Page 19 of On Thin Ice (Calgary Mounties #1)

Chapter Eighteen

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT STUFFIES

Adele

Sitting in the front seat of the tour bus, I stare out the window at the views of Icefield Parkway.

This is my first Jasper tour of the season, and I’m always blown away by the spectacular views in the stretch of land between Banff and Jasper.

But today, I barely even notice it. Two days after the fake date with Lincoln, I’m still thinking about that almost kiss at my front door.

I was so sure he was going to kiss me. I was prepared for it. I know now that I wanted him to. So, when he kissed my forehead and stepped back, my stomach had sunk so low that it had taken me hours to fall asleep as I went over it all in my head.

I’ve caught him watching me so many times since Tahiti, so I know there is still attraction on his side. But something is holding him back.

I’ve been trying to talk myself out of the attraction I’ve felt growing stronger each time I’ve seen him. Trying to convince my subconscious that he still annoys the crap out of me, and we have nothing in common other than our friends. But it’s becoming harder to lie to myself.

The truth is, I want Lincoln O’Malley. And I don’t know how to deal with that .

“Excuse me, Adele?” A voice from behind my seat startles me from my thoughts, and I turn my body to see one of my tour group members leaning over from the seat behind me.

“Hi,” I reply, turning on the tour guide smile I’ve long perfected.

“I was just wondering how much longer it will be until we get there?” The sweet looking lady is probably in her sixties, with pink hair and pearl rimmed glasses.

She looks like the sort of Grandma who would buy you all the treats you want and give the best hugs.

“We’ve got about two hours left. Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Oh well, I’m sure it’s nothing, but my husband isn’t feeling so well. It’s probably the breakfast he ate at the hotel.”

I’m not willing to take the chance that it’s just travel sickness with an over sixties group. Dad has had a few incidents with the older demographic tours, and I don’t know that I could handle a heart attack or something worse without having my own little mental breakdown.

“I’ll come check on him.” I unbuckle my seat belt and slide out of the seat, following closely as she sways down the aisle towards the back of the bus.

Her husband, a tall, lanky man with silver gray hair, does look quite pale.

“Hi, sir.” I try to put on my friendliest smile while I run my eyes over his face.

“Stephen,” he replies, giving me a weak smile while he rests his head back against the back of the chair.

“Stephen. Do you feel like you’re going to be sick, or is it something else?”

He shakes his head a little, closing his eyes. “Just a little nauseous.”

“Okay. Do you normally suffer from motion sickness?”

“Not normally, no.”

Trying my best not to appear too concerned, I head back to the front of the bus to get the first aid kit and grab a sick bag for him, along with some anti-nausea meds.

“Here. Hopefully you won’t need to use the bag but try chewing on these to see if that helps.” I turn back to his wife. “Please just call out if he gets worse and I’ll have Simon find a rest stop so he can have a breather, okay?”

“Thank you, dear.” She gives my hand a pat before turning back to her husband, taking his hand in hers gently.

The tender moment between them as he gives her a weak smile gives me the warm fuzzies, and I head back down to my seat, hoping that we can at least make it to Jasper before he throws up.

As I slide back into my seat, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, a small flutter occurring in my chest when I see Lincoln’s name on the screen.

Lincoln

Hey, how’s the trip going?

I smile, biting my lip when the accompanying photo of Milo lying on his back on the floor appears. He’s got his favourite puck between his paws and is staring at it lovingly.

Adele

So far, uneventful. But I’ve got an older passenger who looks like he’s going to throw up at any moment, so just hoping we make it to Jasper without any drama.

What are you up to?

I settle back into my seat and watch the little text bubble with far too much anticipation as he types his response.

Lincoln

Just got back from practice. I wish you weren’t out of town. I’m bored.

Yeah… I think I’m in over my head with this whole fake dating thing, because I should not be as excited as I am about that message. To know that he’s thinking about me and wants to spend time with me. I need to get my feelings under control.

Adele

Sorry, buddy. It’s a three-night trip, so you’ll be on the road by the time I get back.

Lincoln

Sad face.

Yep, definitely in over my head.

While I think about how to respond to that message, another one comes through. But this one isn’t from Lincoln.

I haven’t seen Ben’s name on my phone for months.

The last messages we’d exchanged was me telling him I was on my way to his place to collect the boxes he’d packed up for me, the week after Tahiti.

I’d flown to Vancouver, took the boxes to a courier service, and got on a plane a few hours later.

I’d spent a grand total of five minutes with Ben as he helped me put the boxes in the rental car and I’d handed him back the ring.

So, seeing his name on my phone right now fills me with nervous energy. And not the good kind.

Ben

Hey. I’m going to be in Calgary for work next month on the fourteenth. Will you be in town?

I stare at the phone, confused. Why on earth would he want to catch up with me?

He made it pretty clear when we saw each other last that he didn’t want anything more to do with me.

And aside from a few times in those first months apart where I’d had a moment of nostalgia, I’ve not really missed him like I thought I would.

I decide not to respond until I know what to say, so I flick back to the conversation with Lincoln to see that he’s typing a new message.

Lincoln

What’s your favourite animal? I feel like I should know this about my ‘girlfriend’.

I grin, shaking my head. He’s clearly decided that if we can’t hang out in person, he’s going to get me to entertain him via text.

I look around the bus to check on the passengers, before settling in to respond.

Adele

Giraffe.

Lincoln

Random… Why Giraffe?

I bite my lip, wondering how much information to give him.

Adele

Well, when I was a baby, I was given this stuffed giraffe that went absolutely everywhere with me until I was like eight or nine. So, I guess I became giraffe obsessed after that.

Lincoln

Cute. What was its name?

Adele

Bubby. Apparently that was one of my first words and it just stuck.

Lincoln

Just when I think you can’t get any cuter, you go and top it with that. Do you still have Bubby?

Adele

Sure do. He’s a little beaten up, but still going strong. He sits on my bed after I make it each day.

I honestly shouldn’t be playing along with this. I should just put the phone down and read a book or something. Or study my notes for the trip. Instead, I’m wondering what Lincoln would do if we were together right now.

Lincoln

I had a stuffed dog called Milo. Guess that’s why I became obsessed with dogs. Never really thought about that before.

Adele

Was he as cute as Milo?

The bubble appears and disappears a few times, before a photo comes through of a very well-loved looking stuffed golden retriever. It’s sitting on the couch in Lincoln’s apartment.

Adele

Oh my god, you still have him?

Lincoln

Hell yes, I do.

This guy can’t possibly be real. He’s kind, emotionally mature, hot as hell… and now it turns out he’s still got his childhood stuffed animal in his apartment? Honestly, if my lady parts weren’t already screaming for attention from this man, this would be the moment that sent me over the edge.

Adele

What does Milo think of his namesake?

Lincoln

Milo is not allowed near him. He’s got his own emotional support stuffies.

A photo of one of Milo’s stuffed animals comes through, with the stuffing coming out of where the head once was, and I splutter a laugh.

Adele

Yeah, good call.

One of the other passengers calls my name, and I put the phone down, forcing myself to concentrate on the tour group. But it’s a long time before the smile on my face subsides, and I have to talk myself out of the excitement I’m feeling at knowing I’ll see him again in a week.