Why couldn’t our mothers see this was a bad idea?
Probably because teenagers don’t actually fall in love, right? Like Paige said, you have to date several guys before you end up with the right one.
But what if you find him early?
Does that mean you don’t get to keep him because the timing is all wrong? If so, that’s a pretty crummy love story.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“I’m thinking tomorrow,” Landon says, leaning over the counter, watching me work. He has his camera trained on me, but I hardly even notice anymore.
“Tomorrow what?” I drum my fingers next to my keyboard, looking at a map of the property, trying to decide if we could construct a dog run near the creek. I bet we could squeeze one in.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to drive to Glenwood Springs and go on that date I promised your mom I’d take you on,” he answers.
“I have to prune the roses next to the fishpond.”
“Do it Monday, and I’ll help you.”
I give him a look, but that only makes him grin. He turns the camera so it’s focused on his face. “Lacey says she doesn’t have time, but I think I can talk her into it.”
“I can’t take you seriously when you’re talking to your imaginary friends,” I tease him.
“I’m very serious,” he insists, shutting off the camera. “We’ll leave in the morning, explore a little, have an early dinner, and head back.”
“Glenwood is about four hours away.”
“Humor me.”
“Where exactly do you intend to explore?”
He flips out a brochure of a cave tour. “Cool, right?”
Absolutely, except for one tiny problem—I’m terribly claustrophobic, and caves are creepy. “You are not getting me in there.”
He rests both elbows on the counter and leans down, giving me a pleading look that he full well knows is addictive. “Come on. It’ll be fun. And I need something new for the channel—we’re running out of material around here.”
Now that worries me because it might mean his parents are ready to move on.
I look at the brochure again. It shows smiling families in a cavern filled with soft, ambient light. Never mind that the stalactites look like giant dripping fangs.
“Say yes,” Landon coaxes.
Closing my eyes, I groan. “All right. If you really have your heart set on it.”
“I do,” he assures me.
“And you have to help me with the roses.”
He taps the brochure on the table, grinning like a little boy who got away with something. “There’s nothing I enjoy more.”
“Except for guided cave tours,” I point out.
With a wink, he walks backward toward the door and agrees, “Except for cave tours.”
“You want to help construct a dog run too? A two for one sort of thing?”
Uncle Mark walks into the office, hearing the last of the conversation. “Where in the world would you put in a dog run?”
“Near the creek, by Cabin Four.”
Mark shakes his head, chuckling. “You’re giving a hundred and ten percent, Lacey my love. Feel free to back it down to a hundred. Heck, you’re a teenager—we’d be happy with eighty.”
Landon laughs but holds his hands up in surrender when I shoot him a look.
Mark turns to Landon, still joking. “If it were up to my niece, we’d work every minute of the day, and only sleep six hours at night.”
I roll my eyes and go back to looking at the map, already searching for a better location for the dog run.
“Are you two going to the concert in the park tonight?” Mark asks as he shuffles through a drawer, probably looking for the licorice I finished a few days ago.
“Are we?” I ask Landon and then turn back to my uncle. “What is it tonight?”
“Some instrumental thing,” he says, wrinkling his nose. Classical’s not exactly his cup of tea.
I give Landon a questioning look, and he shrugs. “If you want to.”
Might as well. It’s not like there’s anything else going on in Gray Jay. “Sure. I’ll be here until six—”
“Wait, weren’t you supposed to have the day off?” Mark interrupts.
“I’ll be done at six,” I continue, giving Mark a stern look before I turn back to Landon. “I’ll come find you after.”
Landon nods as he opens the door. Pausing over the threshold, he turns the camera back on. “Told you,” he says in a voice that’s cocky yet somehow irresistible. “She said yes to the caves.”
“But you have to help prune roses on Monday!” I remind him before he’s out the door.
“And I have to prune roses on Monday,” he tells the camera, making me smile as he leaves.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Unbeknownst to Uncle Mark, and much to his chagrin, Mom and Mrs. Tillman already planned a family outing to tonight’s concert before he mentioned it to Landon and me earlier. He’s now stuck here with us, listening to violins, violas, and that big stringed instrument that’s too big to hold.
He fell asleep five minutes ago, stretched out on a picnic blanket. Candy is intrigued by his light, whistling snores. Every time he inhales, she inches a tiny bit closer and then jumps back when he breathes out. She’s standing over him now, one paw extended, looking like she’s ready to smack him on the nose.
I wait, enjoying this particular show more than the music.
The quartet announces they’re going to take a small intermission, and they exit the stage.
Immediately, as if he’s been waiting all this time, Caleb plops onto the grass in front of us and unfolds a map. “Look what I found.”
It’s a local trail map, and I recognize most of the areas he has circled. The one he points to is the shanty Landon and I took him to at the beginning of the summer.
“Hey, good map reading skills,” Landon says.
Caleb beams, and he points to another spot not far away. “Look at what this says.”
“Prospector’s Demise,” I say, knowing what it is but waiting for him to tell me because he’s so excited.
“Demise means death, right?” Caleb says, excited.
“In this case.”
“This is where Gideon Bonavit went off the cliff with his gold!”
