Crys plunked herself down on the bench across from me at the corner booth where I was supposed to be entering supply orders into my laptop. “Hey, are you posting an ad for Hawk’s job? Because Chris who works at the Bugle might be free for a couple lunch shifts a week.”
I glanced up in confusion. “Don’t you already work here?”
She rolled her eyes. “Not me. I mean other-Chris. The Clark Kent hottie with the glasses and the questionable fashion choices? You’ve met him,” she assured me when I continued to stare at her blankly. “When you and Hawk were sitting at the bar watching that Maine regatta thing a few weeks back, he was the one making your drinks. No bells ringing? He was eating here the other day, when Hawk quit… really? Not a single recollection?”
“I was a little distracted that day,” I reminded her.
She snorted. “Yeah. Well, once you actually notice him, you’ll see he’sdistractinglygorgeous. Might be a problem.”
“For whom?”
“Foryou? For anyone with eyes who’s attracted to men?”
“Please,” I scoffed. “I haven’t dated anyone in months, and I didn’t notice your friend at all. I think he’d be safe from me.”
“Months? Is that so?” When she tilted her head, her pink hair flopped to one side. “Wonder why that is.”
I had no time for whatever games she was attempting to play. “In any case, it doesn’t matter because Hawk’s coming back.” I clicked the Enter button to submit the last order. “Sooner rather than later since there’s a storm coming in. In fact, you should probably hike up there today. Make sure Hawk knows about it so he has time to evacuate.” If my voice sounded as casual as I hoped it did, it would be a miracle.
“Please. There’s no way Hawk’s leaving. Did you know he’s staked out signs all along the main hiking trail at the top, and he’s been standing there every day educating tourists and locals about Evola’s deforestation efforts? He’s already got forty thousand followers on his new Instagram.”
“Really?” The man was pigheaded as heck about the development, but I couldn’t help the flush of pride that warmed my chest knowing my Hawk was standing up for what he believed in… and people were taking notice. “Good. He’s bringing awareness to it, which will at least keep Evola on their toes. They’ll have to play by the rules under that kind of public scrutiny.” I shut my laptop with aclick. “But you still need to convince him to take a break during the storm. He shouldn’t be alone up there.”
“A little rain won’t hurt him.” Crys set her chin. “If he won’t come off the mountain so Simon can rail him into his mattress, Jack, he’s not coming down for a summer storm.”
I blinked. “His… he… what?”
“Oh, didn’t Hawk tell you?” Crys’s mouth twisted to one side. “No, I guess he wouldn’t have had the chance, would he? Yeah, Simon asked him out. And you should see the flirty texts Simon’s been sending! So many erotic emojis.” She fake-gagged. “Hawk’s all adorable and flustered about it, of course, but the man isprimedfor devirgination, and I think they could be really good together. They’re both passionate about environmental stuff. As dudes go, they’re both smoking hot. Can’t you just picture them together? Plus, Hawk’s in his reach-out-and-take-what-you-want era. He doesn’t have time for people who make excuses. Simon’s been very, very clear that Hawk is what he wants.”
I opened my mouth, but a paralyzing chill went down my spine—Can’t you just picture them together?—and I was very afraid I might vomit, so I closed it again.
“You know…” Crys tapped her lip thoughtfully with one chipped fingernail. “You might be onto something, though. Maybe Simon could go ride out the storm up there with him. You know Hawk has a thing for those books where the two characters are stuck sharing a room in a blizzard… What do you call those?”
“Forced proximity,” I said in a nearly inaudible whisper.
She snapped her fingers. “That’s it! And Simon probably knows tons about storm hazards since he’s an environmental dude. He might even be trained in CPR, so, like, if one of them got struck by lightning, he could perform mouth-to-mouth…”
I swallowed thickly.
“Hawk told me you recommended he carry lube in his backpack just in case he and Simon got an opportunity, so we know he’s prepared. That was thoughtful of you.” She beamed guilelessly, and I knew I was being played by a master.
But damn if it wasn’t working.
An embarrassing little choking sound gurgled out of my throat, and I coughed to hide it. “I said no such thing,” I argued, knowing it was useless. “I think Hawk should wait for the right person. Someone he really wants, not someone convenient.”
“AndIthink this topic is getting seriously old,” she said sweetly.
My eye twitched. She wasn’t wrong.
She pressed her lips together for a beat before patting my arm and preparing to stand up from the table. “At the risk of getting fired on the spot, I really think you should go up there and fuck him, Jack. Dunno what kind of bullshit ethical problem is burbling through the wild brook in your brainpan, but he wantsyou. He choseyou. And you want him just as badly. So have at it. As William Hale Thompson once famously said, ‘Fuck early and often.’”
“I think that was about voting,” I called after her in a choked voice.
She waved her hand over her shoulder. “Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe. Now, go get your man.”
I leaned my elbows on the table and buried my face in my hands. Everyone in Little Pippin Hollow had lost their damned mind.
I lastedtwenty hours before I caved.
