulled up my father's contact and hit call.

He heard what Blaize said to me, and he hadn't been swayed by my ex's manipulations. He'd stood up for me.

Dad answered on the second ring. "Hey, there. I didn't expect to hear from you this late."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. What's up?"

"I, uh, had a question." I drew a breath and rolled my tight shoulders. "I know you talked to Blaize. Did you give him my new number?"

"No, of course not."

"He talked about wanting closure, and if you were trying to help—"

"No, Skylar," he said firmly. "I wouldn't do that. You left suddenly and got a new phone number. Obviously, you don't want Blaize to talk to you."

"I really don't know how he got it then. I've only given it to a few people."

"Me neither, son."

"You're sure you didn't tell him where I was, or even hint—"

"No. Absolutely not."

I exhaled shakily. "Okay, good."

"Skylar, maybe you should tell me what really happened with you and Blaize? You sound worried."

"No, I'm fine. He called, and I was surprised. That's all."

"There's more to the story."

I bit my lip, glancing toward Brooks. Unlike my call with Blaize, where he'd interceded, he stood a few feet away to give me some privacy.

"I'm actually out with some friends. I'll talk to you later."

I didn't give my father a chance to press the issue. If he did, I might cave and tell him everything. He could be nearly as persuasive as Blaize. He meant well, unlike my ex, but I couldn't deal with rehashing it all, much less his reaction afterward.

Brooks had offered me an escape from my drama, and for one night, I wanted to take it.

I tucked my phone back into my pocket. "Think Fisher has had long enough to spill his secrets?"

Brooks chuckled. "Yeah, he folded like a bad hand of cards the second we walked away."

I rejoined him on the main path, and we made our way back to Sawyer's yard. Fisher was gone now, but the other friends remained, chatting quietly over their beers.

Brooks retook his seat at the picnic table and I followed suit, surprised to find my appetite had returned. I picked up my burger and took a bite, and chewed and chewed and chewed.

"Told you they'd be overdone," Brooks murmured.

A bottle cap hit him in the back of the head. "I heard that," Sawyer said.

Brooks laughed. "I had to warn the poor guy."

I washed down the bite of dry burger with the cold beer Sawyer set on the table in front of me. "It's good," I said.

"Nah, you don't have to flatter my ego," he said. "I'm not a master griller. It's more about the atmosphere."

"I'm not. There's something about eating outside that makes things taste better, don't you think?"

"Yeah," Poppy said with a soft smile. "Tastes like childhood memories."

"Yeah, exactly."

My family hadn't been big on the backyard barbecue scene. My father worked too much. But when we vacationed here—and a few other locales—Dad grilled out on the balcony, Mom made homemade potato salad, and the rest of the world seemed far away.

I ate my dry burger happily, joining in the casual conversation among the friends. They talked about a lot of people and places I didn't know, but with a warmth and acceptance that made me want to know them.

They did their best to include me, too. Asking me where I'd been in Swallow Cove and who I'd met.

"Danny at the coffee shop is pretty awesome."

"Oh, yeah, he's great," Cash agreed. "He gives me free drinks."

"Of course he does," Sawyer said with an eyeroll. "Does he give you a spot in his bed, too?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Danny's shop is next door to my father's," Poppy said. "Little Clay Pot."

"Oh, I went in there," I said. "I bought a planter with the most beautiful landscape painted on it."

She beamed. "I like this guy, Brooks. You can keep him."

"He's not a pet," Brooks said mildly.

"Poppy paints all the pottery in the store," Sawyer explained. "She's crazy talented."

"Oh, wow, that's amazing," I said. "Everything in there was so beautiful."

"My dad throws the pots, so I can't take all the credit. We're a team."

"That sounds great," I said, guilt unfurling.

My father wanted us to be a team too, but I'd never wanted to work for an investment firm. Of course, now I was his errand boy in the Ozarks, which wasn't much better.

The problem was, I didn't know what I wanted to do. For so long, my priority had been Blaize and what he wanted from me. I couldn't even begin to figure out what I wanted for myself.

Brooks finished off two more beers, so I drove on the way back to the pub. I was steadier now. The night had been just what I needed.

Brooks gave me more space as the night went on, and I'd talked with each of his friends separately at one point or another. Poppy was warm and bubbly, sweetly positive in a way that reminded me of Becca. Cash was ridiculously flirty, but there was a sincerity that underlaid it that told me he'd drop the act the instant someone didn't like it. Sawyer was quieter, a tad more reserved, and obviously Brooks's closest friend in the group.

"Where should I drop you off?" I asked Brooks after I'd started the car.

"Huh?"

"Where do you live? I can take you there."

"Oh." He was quiet so long I thought he had passed out. I glanced over to see him staring out the window pensively. Finally, he replied, "I should check in at the pub. Make sure everything is set for closing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." He smiled tightly. "You know me. I won't sleep well if I don't say goodnight to my pub." He paused. "Er, your pub."

I smiled over at him. "It's your pub much more than it's mine."

"Let's just agree to share it."

That was a nice thought. We drove in silence until we reached the pub, but it was content. Brooks's friends were good people, and the time with them had made Blaize's call seem more distant.

Just as when I'd vacationed with my family, the world with all its problems had receded, giving me a glimpse of peace.

I stopped the car in front of the pub. "Here we are."

Brooks straightened. "You going to be okay alone? I should have asked if you wanted company tonight."

"No, I'm good." A part of me trusted Brooks, but not so much I wanted to invite him into my home. I was also attracted to him, but I wouldn't be inviting anyone into my bed, even if they did want to join me there.

I didn't think Brooks did. And that was a good thing, because I was a long way from being ready to offer my body or my heart to anyone else.

"All right, Sky. Drive safe."

"I will. Thanks for sharing your friends with me. They're pretty great."

Brooks opened the door. "Yeah, they're like family," he said. "And they like you too. So don't be a stranger."

"Thanks," I said, "but I'm just passing through."

In Swallow Cove, I was an outsider. But tonight, Brooks had let me in. Let me be part of his family of friends.

Zach, Jordan, Becca, and Austin could have been that for me, but I'd met Blaize early in our friendship, and I'd pushed them to the periphery of my life.

Now, though? I had the power to change all that.

Maybe I couldn't stay in Swallow Cove forever and join Brooks's little family. But I could start rebuilding the other relationships in my life.

Maybe if I built enough bridges to good people, I could finally break free of Blaize's hold on me.