I nod. “It’s the spot they think he went off. It happened so long ago. No one really knows for sure.”
Excited, he points to several more circled locations on the map, all nearby places where gold was mined.
“I copied them from the map in the book. Isn’t it cool?” He gives us a big, hopeful grin. “Maybe we can go for a drive tomorrow? Check some of them out? There’s gotta be gold somewhere.”
I glance at Landon, not wanting to be the one to tell Caleb we’re not going to be here.
“Hey, bud, Lacey and I are going on a short day trip tomorrow,” Landon says gently. “Maybe we can try for next weekend.”
“Oh…okay.” Caleb’s face falls, and he carefully folds up his map. He looks back up, a spark of hope still in his eyes. “You promise?”
Landon glances at me, and I nod. Mom won’t mind if I take another Saturday off. Honestly, I could probably take the rest of the summer, and Mom and Mark would be relieved I’m working on my social life. You’d think I was a hermit from the way those two talk.
Caleb grins and runs off, going who knows where.
“Thank you for humoring him,” Landon says, tracing my hand with his finger.
I don’t know what’s going on between us exactly, but I’m happy, and I think he is too.
Paige appears behind us and nods to Mark. “I see your uncle is riveted by the show.”
I turn, relieved to see her out. It’s been two weeks since she discovered that Tanner’s a toad, and she’s spent most of that time at home.
“Hi,” I say, scooting closer to Landon so she can sit next to me on our blanket. Nervous, I glance about. I saw Gia towing Thomas around earlier, so there’s a good chance Tanner’s here t
oo.
“He’s not here,” Paige says, reading my mind.
“Are you sure?”
“I haven’t seen him.”
I frown, wondering if she wants to see him. But I know Paige too well to question that. Now that she knows he has a girlfriend, she won’t touch him with a ten-foot pole.
“Did Trenton come with you?” I ask.
Her brother came home last weekend, and she told me on Wednesday they’ve been helping their dad with odd projects.
“Trenton is here with some girl he met yesterday. Dad’s with Diane.”
There was a time when we were younger that we thought her dad and my mom might get together, but it never came to pass. Now he’s seeing a lady that works in the travel center. I’m not sure how Paige feels about it. My mom has never seemed interested in dating, so I have trouble picturing how awkward it would be.
“I’m going to grab something to drink, and then I’ll be back,” she promises.
I turn to Landon. “I’ll go too. You want something?”
Sensing I need a little time with Paige, he hands me a five and asks for a soda. “I’m going to talk to the musicians,” he adds. “See if they mind if I film a little of their performance.”
Paige and I walk toward the food carts parked along the grass. They’re all busy, so we pick the shortest line and wait.
“Brace yourself,” Paige says when Gia, Thomas, Jarrett, and Tanner amble our way.
Tanner won’t even look at Paige—guilt is written all across his face. But as always, Jarrett can’t look at anyone else. There are questions in his eyes, concern. But I barely notice the sweet way he studies my friend because Thomas is looking at me.
“Hey,” Thomas says when their group joins us at the back of the line.
Gia frowns, not liking the attention Thomas is showing me. She sidles next to him and tries to slide her arm through his, but he subtly steps to the side, avoiding her. Apparently, despite how hard she’s trying, they haven’t gotten back together.
Anger and hurt flash in her eyes, but she tries to mask it.
“We need to talk, Lace,” Thomas says, using the shortened version of my name like he did when we were together.
“We’re good, Thomas,” I say, and as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize I mean it. I’ve moved on, and I’m finally in a place where I can forgive him for how he hurt me. Even if he doesn’t deserve it.
“But I’m not good,” he says, stepping toward me, even farther away from Gia.
On instinct, Paige steps closer to my side, protecting me, showing him it’s two against one should he push too hard.
“I miss you,” he says, lowering his voice. People around us glance our way, curious.
Jarrett, uncomfortable, clears his throat.
“I just want to talk,” Thomas pleads.
Gia crosses her arms, glaring at me—like this is somehow my fault.
“I’m with Landon now,” I tell Thomas firmly. “What happened between us last summer is done. Finished. That’s all there is to it.”
Thomas starts to argue, but Jarrett steps forward. “Enough, Thomas. Leave her alone.”
“Why do you care?” Thomas says, shaking Jarrett off. “You don’t want her. You’re too enamored with her easy friend.”
Gia’s mouth drops open, and Paige sucks in a gasp. Tanner’s eyes go wide, and he looks around, almost as if he’s planning his escape. Slowly, like a viper, Paige turns to face Tanner. “What exactly have you been telling people?”
He holds up his hands, shaking his head, looking guilty, guilty, guilty.
And then the strangest thing happens. Calm, quiet, sweet Jarrett turns on Tanner. With narrowed eyes and a deadly calm tone, he demands, “What have you been telling people, Tanner?”
“Oh, come on,” Tanner says to Jarrett, desperate to defend himself. “It’s not like everyone doesn’t already think she’s a—”
And before he can complete that horrific thought, Jarrett punches him.
