51. Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-One

Nolan — Now

E verything was coming to a close.

In a few days, I’d be sleeping alone. There wouldn’t be cat hair on my clothes, nor a loofah ball thing in my shower. I wouldn’t race home from the shop each day, nor would I look out the window and find Indy kneeling on the ground, gardening. Soon her laugh would be nothing more than a memory.

I’d expected to be sad as our time ran out, overwhelmed with panic. I imagined that feeling was coming, but for now, I was steady. This was peace, I realized. I’d kept my word. I was confident that when Indy left here, she’d be okay. She’d find her way, and I couldn’t wait to hear how she flourished.

There was only one thing left for me to do.

I stepped inside Ye Olde Trusty Tavern, taking a moment to adjust to the dingy lighting. Chairs were stacked on the tables, cue sticks hung on the wall. The floor shined like it had been freshly mopped, the music was off, and the bar was empty, save for Heath.

“Wasn’t sure if you were going to show,” he said from behind the counter, an empty glass in his hand. “You change your mind?”

“I had a late start this morning.” I spared him the details, doubting he’d appreciate hearing how Indy enticed me into staying in bed longer. I was certain the only reason she’d let me go was because she had to pick Calder up from the airport. Even then, she’d waited until the last minute, running out the front door with only one shoe on. “The bank took longer than I expected, but the money’s good to go. Once you give them the go-ahead, they’ll start getting the paperwork ready.”

He hummed, seemingly lost in his thoughts as he shined a glass. He was quiet long enough I couldn’t help but say, “Heath, I swear if you tell me you want more money—”

He laughed, shaking his head. “It’s never been about the money.” Before I could ask him why I was giving him nearly every dime I had then, he said, “I just want to make sure you’re buying it for the right reasons. Do you even know what you want to do with it?”

I closed my mouth, holding the lie in. I could tell him I planned on using it as my workspace, or hell, transforming it into a trampoline park. But I went with the truth instead. “I don’t have any solid plans,” I admitted, continuing before he could tell me the deal was off. “But I promise I’m doing it for the right reasons.”

I would’ve claimed the same thing a month ago, but it wouldn’t have been true like it was now. Before, I’d been desperate to hold on to the past. Thinking if I bought the bar, I’d somehow keep a piece of Indy and the moments we’d shared here. I hated my past, but I still clung to it, believing it would be the best I ever had. Except Indy had shown me better. Given me different, fuller memories to hold on to. I wouldn’t look back with regret and longing, but gratitude for what had been.

When Dad had refused to help me buy the bar, I’d thought it was because he didn’t believe in me. But now I understood it had nothing to do with his lack of faith in me, but the lack of faith I had in myself. He’d wanted me to work for it. In the end, Dad might’ve left money for me, but I liked to believe I’d still earned it.

Liked to believe wherever he was, he was proud of me.

Heath dipped his chin, seeming to accept my response. After telling me he’d contact his bank to start the process of selling me the bar, he asked, “So can we expect you and Indy to come out of retirement tomorrow night to defend your title?”

I cracked a laugh. When I’d heard he was bringing back his country swing dancing competition in an effort to raise money for the school, I’d figured it was only a matter of time before he hunted me down. Some folks were bummed he was hosting it on the football field and not inside the bar, but I didn’t care. My answer remained the same no matter where it was. “Hell no.”

“Come on, it’s for a good cause!”

I waved him off. “I’d rather donate directly. I’m too old to dance.”

Indy was the only reason I’d done swing dancing in the first place, and I hadn’t done it in years—save for when I danced with Shay to piss off Brooks. I didn’t care about winning or defending a title.

I only wanted to savor my last few days with Indy.

“Alright, alright,” Heath seemed to agree. “If you’re not going to dance, fine. But at least make it up to me by stealing one of Calder’s T-shirts. Preferably a sweaty one—”

I laughed, shaking my head before I stepped out the front door. Since there wasn’t a motel in Wallowpine, Calder would be staying at my house. All of yesterday, Indy and I had cleaned out one of the bedrooms on the top floor, preparing it for him. She worried about him sleeping on a twin mattress, but I assured her he wouldn’t mind—unless he wanted me to throw him out to his adoring fans. We’d kept quiet about him staying with us, but all week folks had wandered up and down our road in search of the big shot celebrity.

As I climbed in my truck, my phone rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket, smirking. Well, speak of the devil. “I was just thinking about you—”

“I’m going to kill him.”

I raised my brows, a grin twitching on my lips. I could practically feel her seething through the phone. After turning on my truck, I put the call on speaker and started toward home. “He try and knock you out again?” I asked, assuming by now she and Calder were leaving the airport. “If you toss him on the side of the highway, I won’t tell. If you sweeten the deal, I might even help you hide the body. ”

“Why settle for the highway? I’m going to throw him off the Grand Canyon.” I chuckled, and through the phone there was the sound of a slamming door. “Except I can’t do that. Because he didn’t show up!”

I tapped the brake on my truck and stopped on the dirt road. “He what?”

“He’s not here!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” If the situation were different, there was enough temper in her tone to excite me. “After I stood there waiting for him for forty minutes like a bimbo, Evelyn called to let me know Calder isn’t coming. Apparently after she dropped him off at the airport this morning, a supermodel gave him a much more enticing offer and he couldn’t resist. He gave Evelyn the bad news when he was boarding his flight to Hawaii.”

“What a dick.”

I was about to use more colorful words when Indy said, “What am I supposed to do? The whole town thinks he’s coming. And then there’s the kids . . . They were really excited to meet him. And Evelyn already alerted the news crew about Calder, so they’re not coming.” She let out a quiet groan. “Everyone’s going to be so disappointed. Who knows if we’ll raise enough for the sports programs now.”

“It’s not your fault,” I assured her, wishing I could do it in person and not from afar. “What happened was completely out of your control. You didn’t have to run this fundraiser, so if anyone can’t see you were doing a nice thing, and would rather get their panties in a wad, then screw ’em.”

I hated the words before they’d left my mouth, but I pushed panic aside, putting Indy first. “Why don’t you catch a flight to New York? You don’t have to come back here and face them. Depending on the time of your flight, I can drive Genny and your things to you, or I can fly out first thing tomorrow and bring her to New York.”

“No,” Indy said, surprising me. “I might be pissed, but I’m not quitting. I’ve put too much into this fundraiser to walk away.” Before I could insist she didn’t owe anyone anything, she stopped me. “I know what you’re trying to do, Nolan.”

My mouth ran dry. “I’m not doing anything.”

“You’re trying to get Genny to yourself. I bet you wouldn’t even bring her back, claim she ran away or something. Sorry, but you’re gonna have to accept her and I are a package deal.”

A half smile toyed on my lips. “Caught me red-handed.”

“I’ll be home soon.” Her words were a temporary balm. “You can make up for trying to steal my cat by helping me with the fundraiser.”

“Anything you need.”

But I wondered what I’d gotten myself into when she said, “I was hoping you’d say that . . . because I need you to dust off your glove.”