Home Is Where the Heart Break Is (5 page)

“Well, let’s get The Sea Goddess fixed, Son. We can’t afford to have any of our rental boats out of commission.”

“I’ll do my best, but honestly, I think it needs a new motor.”

“Tinker with it first. Good to see you, Jessa.” With that, the man turned and strode purposefully back to the marina office.

“He’s different,” I said tentatively.

“Nah, he’s just older and less tough. He’s still an ass.”

Vanessa came up behind us. “Did you two have a nice, romantic lunch?” A smile was plastered across her face.

“Did you call my dad to tell him about the boat?” I hadn’t expected to hear anger in Nico’s voice, but he was definitely not happy.

Vanessa’s mouth dropped open and she looked close to tears. “He called down from his office to check on the daily numbers. I mentioned we had one boat down. I’m sorry.” Vanessa’s shoulders drooped as she scurried back to the rental office.

I took the opportunity to plow my fist into my friend’s arm only to discover that it was rock hard.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“There’s nothing like calling your dad an ass and then performing a perfect imitation of him seconds later.”

He scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, well something doesn’t match up because my dad never calls down for the numbers this early in the day. It’s kind of pointless.”

“Now what reason could she possibly have for getting you in trouble?”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m an ass.” He stepped closer and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. Our gazes connected. There was a split second where it seemed we were both considering a kiss, but it didn’t happen. “Thanks for coming, Duchess.”

“Thanks for lunch. I guess I’ll see you soon.” I walked back toward the road.

“And try a leave a little space in your busy schedule open for your old friend, Nico,” he called.

Chapter 9

The second I got into Lexi’s car, she exploded with gossip. “Oh my gosh, Jessa, you’ve barely been here a day and the rumors are swirling.” She grabbed my arm. “Is it true that you and Chase had a romantic rendezvous at the river this morning?”

She was so enthusiastic about the rumor, I almost hated to break the news and ruin the moment for her. “A romantic rendezvous? That’s hysterical. Besides, Nico was there too.”

Lexi crossed the line of the lane as she faced me again. She swerved right back, but I double checked my seat belt. “So you did meet secretly this morning? Susie was so pissed. I heard she gave Chase a major tongue lashing about it when she found out.”

“I was there when Chase told her. If there was a tongue lashing it happened later. And I don’t get what the big deal is. I’ve been close friends with Chase forever. Why shouldn’t I hang out with him?”

“Come on, Jessa, you have to admit that elementary and junior high friendships can take on an entirely different meaning when you’re in high school.”

I decided to change the subject. “Where are we going tonight?”

Lexi reached forward and messed with the music. Her tires hit the center line again, and I wondered how she had survived driving these winding roads.

I reached forward. “I’ll find a song. You drive.”

She faced the road again. “Tonight is Monday Meet Up.”

“All right,” I said with puzzled tone.

She glanced over at me, and I pointedly looked at the approaching curve in the road. My silent suggestion worked and she faced forward again.

“I can’t believe you don’t know what Monday Meet Up is. Of course, you did leave before high school, so I guess you have a good excuse.” She turned her focus to the console of her car and started searching for something.

I quickly volunteered to help her and decided I would definitely drive next time we hung out. If we made it to a next time. “What are you looking for?”

“My mints.”

“I’ll find them. You drive,” I repeated.

I plucked out the box and handed it to her, wondering how quickly I could grab the wheel if I needed to. She tossed back a couple of mints and offered me a few.

“I suppose the mints are a clue that there will be a guy you’re interested in at this meet up? And you still haven’t told me what it is.”

“Every Monday during the summer season, the Lowlanders come up to meet with us Highlanders. And, yes, I know it’s technically taboo.” She took both hands off the wheel to do air quotes. “But I’m totally nuts about a Lowlander named Chuck. He’s an incredibly hot football player.”