Gasps break out around us as Tanner recovers from the initial shock and charges his cousin. The two boys end up on the ground. Paige and Gia scream at them to stop, but there’s no need. They’re already being pulled apart by several of the men who were standing nearby in the concession lines.
A crowd has gathered—gawkers eager to see what all the commotion is about. Blood runs from Tanner’s lip, and the skin is broken by the side of Jarrett’s eye. It’s going to be black in the morning.
“What is going on here?” Paige’s dad’s big voice booms as he cuts through the crowd. People part for the sheriff, murmuring to themselves.
“What happened?” he demands.
Jarrett looks at the ground, and Tanner refuses to answer.
Paige, bravest girl I know, crosses her arms, defiantly raises her chin, and stares at Tanner. “He’s been spreading rumors about me—crude, hurtful rumors. Lies.” She looks like she’s about to slap Tanner...or maybe kick him while he’s down, but she controls herself and turns to the bleeding boy who defended her. “So Jarrett punched him.”
Paige’s poor dad looks taken aback—and for good reason. Quickly masking his shock, he stares down the two boys. “Are you done?”
They nod, though Tanner still looks livid. Jarrett seems uncomfortable but determined—like he doesn’t regret what he did and would do it again if he had to.
“Let them go,” Officer Hilden says to the men holding the boys. Then, to Tanner and Jarrett, he adds, “You two go at it again, and I’m taking you in. Understand?”
They both give him curt nods.
“You okay?” he asks, turning to Paige.
Her lower lip trembles, probably from fury as much as humiliation, but she nods.
Before he goes, Paige’s dad turns back to Tanner and points at him, his face deadly serious. “And you will stay away from my daughter.”
Embarrassed and angry, Tanner shoves his way through the crowd. Thomas shoots me one more look, and then he follows with Gia on his heels.
Officer Hilden watches them, and then he awkwardly pats Paige on the shoulder, past uncomfortable, and heads back to his spot on the grass.
“I’m going to get such a talking to tonight,” Paige mutters. She turns to our crowd, waving them away like she’s shooing sheep. “Show’s over. Go on now.”
Most everyone goes back to minding their own business, but they’re probably still listening. It doesn’t matter. Gossip is going to spread no matter what.
“You’re bleeding,” Paige says to Jarrett, frowning at his eye.
Jarrett shrugs.
“Come on.” She takes his hand. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
And I try really hard not to whoop for joy. She flashes me a knowing smile over her shoulder as she heads for the parking lot, reading my mind yet again. “I’ll call you later, ‘kay?”
I clasp my hands to my chest, elated that something good came out of this catastrophe. “Okay.”
Paige rolls her eyes at my enthusiasm, but she’s smiling despite everything, and I am over the moon happy for her.
I head back to our spot on the grass and sit next to Landon, who’s already returned. He looks at my empty hands and gives me a crooked grin. “Did you forget something?”
Instead of answering, I press a firm and fast kiss to his lips.
“What was that for?” he asks. He’s kept his promise, and we haven’t kissed since the roof.
“Thank you for being one of the good ones.” I set my head on his shoulder.
Landon chuckles under his breath, a bit baffled, and says after a moment, “You know, I’m still kind of thirsty.”
Growling but not meaning it, I yank him up. “Come on then. You can stand in line with me this time. Just try not to punch anyone.”
Without missing a beat, still unaware of what happened, he loops his arm around my shoulder and says, “I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Even though i
t’s a four-hour drive to Glenwood Springs, it goes by surprisingly quickly. I’m fine when we first leave Gray Jay, but by the time we’re taking the exit for the small mountain city, I’m less so.
“Nervous?” Landon asks, glancing over with a grin. We took my Jeep, but I was happy to let him drive.
“No.” I shake my head to emphasize my point.
“Are you sure?” he asks, smirking at my shaking leg. “Because you look a little nervous.”
I turn to him. “Did you know that miners used to carry canaries with them when they were going through caverns?”
He shakes his head, still smiling.
“You’re probably wondering why,” I say, though he didn’t ask and probably doesn’t care. “If one keeled over, it meant there was toxic gas nearby, and it was time to get out of there.”
“And yet another lovely story.” He smirks. “You should consider writing children’s books.”
I crack a smile despite myself.
Landon pulls into the parking area, turns off the Jeep, and pivots in his seat, resting his arm on the wheel. “If this particular cavern was dangerous, I don’t think they would allow people in there.”
“What if someone has a heart attack or an allergic reaction or…breaks a leg in the middle of the tour? Then what?”
“Well, I’m assuming the first step would be getting them out of the cave.”
I know I’m being ridiculous, but the thought of walking underground…with the cave walls closing in on me…
Panic rises in my chest.
Landon studies me for several minutes, and then his smile softens. “We don’t have to do this, not if you don’t want to.”
“But you want to. You’ve been looking forward to it.”
“I’ve been looking forward to spending the day with you. The caves are just a nice bonus.”
I inhale slowly and then exhale through my nose, trying to calm myself. “I can do it.”
“You sure?” He raises a questioning eyebrow as if he doesn’t believe me.
“Yes.”
If the Summer Lasted Forever Page 14
