Page 20 of In Your Wake

With my stomach tied in knots, my heart heavy and my blood on fire, I release the steering wheel and flex my stiff fingers.

There’s no use; I won’t be able to avoid Mitch, not in a small town like Oakwhite Bay.

But the last thing I need is Mitchell Adams showing up at my apartment, so I drive toward the inn, hating him more than I did yesterday.

6

Faith

Mitch

Maxine peels out of my parents’ driveway, but I catch up with her a few blocks away and follow her through town, laughing when she flips me the bird at a stop sign.

I gaze out the passenger window as we pull up to the inn.

The two-story house, with its white picket fence, faded burgundy siding and wilted garden out front, screams unloved, and it’s clear why it’s not doing well.

I spent many weekends here as a kid, helping my grandparents out with simple tasks, but now you couldn’t ask me to spend the night in what looks like a ratty, old, likely haunted house.

We park in the lot on the side next to three other cars, but I wonder if they belong to paying guests or staff. Considering we’re at the tail end of Oakwhite’s busy summer season, this lot should be full.

Maxine steps out of her car, glaring. “Go on. Say it.”

“Say what?”

“You’re thinking how bad it looks.”

I follow her around to the front, up the beaten stone path to the wrap-around porch. “Not bad. It just needs some TLC.”

“Tons of loving cash?” she replies, not missing a beat, and an unexpected laugh bursts from my mouth. Instantly, she spins around, scowling at me as if I’ve grown horns.

“What? That was funny.”

She purses her lips, crossing her arms. Tilting her head, she narrows her gaze. “It wasn’t that funny.”

“Are we going inside?” I ask, ignoring her tone.

“You’re really not letting this go?”

“No, I’m really not.”

She doesn’t budge when I try to walk up the path, so I go around her, earning her irritated huff. She races around me into the house and doesn’t even bother to hold the door for me.

The scent of old wood and dust welcomes us, along with a tall, young man sitting behind the desk, with honey-colored skin and the most intense hazel eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Everything all right?” he asks Maxine, but keeps his cautious glare on me.

“Been better.” She nods my way. “Any new check-ins?” she asks him and their shared laugh says it was a joke. She rounds the counter and types something into the computer.

“Actually, I have some good news,” the guy begins, still staring at me, but speaking to Max. “The bride’s family booked rooms for September.”

Maxine’s jaw slacks. “And are they all super rich and will suddenly save this place from bankruptcy?” She aims a very reproachful glance my way.

The guy seems confused and frowns. “Um, no. But they’ve booked the whole place for the wedding.” He steals the mouse from her and clicks into the hotel’s booking system.

Maxine dips down to stare at the screen, her entire expression one of disbelief. “We’re fully booked?”

“Yep, the entire weekend. Some are even staying an extra few days.”