For my first couple years of elementary school, I’d had to endure a long, slow bus ride down the mountain to the first real town at the bottom. There had been no school up in Pinecliff, so there was no choice. But there were so many snow days when the bus could not take us down, that the people in the town below complained. So Pinecliff built its own elementary school. It was a cool little school with only twenty to thirty kids at each grade level. Unfortunately, Pinecliff could not afford to build a middle school or a high school for a few hundred kids. Once you were out of elementary, you had to take the long bus ride downhill, and the Lowlanders, as they were called, had to put up with the inconvenience of us Highlanders.

I could tell we were headed to Granite Beach. It was the widest strip of beach along the lake and a big tourist destination during the day. There were already some cars and trucks in the parking lot.

“Will Chase and Susie be here?” I wondered if Chase had truly been chewed out by Susie or if the story was a fake. I definitely didn’t want to cause any problems for him.

Lexi’s eyes widened. “Wouldn’t that be funny? Susie would probably have my head for bringing you, but I don’t care. We haven’t been friends since the eighth grade. They don’t usually show up anyway.”

I was relieved.

“Sometimes Regina Black shows up.”

“Never heard of her.”

“Ooh, there’s Chuck’s truck.” We hit the speed bump with a chirp and I flew a couple inches off the seat. “I keep forgetting you’ve missed a whole section of history up here. Regina is a Lowlander, so you don’t know her, but Nico had a thing with her for awhile. She’s totally gorgeous, of course. Your boy does have good taste. He still hangs out with her sometimes when she comes up here. It’s probably the longest I’ve ever seen him stay with a girl.”

“Oh,” I said nonchalantly but it felt like someone had just fisted me in the stomach. “Do you think he might show up here tonight to meet Regina?”

“Maybe.” She parked the car and did a double check of her make-up in the rear view mirror.

Nervous tension tightened my stomach. I thought I would be hanging out with a bunch of people I hardly knew or cared about, but the notion that Nico might show up to be with another girl put a different spin on the whole night.

Within moments of our arrival, Lexi dashed off to be with Chuck, a guy with a neck as thick as his head and shoulders the width of a building. I was left sitting alone on the picnic benches sipping a warm cola and listening to music through a blown out pair of speakers set in the back of a truck. I glanced at my cell phone hoping that Nico had texted me, but there were no messages. I scanned the crowd trying to decide which girl might be Regina, but I didn’t see anyone who fit the description of gorgeous or who looked like Nico’s type. At least now I had no guilt about leaving Lexi alone at the coffee shop. I wondered why she’d asked me to come along when she truly only wanted to hang out with Chuck. I guess I was a back up in case Chuck hadn’t shown.

A blue convertible with three girls and loud music pulled into the lot. The driver had a long black ponytail and great suntan. Kinetic energy seemed to increase among the guys standing on the beach as the three girls stepped out of the car. Unfortunately, the driver was gorgeous just as Lexi had described. I didn’t have to be introduced to know that she had to be Regina, and she totally was Nico’s type, because she was every guy’s type.

At least Nico wasn’t with her. I wasn’t sure what I would do if he did show.

“Hey, are you new in town?” a voice asked from behind.

Two unfamiliar guys seated themselves at the table. One of them reached his hand across and I shook it. “I’m Paul and this is Marcus. Are you new in town? We’ve never seen you here before.”

“I’m Jessa and I just moved back here for the summer. I grew up in Pinecliff.”

Marcus pointed at me. “Jessa! I remember you. I went to elementary school up here. You were the chick who always hung out with Chase and Nico.”

“That’s me.” I bit my lip trying to remember Marcus but nothing came to mind. He was a small guy with a very sweet face, but I had no recollection at all.

He seemed to sense that I was trying to remember him. “I was absent a lot when I was younger, so you probably don’t remember me. I had a lot of health issues.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Are you better now?”

He shrugged. “I guess.”

“Well, I confess, I’m having a hard time remembering faces. I guess it has just been too long.”

“I’ll bet you remember Chase and Nico though. Have you seen them yet?” Marcus glanced around at the group. “I haven’t seen either of them here tonight.” His gaze landed on the group where Regina stood. “Regina came alone tonight, but sometimes Nico comes later.”

