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“We were once friends.” I remind her, and she pulls her glasses up to look at me. I want to be closer with her, but I also want to see if we can have more.
“I—”
“Mommy.” The musical Southern accented voice comes from the little girl. She starts to move toward us, but River stops her, and I wonder why. They turn and move back toward the limo. Before I can say anything else, Scout is around me and moving away.
“I’ll see you Monday,” I say in parting, and she holds up a hand to me in response.
* * *
Acouple of hours later, I’m standing looking down at the water of the slough not far from Goldstream Creek. Many nights after practice I’d meet Scout here and we would make out. The first time I brought her here was after the homecoming football game. We didn’t go to the dance like she’d told her parents. We’d just started dating. I had broken up with my long-time girlfriend over the summer, and when school started, I instantly fell for the only girl in the automotive class I was taking at the University of Fairbanks. Like me, she was too advanced for the classes offered at Lathrop, so she went up there. I was in the class to help me get a jump start in moving toward a career in the military as a helicopter pilot. I knew if I had some mechanical experience it would help. I didn’t know I’d enjoy turning wrenches, but as soon as I saw shy Scout in the class I was sold.
She had a love for every engine but especially motorcycles and classics. She’d been up there for a year already, and I asked if she could tutor me. At first, she declined, and I chased after her. I bugged her in the halls at Lathrop and then in classes on campus. She wasn’t quite sixteen and her mother had to drive her to and from campus. It took me one time and her mom agreed to let me drive her.
My Sunshine was pissed and wouldn’t talk to me. She was such a tomboy back then. I remember my ex, Monica, and her crew of cheerleader friends would try to harass Scout, but River would stand up with her and they’d leave her be.
I finally had to tell Monica it was never happening again. My mom, even to this day, wishes I’d get together with her, but I won’t. I found out she spread rumors after I left for the military that we were engaged, and I was pissed. I sometimes wonder if that’s what made Scout cheat on me, but nothing makes cheating acceptable.
I bend down and pick up a rock to throw in the water. I watch the ripples as they flow away. That’s what her cheating did, it caused a ripple in my life. I did become a helicopter pilot. But I also married a woman I knew I was going to divorce the moment I said, “I do.” It still pisses me off, but I have Ryder and that’s all that counts. I love my son.
I need to put Scout and her life behind me. This is the closure I was looking for. I’ll investigate Levi’s murder because I owe him that, but I don’t care about Scout. I can’t. I have to focus on my life.
As I pull away from the access, I see a motorcycle coming from Goldstream Road toward me. I watch in my rearview mirror as it pulls off where I just was. Part of me wonders if it’s Scout and she’s going through the same memories I was.
THREE
SCOUT
Imove out of the bay toward the office at the back of the shop. I pass several stalls that have cars or trucks needing work. I need some help. Jinx is in her own area of the shop in a full paint booth with prep and mixing areas. My father made sure we had everything we’d need to start up our business here. I only had to finalize the installation of the separate ventilation systems.
In the two weeks that I’ve been back in Alaska, I’ve been crazy busy with settling my father’s estate, getting the girls settled, and several new girls showing up. Then people started dropping cars and motorcycles off at the shop even before I announced I was opening it.
I sit down at the desk and dial up an old friend I know who might want to help me. She’s currently a nomad with DHMC, but I bet she’d come help me out. We have a run tomorrow, and if she was here, it would help us out a lot.
“Riddler, what can I do for you?” A husky voice comes across the line.
“Rivet, how would you like to come to Alaska? I could use a good wrench turner and maybe a sergeant.” I’ve already talked to Jinx and the other girls about this. They also want me to contact another nomad we know. I’m still waiting on that one because she has never wanted to settle down.
“You run into issues?” I like that she gets right to the point, no small talk.
“Nothing major. The troopers still haven’t figured out who killed my father. The locals think it was a stranger who thought he had money, but he’d already done the nightly drop.” I don’t tell her that I have some suspicions. That I’ve been getting some weird emails.
“I’ll be there in two weeks. I’m in Seattle now and between jobs. I’m helping a friend here, then I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, girl.” I hang up and look at the clock on my computer.
“Jinx, time to call it quits,” I announce through the intercom system, knowing she’ll hear me because she doesn’t have music playing right now. “I’m going to go shower.”
I move through the building to the door that leads up to my apartment. I unlock it with my fingerprint and head up, knowing that Sky is with Frenchie and Mom in town doing some running around. I still need to sit my mom down and talk to her, but she’s been busy trying to get the café going again after she took off some time.
I let the water slide down my body, wetting my hair down completely. Memories of Thad have been coming in the form of nightmares lately. I remember every moment he and I had.
The worst of them was last night. I woke up with my clit throbbing. My naked body writhing around on the bed. I need a release so badly, but I’m not ready to find someone local. Something in my gut keeps me from doing it.
It’s been at least two to three long years since I’ve had a lover. Shit! This isn’t cool that I finally have the need for someone, and I can’t because I’m worried he’ll find out. Who the fuck cares when he’s the one who fucked me over.
I sit down on the ledge in the huge shower my dad had installed. I don’t know why he thought I’d need a five-bedroom apartment above the garage. Sky and I only needed a two-bedroom. River is staying here too, but she also has a room in the clubhouse. Same with Minuet. We all have rooms in the large clubhouse. And my aunt is currently staying with my mom.
As I sit on the bench, I think about trying to get myself off to take the edge off, but I can’t do that either. I stand and rinse instead, needing to get ready.
