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“Starsky and Hutch… is that the one with the woman whose underwear covers more than her shorts?” Nick’s tone was innocent, but a quick glance told Martin he was full of crap.
“No, but I’m sure we can arrange someDukes of Hazzard,if that’s what you really want. Somebody has to be streaming it.”
Martin turned on his indicator, and they headed up the road to the cabins. “Maybe make a nice dinner later in the day. I’m going to Aberdeen for groceries tomorrow. Do you want to join me?”
Nick opened his mouth and then froze. He’d been about to say yes.
What the hell was up with that?
Pulling the car into his regular spot in the parking lot, Martin turned off the engine.
“Nick,” Martin said as he turned to look at him, a small smile dancing across his stupidly sexy lips, “you don’t have to decide right this minute. It’s not as if I’m taking reservations. If you decide you want to go, feel free to join me.”
Nick rolled his eyes, making sure Martin didn’t miss it.
“Sure, fine. I’ll let you know.” He probably needed cat food or something.
Late the next morning, Nick was back in the passenger seat of Martin’s car. Currently, they were crossing over the bridge into Aberdeen. Rain continued to fall, and the sun was hidden behind thick clouds. The small city was fighting the gloom as best it could with glittering and flashing holiday lights, enough for a small kingdom.
When Martin had reminded Nick that he was heading out, Nick had just trailed along like—like he’d always been planning on tagging along with him. It made Nick irritable. Martin confused him.
Why would Purdy—Martin—want to spend time with Nick when he didn’t have to? Nick was merely an interloper, a blip on the other man’s radar, and he would soon be gone. Or, not living underfoot all the time.
Martin was obviously a sucker for punishment. That was the only reasonable explanation.
“Do you have anything special you like to cook this time of year?” Martin asked him, oblivious to Nick’s inner struggle. Or choosing to ignore it. Nick was beginning to suspect that Martin caught on to more than Nick wanted him to.
“No,” Nick said honestly.
Martin started to say something else, but they came over a rise and a billboard with a picture of a missing girl came into view. Not Blair Cruz. This was Angela Wiggen, the girl that had disappeared last summer. The school-style portrait took up one third of the space and the rest was a description of what she’d been wearing and where she’d last been seen. Investigators and her family asked anyone with information to please call a 1-800 number.
“Every time I see that billboard, it makes my stomach hurt. I just can’t imagine what the family must be going through,” Martin said as they passed it.
“I doubt they have much hope. It’s been almost five months.”
“I suppose not. Hopefully, things go differently with Blair Cruz. I haven’t heard anything, have you?”
Nick shook his head before realizing Martin’s focus was on the road. “No, I haven’t heard anything.”
They were both quiet after that. Nick stared out the window; traffic didn’t seem too bad, but his frame of reference anymore was Cooper Springs and its single stoplight. Nick’s opinion changed the minute Martin flicked on his turn signal.
“What the fuckery is this?” Nick demanded to know.
The grocery store’s parking lot was packed, and drivers were waiting for spaces to open up, stalking shoppers to their spots as they left the store.
“Christmas is in two days, so this is last-minute shopping at its finest.”
“Oh, my fucking god.” Nick couldn’t take his eyes off the teeming mass of people going in and coming back out of the store. More cars were in a line trying to turn into the rows closest to the entrance. Shoppers pushed carts filled to the limit and then some with everything they thought they needed. Was there going to be anything left by the time he and Martin got inside? “It’s not Armageddon. The shops will only be closed for one day. This is America—what iswrongwith people?”
Martin laughed. “Quit grouching and help me find a spot.”
He headed to the back of the lot, but it still took ten minutes before they nabbed a spot in one of the last rows. Nick met Martin at the back of his SUV, and they started toward the entrance.
“Are you sure this is worth taking our lives into our hands?” Nick asked as they were nearly mowed down by not one, but two different cars.
“This is nothing. The store in my old neighborhood would have lines around the block just to park. We’re not in a hurry. Think of it as an adventure.”
“I’ve had plenty of adventure, thank you very much.”
