Yup. I don’t think so. I’m not telling anyone about any of this.
Chapter 2
Jack
“Wylder,”Ianswermyphone with a grin. “Good to hear from you. Have you thought about my offer? Please say you have.” I’m racing over to meet with Emmerson for the last minute tour guide substitution I need to make since Clark is sick. As always, I have everything I need in my truck because it’s only one night anyway. And also because I’m the owner of my company which does tour guides into the mountains. What kind of boss would I be if I wasn’t ready at all times?
“Man, I’m still thinking it over.” I can practically hear him shoving his hands through his hair.
“We’ve got all you need back here in Lit Creek. Don’t you think it’s time to come back?”
“That’s the problem. I think it is. I just don’t know how I’m going to manage it.”
“You mean, her?” I don’t say her name because I know he’ll throttle me. And I’m pretty sure he didn’t call me to be hounded about her.
“Ya. That.” He exhales a rough sigh.
“Whatever. You’ll figure it out. You’re a billionaire now, aren’t you? You should know how to figure shit out.”
“Fuck off.”
I laugh. Thank God I laugh now because the next twenty four hours or so are about to be brutal. A curse from the fires of hell, really. What did I do wrong, you ask? Nothing. Yet everything because I’ve done nothing. It’s complicated. And I’m done with fighting. Iknow what fighting can lead to, and I’m not going there again. Especially not with someone like Emmerson. It just makes me think about the fight that shall not be named or discussed. Ya…moving on.
“So?” I prompt him.
“Ya, ya. I’ll let you know, man.”
“Okay because I could really use some help with this tour company. It’s starting to take off.”
“So you’re using me for my business sense?”
“Of course. Isn’t everyone at this point in your career?”
It’s his turn to chuckle. “True. I guess it was always my dream to lead a simpler life.”
“This is your chance,” I say with all the gusto I can. As if I’m dangling a fresh basket of bills in front of his face and not just some meager little carrot. Then again, not sure the guy needs any more bills, so maybe a healthy little carrot is exactly what he wants.
“I’ll let you know soon. I have to head into a meeting now. Just wanted to say hey.”
“Sounds good. I gotta go, too. Unlike you, I’m off to lead a nice quiet tour where I can reconnect with nature and relax.” Ya right. But I have to say that to him to lure him back to Lit Creek. Even though he’s only a few hours away in Calgary, he’s just not meant for the big city.
We hang up and I continue the drive. I don’t know how people like Wylder and my brother, Tucker, do it. Busy all hours of the day. No down time. Managing so many people. It must be a drain.
Like Wylder? I hardly ever see the guy anymore. But that’s for a couple of reasons. First and foremost him not living here because of the woman who shall not be named.
At least Tucker has Rory, his assistant. I don’t know where he would be without her. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t see him much because he’d be lost in a deluge of emails. He told me he gets like three hundred emails a day. If you got time for that, you ain’t got time for nothing else.
Thankfully Tucker is a bit better at balancing his time than Wylder. Like today, Tucker was able to make it out to Hunter’s proposal to Sierra. So he does make time for family.
But what does that say about me? Here I am—not making billions mind you—ditching my family to take care of business. Ugh. That’s why I need more staff. And a business partner. Wylder would be perfect, but I don’t know if he’s willing to do it yet.
Regardless, I’m stuck on a weekend alone with Emmerson. Something I never thought would happen. Shit. And I don’t have my dog, Bear. I shoot a quick text to a friend to check in on him while I’m away. I rarely go places without him, but this is so last minute that I can’t make it work. He’ll be fine. I won’t. But I’ll manage.
Though I have to say I feel a tiny bit of trepidation. Yes, just a tiny bit creeping up my spine. Almost like it’s going to swallow me whole. That’s how tiny it is.
Okay, I’m terrified. And I’m a 6’3”, two hundred and thirty pound man who lives in the woods by himself.
But for some reason that terror that’s flapping its wings inside my chest like some dark winged duck reverberates with another unknown feeling. Almost like a buzz of eagerness.