Page 53 of A River of Crows

“I’m an addict. I’ve been clean for years, but I’ll always be an addict. I doubt wine would be an appetizer for heroin, but I don’t like the feeling of not being in control.”

“Of course, you don’t. I should have known,” Sloan said, sinking further into her chair.

Dylan reached across the table and touched her hand. “Drinking in front of me doesn’t bother me. Really.”

His touch caused Sloan to forget the wine, to forget her embarrassment. Dylan pulled his hand back quickly and opened his menu again, even though they’d already decided what to order.

“That looked like quite the process, though,” Dylan said. “The wine.”

“Oh, gosh.” Sloan covered her face with her hands. “Wine tasting was my ex’s hobby, so I picked up on some etiquette. You must think I’m so pretentious.”

“It was interesting.” Dylan nodded at the server as he set a Dr. Pepper in front of him, on the way to another table. “Really, it is. I’d ask you to explain it to me, but it sounds like it was your ex’s hobby, not yours.”

“Yeah. Let’s add that to our list of things not to talk about on a first date.”

“Right. So, we’ve got exes, our ex’s hobbies, and heroin addiction.” He held up three fingers. “Did I miss anything?”

Sloan raised her glass to take a sip. “I don’t think so, but the night is young.”

As she drank, she thought about her newly recovered memory from the gas station. She thought about Reid Hunt, the man who had written her father, confessing to kidnapping Ridge. She decided to mentally add both of those to their “no talk” list, at least for the night. This was not the time to bring back memories of the worst time in Dylan’s life.

Dylan picked up his Dr. Pepper and reached across the table to clink it against her wine glass. “Better yet, here’s to talking about whatever the hell we want to.”

An hour and a half later and well past dessert, Sloan’s throat was scratchy from talking, and her cheeks hurt from smiling. She tried to calm herself. She’d ridden the clouds home after her first date with Liam and look how that had turned out. Men were liars. But even though blind optimism went against her nature, she couldn’t help but hope Dylan was different. Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone vibrating from inside her purse.

“If you need to answer that, it’s fine.”

“Let me make sure it’s not Mom. She was asleep when I left, but you never know.” Sloan rummaged around in her purse. By the time she found her phone, she saw the missed call was from Brad. He had to be calling with information about her request to meet with Eddie. She sent him a text. Sorry, can’t talk. What did you find out?

“Everything okay?” Dylan asked.

“Yeah, sorry. What were we talking about?”

“That tree where your dad carved your names. I was asking if it’s still there.”

“Probably. I haven’t been to that area in forever. I spent a lot of time there during high school.” Sloan’s throat tightened.

“Because of your mom?”

“Yeah. When she was in her manic state, she wouldn’t sleep, and if she didn’t sleep, nobody did. So, I’d take my tent and sleeping bag to the creek. Then I’d wake up, get ready in a gas station bathroom, or . . .”

Gas station bathroom. Sloan’s eyes wandered past Dylan to the jars of decorative oils, dried noodles, and hot peppers lining the wall behind him. She remembered again the night at the By and Buy. What were we running from? Who were we waiting for?

“Sloan?” Dylan leaned forward. “You okay?”

Sloan shook her head, clearing the cobwebs out of her mind. “Sorry, but yeah, a gas station, or sometimes Noah’s house if his parents were already at work.”

Dylan slid his chair closer to the table. “Forgive me for asking, but Crow’s Nest Creek, that’s where Ridge disappeared, right?”

Sloan smoothed the napkin in her lap. “Yes.”

“How were you able to go back?” Dylan asked.

“Not sure,” Sloan answered. “I avoided it awhile but then realized I didn’t want to stay away forever. Ridge loved it there.”

“You’re very brave.” Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. “I try to steer clear myself.”

“Was that where Eddie picked you up the night you went for drugs?”