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“I texted him that I’m on my way back, but I haven’t talked to him. Is everything okay?”
“Yep. He came in to the diner last week and wanted me to let him in your cabin to connect some security cameras.”
I totally forgot about those. “Has something else happened?”
“No, he said everything was quiet.”
That’s a relief. We’ve had enough trouble. “Did you let him in?”
“Did I give a man permission to surveille your property? Fuck no. I gave him some apple fritters and sent him on his way.”
The familiar sound of the proofing cabinet timer chimes in the background and I have a sudden desire to be in that kitchen, surrounded by delicious smells and laughing with her. “Okay,” I chuckle. “I have magnets for your mom from six different states.”
“She’s going to adopt you. What can I bring tomorrow? Gary made a huge pan of potato salad.”
“That sounds great.” My phone begins to cut in and out as we enter a rural area. “I have to go. See you tomorrow.”
This should be fun, introducing my concert friends to my new friends. I intend to invite Arlow too, but I won’t be surprised if he declines, considering it’s a bunch of people he doesn’t know.
The decision to stay away this long was difficult but I’m glad I did, despite missing Arlow so much. It was such a good time and really helped me get my head straight. Now I’m headed back to my new life to reunite with friends and part with others. I peek up at the stars as we hurtle through the night, my car eating up the miles.
Everything is going to be alright.
CHAPTER 21
ARLOW
The world seemsto lighten around me as I read Calli’s text for the third time in ten minutes.See you soon. After being afraid she wouldn’t come back or wouldn’t want to see me if she did, those words bring such relief. I don’t expect her to instantly forgive me for following her, but at least I’ll have the opportunity to talk to her about it again, to try to smooth things over. It was hard to tell how she felt when she left.
The relief also comes with exhaustion, and I realize how tensed up I’ve been. Instead of letting the fire burn down, I douse it and go home to get some sleep. I can’t remember the last time I went to bed before midnight, but I’m out cold in minutes.
It’s midsummer and the golden light tangles in Calliope’s hair as she looks back at me, her grin holding the power of endless suns. “Come on, you’re the one with the long legs,” she taunts, running through the field of clover. “Catch me.”
My strides are long but bring me no closer to her. It feels like I’m running in sand, my ankles weighed down. My calls for her only speed her steps. “Wait, please.”
She laughs and continues running toward the field of overgrown wildflowers. At the edge of the field, she pauses andher smile falls. “Watch out for the shards. They’re everywhere. You can’t avoid them. They cut so bad.” Her hands plunge into her pockets and emerge holding broken pieces of an orange juice bottle. Blood runs through her fingers as she holds them up to show me, then shoves them back into her pockets.
“Calliope!” I scream with all my strength, but it comes out as a hoarse whisper.
She turns and runs again, disappearing into the wildflowers. I don’t know what’s going on. All I know is I need to get to her. It feels like I’ve been running for an eternity before my feet land in the flowers, trampling them, shoving them aside. I’m desperate to find her.
My heart leaps into my throat when a different woman blocks my path. “Melody,” I whisper.
She flips her blond hair back in a gesture I’ve seen her do a million times. Her growing smile is scathing. “Do you love her? You never loved me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” My attempt to run past her is fruitless, my feet glued to the earth.
“You will be.” The voice that responds doesn’t belong to Melody, but to Chris. He stands beside her, glaring at me. He brings a bright peach to his lips and takes a bite, chewing viciously as the juice runs out through his growing malevolent smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll find her.”
I can’t move. I can’t reach for him or give chase when he tosses the peach aside and charges into the flowers.
My body jerks as if I’ve been shoved over a cliff, shocking me into consciousness. My heart races, and I lay a hand on my chest, over the scar, willing it to slow down. Deep breaths. It was only a nightmare. Calli’s fine.
The sound of faint laughter and a car door slamming confirms that fact. She’s fine.
She’s home.
I stumble over my blanket that’s been kicked to the floor getting to my bedroom window to look. Calli’s car is parked beside the RV, and I watch as she leads a guy up her steps. A peek at the clock shows me it’s half past three in the morning. I’m not going to charge over there like a psycho this time of night. She’ll probably go to bed as soon as they leave. I’ll see her tomorrow.
