Page 17 of The Inn Dilemma (Give a Bookish Girl a Biker)

Chapter Ten

M y life sucks. My dad doesn’t want me. I never even knew my mom. And the only reason Uncle Walt and Aunt Birdie took me in is out of obligation.

To top all that off, all Uncle Walt wants to do with me is take me hunting and fishing.

The moment a hunter’s safety course opened in Denver, he had me signed up and forced me to take it.

Even though I passed easily, the last thing I want to do on a Saturday morning—or any morning— is wake up before dawn and trek into the woods.

But considering it’s summer and nothing Uncle Walt hunts is in season, we launch a boat on the water to go fishing.

I’ve complained many times…but he insists.

I’d rather be alone in my room playing video games. But no, we have to go out and fish for hours on end in the name of “bonding.”

A frustrated sigh leaves me as I cast my line.

“What’s on your mind, son?” Uncle Walt whispers, recasting his line .

The boat rocks gently on the water.

“I’m not your son,” I spit.

He winces. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know.” I should apologize, but I can’t bring myself to. Bitterness still clouds my thoughts and at this moment, my apology wouldn’t be genuine.

“You start school next week. Are you excited to make new friends?” he continues as if I didn’t just give him an attitude he didn’t deserve.

Shrugging, I say, “I guess.” No one will want to become friends with the new kid, though. Especially one who doesn’t have a mom and whose dad didn’t want him.

Dad took his trucking job as an excuse to get rid of me. He told me life as a trucker isn’t for a kid. The truth is, he doesn’t want me, and traveling nonstop was the perfect excuse to push me onto his brother and wife.

“There are some great kids in this town. Give them a chance, and I’m sure you’ll make tons of friends.” Uncle Walt sounds like he means what he’s saying. But I don’t trust it.

I give him a fake smile. “Sure I will.”

I’m not sure where these so-called “great kids” hang out.

Every time I’ve walked into town with Aunt Birdie or Uncle Walt, I’ve only seen adults who eye me warily.

As if they know my history—or worse, my dad’s history.

Neither Uncle Walt or Aunt Birdie have told me much about what my dad was like growing up, but during a few drunken nights, Dad told me all about his teenage rebellion.

I took it as a lesson in who to avoid turning into.

Especially since his offenses are still muttered under the breaths of the townspeople.

My line takes off, and I have to hold the rod tight before trying to reel in whatever my hook caught. I plant my feet firmly and use what strength I can manage to pull back on my rod.

“It looks like a big one!” Uncle Walt shouts before grabbing the net.

I go head to head with this fish for a solid fifteen minutes before it finally breaks the surface and I catch sight of the huge rainbow trout.

With expert precision, Uncle Walt nets the fish. When he pulls it into the boat, he makes me unhook my line and I wrinkle my nose at what I have to do next.

“Birdie will be thrilled. She loves rainbow trout. This will feed us and a few of the guests tonight for dinner.”

I can’t hold back my smile when Uncle Walt takes a picture of me with my first fish. All thoughts of my life before Rocosa temporarily fade away as we continue catching fish after fish.

We return the ones that are too small and prep the others for dinner. After I put the last trout in the cooler, Uncle Walter pats my shoulder and says, “Nice work today. I’m proud of you.”

It’s a phrase I rarely heard from my dad. My chest fills with pride. “Thanks,” I mumble before latching the cooler’s lid.

As we drive past the inn’s small parking lot, I notice a shiny Mercedes parked right beside the sidewalk.

Uncle Walt must notice too because he says, “Well, this is unexpected…”

I want to ask him, “What’s unexpected?’” but I figure I’ll find out soon enough.

After pulling his beater truck into the garage, I help him lift the cooler out of the bed and we carry it into the back entrance of the house.

Aunt Birdie and a woman I’ve never seen before are sitting on the chairs at the kitchen island and talking over a cup of coffee. They both look up when the door slams behind me. Aunt Birdie’s smile is wide as she meets my eyes.

“There are my two favorite boys!” she announces, then comes over to give me a hug and Uncle Walt a kiss.

We set the cooler on the floor, and Aunt Birdie opens the lid, inspecting our score.

“Looks like you boys got quite the haul today,” Aunt Birdie says proudly.

“Rainbow trout is one of Nova’s favorites,” the other woman says as she peeks into the cooler. She looks more like a yacht queen than a fisherman.

“Who’s Nova?” I ask, finding myself actually curious. Maybe she is one of these elusive kids Uncle Walt told me about.

The woman looks at me proudly. “My daughter. I’m Amanda, and you must be Holt.

” She extends her hand and I shake it. After dropping my hand, she adds, “I also brought my son Christian. He’s your age and will be in your class this year.

