Page 42 of One Little Kiss

COLTON

Itake the steps to GG’s lodge two at a time, painfully aware of the camera crews jumping into action all around me.

The lodge is open to the public now, but I cut across the foyer and head for her private dwelling. A large door on the other side of the parlor leads to her small apartment. Crossing the room, I knock on her door and wait. Then wait some more.

“GG!” I holler. “Open up.”

“Well, Pan, you sure know how to make an entrance,” she cackles from behind.

Turning in place, I find her walking toward me with a sheet of cookies. My brother, Halton, must be here baking. A pang of guilt tries to break free at the thought I’m causing him to stress bake, but that worry will have to wait its turn.

“Where does Winnie live?”

Sadness falls to the old woman’s face, and my gut churns. “Colton,” she sighs.

It’s never a good sign when she uses your real name. In fact, before tonight, I don’t ever remember her using my real name.

“Move outta the way. Come sit with me. We need to talk before you go flying off to save her.”

“Save her? Save her from what?” There’s a tremor to my words, and I clear my throat even as my hands shake. I’ve only ever felt fear like this a few times, but it’s a sensation you never forget.

GG glances up at me, her face weathered with wrinkles, but still glows with a youthfulness she shouldn’t be able to pull off. She shrugs her shoulders before they droop forward again. “Herself, Pan. And circumstances. That gal of yours has lost everything. Been beaten down with no one to lift her up for a long time. But now? Now she’s truly alone, and even the almighty Pan might not be enough to fix her.”

Adrenaline shoots through my system. It’s a warning, an accusation. Fear. “What does that mean, GG?” I ask on a shaky breath. “Do you know where she is?”

GG sets the tray down on the coffee table and perches on the edge of the sofa. “I do, Colt, but sit down.”

The scent of cinnamon and sugar wafts past my nose, but it doesn’t bring comfort. It makes my stomach sour.

My fists clench and flex multiple times, but I do as she asks. My knee bounces with nerves as I wait for her to speak.

“Wendy—”

“Winnie,” I interrupt. “She doesn’t like being called Wendy.”

A smirk pulls at the corner of GG’s lip. “And you like Pan?”

A harsh breath escapes on a sigh, and I shake my head with laughter that’s not funny. “No, GG. I’ve never been much of a Pan fan.” My chest is tight as I force myself to remain calm. “I … I really need to talk with her, GG. Do you know where she lives?”

She nods and hands me a cookie, but my nose wrinkles and she sets it down. “So, I take it the hospital visit didn’t go well for ya?”

An angry chuckle escapes before my words. “You could say that.”

“Yet ya still want to pursue her at this late hour?”

Glancing at my watch, I cringe. It’s almost nine p.m.

“I’m gonna give ya the cliff notes, Pan, ’cause it’s not my story to tell. But Wendy’s got a different life now, and before you go playing white knight, there are some things you ought to know. First, her mother passed away. Wendy was her sole caregiver, but that girl saw things no child should ever see. Now, she’s a single parent to her brother, and he’s … well, he needs some help. She needs someone she can count on, but with a child in the picture, you can’t go messin’ in her life unless you’re prepared to be there for the long haul. It ain’t fair to her, or that little boy. Ya hear me?”

Razors slice my throat, but I nod in understanding. “Sh-She’s all alone,” I mutter.

“More alone than anyone I’ve ever known. We try, ya know. But she doesn’t let many folks in. Betty-Anne’s daughter helps with the boy and gives them a place to stay that she can afford. But I’ll guarantee you, she’s never been so low, so you need to really stop and think about what you want from her, Pan. Is she worth growing up for? Or are ya gonna stay a Lost Boy?”

My gaze is on her, but it’s unfocused. We talked about a lot of things that night at the airport. Enough for me to know that her mom and brother were her whole life. While I’ve been out living, she’s been struggling to survive and still losing everything.

“So, whatcha gonna do, Pan?”

“I-I don’t know, GG.”