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I wait for them to walk into the building, an ache building in my chest because I’ll never walk in there again. With my motorcycle and snowmobile attached to my trailer, I drive out of Lake Starlight, knowing it’s carved a spot out of my heart. This town tattooed itself on me and I’ll never forget it, but most of all, I’ll never forget her.
Twenty-Eight
Brinley
I look over the BuzzWheel article again. There’s a picture of Van’s truck, his motorcycle and snowmobile attached to a trailer, driving over the city limits. The “Thanks for visiting Lake Starlight” sign is captured so perfectly you would’ve thought it was a staged shot.
* * *
We thought Van Adler would become a longtime resident of Lake Starlight, but he’s left town with few answers this morning. After Brinley threw him a big birthday party last night, the two of them seemed as happy as any couple can, so we were shocked to hear that he’s left town.
The only news I have right now is that he met up with Easton Bailey, Lance Whitmore, and Calista Greene by the lake, then drove to his apartment and was inside for no more than a half hour. When he came out, Brinley’s cousins went in and haven’t left since.
I’m not sure we’ll ever get more on the whys, but I think everyone’s heart in Lake Starlight is breaking for our Brinley Kelly. She’s had to endure too much heartbreak at too young of an age. She really looked happy last night. That’s what my article was going to be about today, with some pictures of them as a couple, so this is a sad turn of events. We’re with you, Brinley, here to see you through another heartbreak.
* * *
The comments all say how they never really liked Van anyway, which is bullshit. Others say they always knew there was a sneaky side to him. And then there’s a whole slew of them offering me condolences as if he died.
I toss the phone on the couch.
“I don’t know why you’re reading it again.” Calista picks up the phone and closes the app.
“I really hate being Lake Starlight’s charity case.”
“Everyone is at one point or the other,” Lance says. “My mom told me what it was like when she was the jilted bride.”
“I just can’t believe…” I can’t even talk about it. “And then he just leaves me.”
“I think he thought that’s what you would want,” Calista says. “That it would be too hard to look at him after you knew.”
“You were still mourning Sawyer pretty bad when he came into your life.” Easton changes the channel to another college football game. “Took a while before you confessed your feelings for him.”
I balk. “I was scared.”
“And that guy who woke me up at the ass crack of dawn this morning was scared too.” Easton gives me a look like I’m not getting it.
“We don’t know much about him, but you do. Like maybe why he wouldn’t wait around…” Calista puts her hand on my arm. She’s being the gentlest with me. Always has been.
I shrug. “Probably so he wouldn’t have to see me hurt. I did just sit there like a zombie while he told me the story. I’m not even sure I processed it all because I just kept thinking, he’s packed his things, he wants to leave now that he knows. But I would too, I guess. East is right, I had just gotten out of my grief. And I’m not even sure I could continue things with him. Will I always remember that he was there the night Sawyer died? That if one thing had been different, maybe Sawyer would still be alive and I never would’ve met Van?” A strangled sound erupts from my throat, and I bury my head in my hands. “Why me?”
Calista slides closer, running her hand down my back.
There’s a knock on the door and Lance gets up to answer it. A small pit in my stomach is hopeful it’s Van because he turned around in case we can make this work, but it’s my parents. Lance steps aside to let them in.
“I really wish you guys would let me listen to my gut,” my dad grumbles as he comes inside.
My mom rolls her eyes. He comes into the family room and stares at Easton on the chair, flipping through the channels.
It takes Easton a second to notice, then he hurriedly gets up. “Uncle Liam,” he says and joins Lance in the kitchen.
My dad sits in the vacated chair and Calista slides over, making room for my mom on my other side.
“What happened?” My mom grabs my hand.
All the tears from two hours ago after he left reemerge.
“It turns out that Van is in the Coast Guard,” Calista says quietly.