Obviously the Regina-Nico thing was a big deal because everyone seemed to know about it. I was regretting my decision to go out tonight. I could have stayed at home eating popcorn and helping Mom label old candlesticks, but instead, I’d decided to torture myself. I glanced at my phone. Nada. Even Josh from back home had not texted me. Of course, I’d ignored his last three texts, so he may have gotten the hint.

Marcus smiled at me. “Regina sure is shooting you nasty looks. Someone must have told her about you and Nico.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I said with a bit too much anger. After all Marcus had nothing to do with any of it. He looked slightly taken aback. “Sorry, Marcus, but everyone seems to think I’m back in town to disrupt lives. Far from it. I just came back to help my Aunt Sadie in her antique shop. The fact that both Nico and Chase still live here is just a coincidence.”

He put up a hand. “Hey, you don’t have to explain it to me. I know how silly this town is about rumors and gossip. I guess it’s the boredom of living in a small town. We have to make up drama.”

I smiled. “Yeah, I’ve forgotten what a virtual soap opera this place can be.” I glanced toward Regina. Marcus was right. She was shooting me hostile scowls and making it obvious that she and her friends were talking about me. They didn’t even know me. Not completely sure what they could be discussing.

“Well, speak of the devil,” Marcus said looking the direction of the parking lot.

Nico was pulling in on his motorcycle. It felt like my stomach had tightened into a knot. Regina sashayed across the sand to meet him, and the pain in my stomach worsened.

She immediately threw her arms around his neck. I knew it would bother me to see Nico with another girl, but I felt physically sick. I had to look away. I briefly considered texting my mom to pick me up.

“Why the hell didn’t you answer your phone?”

I twisted around and Nico was standing over me. Regina was back with her circle of friends and busy lobbing red hot glares my way.

Nico fistbumped Marcus. “Hey, Bro, how’s it going?”

“Good, Nico.” He looked at me. “I see your best friend is back in town.”

Nico gazed down at me and the stomach knot loosened. “Yeah. I came to pick her up. I’ve been trying to call you. Chase needs us.”

I looked at my useless phone. “I guess I’m not getting much service up here.”

He stuck out his hand. “Let’s go.”

“Nice meeting you, Marcus. Could you let Lexi know that I left?”

“Sure thing.”

Nico pulled me along to his bike.

“What’s the matter? What happened?” I asked anxiously.

“Chase called me from the hospital. It’s his sister.”

Chapter 10

Pinecliff and the surrounding communities shared a small hospital about eight miles out of town. I held tightly to Nico as he maneuvered the bike around all of the dark curves. Mom would have a major panic attack if she knew I was on the back. Hopefully she’d never know. Besides, it had to be safer than the crazy drive I’d had to Granite Beach in Lexi’s car.

An ambulance was still parked in front of the emergency room entrance when we arrived. We hopped off the bike, and even though I was wearing a sweatshirt, I had to rub my arms and hands vigorously to defrost from the chilled night air.

Nico and I hurried toward the entrance.

“So Chase called you?” I asked with probably too much glee to be appropriate for the situation.

“Before you get too excited, he tried to call you first but couldn’t get through.”

“Damn useless phone. But he called you next.”

“I guess. He sounded really bad. I think it’s her heart.”

I struggled to keep up with his long strides. “Man, Cindy is only twenty-two, isn’t she?”

“Yeah but she’s really messed herself up with her dieting obsession.”

The glass doors slid open. Only a mother and her little boy were sitting in the waiting area.

Nico went to the window. “We’re looking for Chase Monroe.”

The nurse lifted a brow and seemed to think it necessary to give him a disapproving look first. “Down the hall in the family waiting area.”

Chase was all alone and scrunched down in the waiting room chair. He glanced up with red, puffy eyes as we walked in. Chase stood, and we came together in a long, hard hug and then Nico’s arms went around both of us.

“They’re going to airlift her to the big hospital in the city. This hokie place doesn’t have enough state-of-the-art equipment. My parents are in with her, but the room was too crowded. The nurse told me to come down here and wait.” Chase’s voice was weak and hoarse. We sat and I took hold of his trembling hand.

