Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
And then they were gone, leaving me alone with three dozen sugar cookies and a growing sense that something weird was happening.
My phone rang, making me jump. But it wasn’t Maddox—it was Alex from Timber.
I needed another meddling Marian like a hole in the head.
“Adrian!” Alex said before I could express that. “Thank god you answered. I need backup. Legacy’s asshole fire chief just called in another ‘random inspection,’ and I’m about to lose my fucking mind. Can you come keep me company while he’s here and help me not commit homicide?”
“Alex, I really can’t. I’m kind of in the middle of—”
“Please? I’ll owe you forever. Plus, we have a pizza special today that’ll make you forget I owe you one. Pretty please?”
I groaned. “Fine. Give me twenty minutes to deliver these cookies to the rec center, wherever that is.”
By the time I’d finished making small talk with the Hendersons and got to Timber, the sun was starting to set. The bar was packed with tourists and locals clearly enjoying the blazing fire and the festive Friday night mood.
“Adrian!” Alex greeted with a bright smile as I slid onto an empty stool. “You made it!”
“I did.” I glanced around the bar. “Where’s the fire chief?”
“Oh. Right. It was a, um… false alarm,” Alex replied, looking sheepish. “Oops. We got our wires crossed.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And you didn’t think to call back and tell me?”
“Well, I figured if you were already on your way, you might as well stay for some whiskey.” He handed me a spiked hot cocoa. “Drink up.”
As I sat at the bar sipping my drink, I found myself venting about the morning’s events. Alex listened with the patience of a professional bartender, occasionally making sympathetic noises or refilling my mug.
“He said he’s furious and disappointed and hurt,” I said in a small voice. Just thinking about it made my stomach hurt. “But then he ran off like he immediately assumed the worst, and he hasn’t texted me all afternoon.”
“So let me get this straight,” Alex said when I’d finished. “You turned down your dream job to stay here with Maddox.”
“Correct.” I took another sip of cocoa.
“But you didn’t tell Maddox about the offer or turning it down, so he was blindsided when he saw your phone.”
“I… I suppose that’s one interpretation,” I admitted reluctantly. To be fair, I was kind of building up to such a big discussion. Maddox was a little bit like a small animal on the side of the road. One false move and he’d either dart under the tires or disappear into the woods. Either way, I’d lose him.
“And now you’re assuming the worst of him—that he’s given up on you without giving you a chance to explain.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re making it sound like I was partly to blame for the miscommunication and that I’m the one jumping to conclusions like an asshole.”
He lifted an eyebrow.
“Alex, I texted him asking what was up, begging for a chance to explain, and he put me off till tonight. We were literally in the middle of ordering lunch together when he raced out without a word.” I took another sip of the hot drink. “I appreciate his need to cool off before talking, but I’ve been on edge all day worrying about it.”
Alex shot me a look that somehow seemed all-knowing. “It’s going to be okay,” he said firmly.
I pushed to my feet. “What do you mean? Do you know something?”
He nodded. “I do. And I have a question for you. Have you told Maddox how you feel? Like, specifically?”
I dropped back down. “I’ve told him I want him. That I… that I have…” I tried to think of the exact words I’d said.
Was I want you to be my dork not specific enough?
Alex must have read the truth on my face because his expression turned distinctly amused. “Have you said the words ‘I love you, I want to stay here, I choose you over everything else’?”
The question hit me like a slap. “Not exactly.”
How could I admit the L-word to Maddox when I’d only gotten used to the idea myself? Wasn’t it too soon?
“Uh-huh.” Alex leaned against the bar. “You know what’s not complicated? Telling someone you love them. Everything else is just noise.”
“But…”
“And if you love him, Adrian,” Alex said softly, “then trust him.”
Before I could respond, Tommy Marian appeared beside us like he’d materialized out of thin air.
“Adrian! Perfect. I need you to—”
I shook my head. “No. I’m sorry. No more wild goose chases. If someone needs cookies or a ride or to be saved from a rogue fire inspection, you’re gonna need to find someone else. I have to find Maddox. I have to get to—”
“Slingshot Mountain?” Tommy finished. His smile was suspiciously bright. “Good, ‘cause I’m here to drive you. To make sure you get there safely.”