A moose on the football field at the high school.
Nothing that would indicate someone is lurking in the dark, waiting for an opportunity to send Walker to the grave.
Condensation fogs the corners of my windshield, forcing me to wipe away a clear spot every few minutes. The pencil feels stiff between my gloved fingers, refusing to glide across the paper the way it normally does.
Sitting in my warm car, I attempt to finish my sketch of Walker placing Arthur in the back seat of his truck.
The old man was stumbling around the center of town. His lack of balance and inability to put together a full sentence were more than enough for Walker to arrest him for public intoxication, but Walker, being the man he is, is taking Arthur to the drunk tank at the station.
Or at least I hope that’s the case.
Walker can be cold as hell, but he’s not a hard ass.
Evergreen Falls Police Department isn't much to look at. The one-story brick building sits on the corner of Main Street beneath an old wooden sign with faded gold lettering. Snowbanks line the edge of the parking lot where a handful of sheriff's trucks and well-used pickups are parked crookedly between the white lines.
From my hidden spot across the street, I watch as Walker escorts Arthur inside. He’ll probably be in there for a while.
My attention shifts to my phone in the cupholder as it buzzes, alerting me to a new text. I can’t stop my lips from curving into a smile. I couldn’t stop them if I wanted to.
I should be horrified that he texted me at all, but the picture of a happy dog is distracting.
Levi: He’s recovering quickly. When do you want to pick him up?
Me: How did you get this number?
Levi: Not important.
Levi: If you don’t take him, then he has to go to the pound, and they’ll probably put him down.
Me: You’re manipulating me. You know I would never let that happen.
Levi: Maybe…What if I just wanted to see you again? You can keep your clothes on this time.
Me: You’re lucky I was planning on keeping him anyway. You can see me when I pick him up.
Levi: He’ll be ready at the end of the week.
Levi: What would I need to do if I want to see you before then?
First, Santiago shamelessly flirts with me, and now Levi. This could just be a game to them—their only source of entertainmentin this isolated small town. Or maybe all of this is completely innocent. I’m an adult, and now they’re treating me like one.
Finally.
I get why they didn’t do this when I was eighteen. I was legal, but still just a kid.
Even if this is just some innocent fun, I’ll take it. I’ll treasure their words and these memories when I leave here.
If only Walker were on the same page…
But seeing them all again makes me forget—forget the bad and horrifying memories.
Santiago’s long hair, disarming smile, and deep brown eyes, paired with his dimples, make him look like he belongs in both a country song and a cautionary tale at the same time. His skin looks as if God himself mixed the most precious dark honey hues together and painted them on.
Levi’s strong, unshaven jaw and ocean blue eyes make him appear as if he walked right out of a high-fashion magazine. The way his chiseled muscles naturally flex as he moves is mouthwatering. Scrubs have never looked so sexy to me.
Walker’s perpetually stoic expression makes him seem unapproachable—beautiful but unapproachable. And when he softens, his sly smirk is downright panty-dropping.
Describing them as “tall, dark, and handsome” is not even close to being accurate.