Birdie thought it would be nice if you two met before school started. ”

“Cool” is all I say before a girl in a flowery dress practically bounces through the swinging doors.

“Did someone say my name?” She’s almost a foot shorter than me, with blonde hair in braided pigtails.

She stops short at the sight of me, her gap-toothed smile dropping. “Who are you?”

I look over at my aunt for clarification.

Aunt Birdie comes over and places her hand on my shoulder. “This is my nephew, Holt. Holt, this is Nova.”

Nova pushes her hand forward with all the confidence of a businessman and firmly shakes my hand. She has quite the grip for a little kid.

“Christian!” Nova shouts, startling me and everyone else in the room.

“What?” A boy my age pushes through the door and comes to stand next to the girl.

Nova motions to me with her hand. “Meet Holt. Your new friend.”

Christian eyes me warily, and I’m sure I look like I’m doing the same.

I give him a nod and ask, “Sup?”

He pushes his glasses up his nose, his eyes narrowing. “Nothing. Want to go to the Lula Belle’s Cafe and get ice cream? They just got ten new flavors.”

I shrug. “Sure.”

Before Christian and I can even step through the door, Amanda says, “Take your sister.”

Christian rolls his eyes. I fight the urge to do the same.

Nova folds her hands in front of her and bats her eyelashes at her brother. “I promise I won’t get on your nerves.”

Christian raises an eyebrow. “You better not.”

“Be sure you’re back before dinner,” Uncle Walt says.

“Yes, sir,” I acknowledge.

“Such a polite boy,” I hear Amanda say as we leave through the back door.

Without warning, Nova loops her arm through mine and peppers me with questions. “When did you move to Rocosa? Why haven’t I seen you around town before? Where did you and Mr. Walter go fishing?”

“Geesh, Nova! Let the kid think. I appreciate that you’re not annoying me, but don’t annoy the new kid instead.”

Nova pinches her lips closed and gives me an apologetic smile.

“Sorry.” She wrinkles her nose, making the dark freckles across her sunburned skin stand out.

“It’s been a while since anyone new came to town.

And Dad never lets us come to the Storybook Inn to meet any of the kids passing through town.

” She puts a skip in her step, shifting my arm up in the process.

“I’m just excited that Christian will finally have a friend. ”

Christian swats his sister’s other arm. “Shut up. I have friends. If anyone doesn’t have any friends, it’s you!”

I expect her to go all glassy-eyed and pout, but instead, she sticks her tongue out. “I have Reese.”

Christian just rolls his eyes.

We walk the few blocks it takes to get to Lula Bell’s Cafe in silence. As we step through the door and the mixed smell of ice cream and coffee greets me, I realize I didn’t bring any money.

The three of us step up to the ice cream counter, where Christian and Nova place their orders for two hot fudge sundaes. One with nuts and one without nuts, but with extra whipped cream. The clerk turns to me expectantly.

“And what can I get you?” she asks.

“Nothing for me.”

Christian looks at me, clearly confused. “Why?”

I swallow down my embarrassment and try to ignore the burning of my ears. “I didn’t bring any money.”

Nova pats my arm. “Don’t worry. We got you.”

Christian gives me a tentative smile as he pulls a credit card out of his wallet. My eyes widen.

“You have a credit card? ”

The clerk smirks at me as if she knows something I don’t.

“Yeah, so tell her what you want. I’ll pay.”

“You sure?”

“Yes!” Nova answers.

I place my order for a sundae, without nuts and with extra whipped cream.

“Like me!” Nova says excitedly.

Christian rolls his eyes again. “Calm down, Nova. You act like you haven’t been around another kid in forever.”

She places her hands on her hips. “I haven’t. I’ve only been able to hang out with you, Mr. Serious, all summer.”

I try to hold back my smile at the spunky girl.

She tilts her head and asks, “What?”

“Nothing.”

After Christian pays and we get our ice cream, I follow the duo outside and we sit at the only picnic table.

“Why don’t you guys have more friends?” I find myself asking.

The siblings share a look. “Our dad has a…reputation. So everyone thinks we’re stuck-up or something. It’s always been that way,” Christian answers.

“What’s your dad’s reputation?” I ask.

“Rich, heartless, CEO jerk,” Nova says plainly.

“How old are you?” I ask, unable to ignore my curiosity. She looks a good bit younger than Christian and me but speaks with a bluntness and confidence of someone…less small.

She sits up straighter. “Six, almost seven.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Oh.”

Christian shakes his head as he takes a bite of his ice cream. “I was an only child for six years.” His eyes flick up to meet his sister’s glare. “Life was easier then.”

Again, I expect her to cry or pout, but again, she sticks out her tongue. “Maybe, but life was a lot more boring without me!”

For the first time in a long time, I laugh.