“I found her on the kitchen floor with a spilled glass of milk. She was just trying to drink a freakin’ glass of milk and she collapsed.” His shoulders shook, and I lifted his hand to my mouth and kissed his knuckles.

“She’ll be fine, Chase,” I said, even though I had no idea if it was true or not. “Maybe this will scare her enough to get her thinking realistically about her weight.” For as long as I could remember, Chase’s sister had battled anorexia. Sometimes I’d gone over to his house to do homework. Cindy would walk out of her room, and I’d find it hard not to stare at her because she always looked skeletal.

Chase shook his head. “What she has is a disease. My parents have spent the last ten years and their life savings trying to save my sister. The funny thing is it had looked like she was getting better. She’d even gain some weight.” Chase looked over at Nico. “I’m glad you guys are here though. I left a message for Susie, but I think she’s ignoring my phone calls so screw it.”

“Is she still mad about the river?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I guess. She’s always mad about something.”

Nico didn’t comment. Deep down I knew he wouldn’t. It wasn’t the time or place, and as tough as Nico always tried to act on the outside, I knew he was always tuned into other people’s emotions.

I glanced around the room. “I swear this place hasn’t changed a bit since the last time I sat in here waiting for stitches in my knee.”

“When did you need stitches in your knee?” Nico asked.

My mouth dropped open, but I didn’t have to say a word because Chase stepped in.

“Dude, seriously, how can you not remember that?”

“Especially because you were the one who caused it,” I said.

Recognition flashed across Nico’s face. “Oh yeah, I dared you to jump from the top of the slide. The whole bloody mess is all coming back to me.”

I crossed my arms and slouched back in the chair. “I can see you’ve been beating yourself up about it all these years.”

Nico laughed. “Well, you didn’t have to take the dare.”

I shot a look at Chase who was now caught in the middle, something that used to happen a lot.

“He has a point,” Chase said.

“Well fine,” I said. “Neither of
you
were brave enough to do it.”

The chair creaked as Nico sat back in it and propped his ankle on the opposite knee. “Not true. I was planning to take the jump right behind you, but your knee was bleeding so much I decided against it.” He winked at me. “You know how I feel about blood.”

“You were definitely a tomboy back then,” Chase said.

“Back then, yes. But as I proved today, on the clumsy hike to the hideout, those days are over.”

“Thank goodness,” Nico said under his breath but we heard him easily in the small empty room.

“I was never truly a tomboy at heart, you know. I just wanted to fit in with you guys. I guess I was afraid that if I started acting like a girl, you would get sick of me hanging around.”

Nico and Chase exchanged intuitive glances that only two close friends could understand. “We were always worried that you’d get tired of us, Duchess. Not the other way around.”

Chase pulled the phone out of his pocket and jumped up. “Hello.” He walked out of the room. His body language didn’t suggest bad news.

He walked back in a few minutes later with a relieved smile. “Good news. She’s stable. They are still going to move her to the bigger hospital, but she’ll be transported by ambulance.”

As he spoke, Nico elbowed me discretely. I glanced past Chase and saw Susie walking into the hospital. Chase sensed it right away and turned around. He raced out to greet her, and they hugged and kissed for a long time.

“Well, Milady, I guess that is our cue to jam,” Nico said.

“I should be getting home anyway.”

Nico faced me and with the tension of the night lifted, I could not help but laugh. “And you say I pout,” I said. “I wish I had mirror. Why don’t you come home with me and hang out for awhile?”

“All right I will.”

We headed out toward the exit doors.

“Then you can tell me all about Regina,” I said.

“Uh-- I just remembered I have this thing to do.”

I grabbed his arm. “I totally forgot about my Vulcan pinch tactic for getting you to fess up to something.” I pinched his arm really hard.

Chase and Susie looked up as we strolled past.

“Ouch,” Nico pulled his arm from my grasp. “Bro, she’s still just as mean as ever.”

It was obvious Susie had been crying, so how bad could she be? And Chase was genuinely thrilled to see her.

“Thanks guys,” Chase called to us as we left the hospital.

