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Holly’s knee was jiggling up and down the way it did when she had something extra important to say. His head pounded, but he ignored it. “You okay on your own?”
“What? Of course I am. I’m great.” And then it burst out of her. “You saved someone rich and he wants to give you lots of money!”
“Huh?” His fever must be making him hear things wrong.
“It’s true! Mr. Caldwell came to the house to find you. When I said you were still recovering, he left a certified letter that I opened even though I probably wasn’t supposed to. He says he’s going to gift you half a million dollars as a thank you! We’re rich, Jason!”
“I’m not taking his money.” The idea offended him to the core. He hadn’t done anything that amazing. He’d just gone for a swim, more or less.
Besides, there was something Holly didn’t know. Something he hadn’t told her yet. It swam to the surface of his feverish brain, but he shoved it away.
“You have to!” Holly wailed. “I’ve already upgraded what college I want to go to.”
He frowned at her`. Holly had stellar grades and deserved to go to whatever college she wanted. All of them—him and their parents—had told her over and over that she should aim as high as possible. Was she still holding herself back? “I told you not to worry about the money.”
“Like I’m not going to worry,” she scoffed.
“You didn’t tell me you were worried.”
“Well, now I can tell you because you’re rich! Also, you could get an electric car. Don’t you care about climate change at all?”
Unfair. Of course he cared about climate change. Every year, the wildfire season got worse because of it. Climate change was a big voting issue for him, and not just because Holly had been lecturing him ever since grade school. But was that really a reason to accept half a million dollars from a stranger?
What about taxes? What if it was dirty money? He didn’t know anything about Caldwell. Had someone sabotaged that boat on purpose? What if there was more to the story?
His head was hammering as if piano keys were thumping double-time in his skull. “We’ll talk about it later. We don’t need that money.”
“What are you talking about? Are you delusional?”
He groaned, knowing he’d have to explain himself. But not yet, not until his head stopped trying to kill him. “Later, Holly.”
“Oh, also? Everyone is saying you’re the front-runner for fire chief. There was some other dude from out of town who had it on lock, but I guess he dropped out. I was picking up a latte on the way to school and I heard Betty Bannister talking about how last night was your interview, and you passed with flying colors. But do you even want that job anymore, now that you’re rich? I don’t mind if you want to quit and stay home and, you know, invest or whatever. You could invest in some house renovations so I have my own suite and we could maybe put in a swimming pool or a hot tub, and—”
“Holly,” he groaned, holding his head with both hands. “I’m not taking that money. Go away.”
“‘Go away’ is not a valid argument.”
He had to put this into Holly-language so she’d understand. “I need to process my trauma from last night.”
It worked. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” She slid off the bed and got to her feet. “Do you want anything before I go? Kendra said you might want some food.”
He didn’t want food. He wanted Kendra.
Holly left then, and he sank back into a half-sleep. He was dancing across the lake, spinning in grand circles across the dark water. It held him up as if it was frozen, even though he could feel the water on his bare feet. The woman he was dancing with kept changing, shimmering from one identity to another. He didn’t recognize any of them, they were all strangers to him. They spun faster and faster, until the stars blurred together and hands reached up from the lake to grab him and drag him under.
He woke up with a start to find the room darker than when he’d fallen asleep. His heart was pounding. Night again? What time was it? How long had he slept this time?
Kendra’s husky voice cut through his panic. “Hey, you,” she said softly from the open door. She flicked on the light, and he squinted against the sudden brightness. “How are you feeling?”
“You’re here,” he said stupidly. He feasted his weary eyes on her. She wore skintight brick-red jeans that made his mouth water. One shoulder was propped against the doorjamb, her hip cocked in a sassy pose. Had she thought about their kisses at all, or had all the drama wiped those magical moments from her memory?
Fever, he reminded himself. They were probably just regular, ordinary kisses. Not fiery brands on his very soul. That was the brain fire talking.
“Yeah, sorry it took a while. I had to go make a fool of myself for a job I probably won’t get, you know how it goes.” Her tone was jaunty, but her mouth showed the truth; her full lips trembled a bit around the edges.
“Sorry.”
She shrugged. “Their loss. I have a freaking business degree, and they’re obsessed about minor little details like dunking fire chief candidates in the water. You’d think they’d be grateful, since now they can hire the best possible guy for the job.” She gave him a smile so incandescent, it put the overhead light to shame. “They want to interview you as soon as you can manage it, but basically, full-on riots might break out if they don’t hire you.”