I glanced back. “Call us tomorrow and let us know how she is.”

We got to the parking lot and I stopped. “Crap, I forgot about the bike. My mom will have my hide.”

“No problem. We’ll stop and get the truck first.”

It had gotten so cold outside that my sweatshirt was meaningless, and I was relieved to get into Nico’s truck.

My hand shot forward to the vent. “Crank the heat, please. I can’t feel my fingers or my toes or my nose and any other appendages I may have forgotten I had because of the numbness.”

“So do we have to hang out at your house or can we drive up to the vista point and watch the stars?”

I twisted in my seat to look at him. “I would swear that you are trying to avoid my mom.”

“Not really. You know I’ve always liked your mom.”

“But . . .”

“I know she’s going to start asking about what I’ve been doing these last few years, and there’s some stuff in there I’m not too proud of. I ended up in juvenile hall for a stretch.”

“I didn’t know that. What did you do?”

“I didn’t kill anyone or anything bad like that.”

“Good to know since I’m driving along a dark, deserted mountain road with you.”

“I just ended up with a really sketchy crowd, that’s all.”

“I leave for five years and this is what happens? You end up with a shady crowd and a criminal record.”

He reached over and took hold of my hand. “That’s why you shouldn’t leave again. There’s no telling what shit I’ll get into this time.”

“That sounds a bit like blackmail.” I sat back. Deep down none of it came as a shock to me. Growing up Nico was always on the edge of trouble, and I knew it wouldn’t take much for him to take the plunge. “Speaking of sketchy, who the heck is Regina and just how close are you two?”

He pulled the truck onto the turn-out for one of the best views of the lake and village. A blanket of stars lit up the night sky. With the engine off, I knew it would get cold soon, so I scooted closer to him and he put his arm around my shoulder.

“Regina and I dated for awhile, but it never went anywhere. We were too different.”

I traced the tattoo on his forearm with my finger. “Really, because she ran to you tonight like you two were still something.”

“She likes to put on a show for everyone. And she knew you were there, so she made an extra effort.”

“How does she even know me? I’d never heard of her until tonight, and frankly, I could have gone the rest of my life with never hearing about her.”

His arm tightened around me. “I’m sure I talked about you to her at some point.”

“She’s extremely beautiful,” I said quietly.

“She’s not you.”

It took me a moment to absorb the impact of his three simple words. I pressed even closer against his side, and the heat of his body met mine. Silence surrounded us, but it was not an awkward silence. It was a content, cozy silence.

“Duchess, there’s never been anyone but you. Even when you deserted me, and I was worried that I would never see you again, it was still always you.”

Tears burned my eyes as he spoke. I took hold of his hand and pressed my lips against his palm.

“That fight Chase and I had was about you.” He chuckled. “He’d told me he planned to find and marry you someday, and I threw my fist at him. Growing up we’d always argued about who you liked better. You never played favorites though. That was the cool thing about you.”

“I loved you both as best friends.” It was a lot to take in and especially after the long day. After I’d learned that I was returning to Pinecliff, I’d thought a lot about my friendships with Nico and Chase. A few times I’d actually convinced myself that what the three of us had was nothing more than a silly kid friendship. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. It was way more. The three of us had relied heavily on each other. Sitting with both of them in the hospital tonight, I’d felt as close to them as ever. I had plenty of friends back home, yet there was no one else I’d felt so deeply attached to, so in tune with as Nico and Chase. Even when we were younger, I always knew what they were thinking or feeling. Nico always wore his emotions on the outside, and Chase always had his tucked neatly away behind a quiet and confident façade. And I’d always known that Nico and I had something even deeper than just a friendship, but I was too young to understand it. I rested my head in the crook of his arm and closed my eyes.

“What are you thinking about, Jessa?”

I smiled but didn’t open my tired eyes. “I was just thinking about how much this feels like home.” I covered my mouth and yawned.

He kissed the top of my head. “Strangely enough, I was thinking the same thing.” He started the truck and pulled out onto the road, and even though the heat had come back on, I stayed tucked in next to him.