Page 20 of Wildfire (Owl Creek #1)

The next two days are a blur. I barely see Cole except in passing every morning.

He still leaves out the most delicious breakfasts, and then Zoe and I work, grab takeout for dinner, and pass out at night.

I have band practice and work on my songs on the deck to try and catch another glimpse of him, but Cole seems to leave early and come home late.

As much as I know it is for the best, I ache when I see him in the fleeting morning moments he's finishing up coffee as we come in. Our eyes meet over the top of a mug, maybe they linger a second, and then the moment is gone. And each time, I feel a pinch in my chest.

Friday comes, and Callie surprises me with a small box wrapped in shiny paper with raffia string.

"Just something to remember me by."

"How could I forget you?" I start to tear up as I reach out for a hug. "You've taught me so much in only two weeks, fed me lunch daily, and been…Callie, thank you."

She squeezes me tight before releasing me and pointing at the gift. "You gonna open it or what?"

I carefully pull at the string. I don't want to wreck anything about this gift. I haven't had something so carefully given since my mom died.

When I tug at the paper, it reveals a wooden box. The top is hand-carved, depicting a lake surrounded by trees and a bird flying in the distance.

"Is this—"

"The view from right here. Best view in the world if you ask me. But maybe you prefer the view next door better?" Her eyes are twinkling.

"I love it, Callie. Thank you. I will cherish this forever."

I hug her again and let her squeeze me tight. I am going to miss her hugs.

"You better get cleaned up and down to the Grange. Your debut is in a couple of hours."

I nod and push back the tears that are threatening to form. There is no way I will let my feelings get the better of me today. This is my day. My big moment.

"By the way, the rest of your pay is inside the box. Hope it helps you get settled into your new life."

"Thank you, Callie. See you tonight?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I walk home and find myself alone again, so I stroll to the water and sit on the edge of the dock. Caleb promised my car would be ready by tomorrow afternoon. I'll stay one last night and then leave Sunday morning.

It's crazy that I've only been here two weeks, and it feels like months. Time has moved differently lately. It's been slow, but not in a bad way. Not in the way it does when you can't wait for something good to happen and the clock moves like molasses.

I kick off my boots and roll up my pants to dip my feet in the water.

I am going to miss this place and the view.

Callie is right— it is the best view in the world that I've seen so far.

But I'm not like Zoe. I can't stay here just because I love the forest and the hills. I have to try to make it in L.A.

Reluctantly, I pull my feet out of the water. As much as I love sitting here, I must prepare for tonight. This is it—my moment.

I shower and pull out a few outfits to choose from. I decide to go with a sleeveless black cotton top and tight black jeans with my engineer boots. I leave my hair down and wear slightly heavier makeup than I'm used to.

Zoe comes home just as I am finishing up. She wraps her arms around me from behind and looks at me in the mirror.

"You look fine tonight! Cole won't know what to do with himself!"

"This isn't for Cole."

"You can tell yourself that, but he will go nuts."

"Zoe, we're just friends."

"Uh-huh. I'll believe that when you text me from the road on Sunday morning."

I turn to look at her. "I'm not staying for a man. Not like my mom did."

"Do you really think your mom regrets her decision?"

"She had to have, Zoe. I can't imagine choosing to live in Downsville and raising kids instead of singing and playing. The high, you know?"

"Maybe she did. And maybe you'll find out soon that is what you want too."

"Downsville?"

"Not in the strictest sense, but yes. Being in one place. Being in love and raising a family."

"But she never got to raise us."

"Renée, your mom died too young. But that has nothing to do with giving up her music."

"Maybe it does."

"Okay, are we going to do this now? You're being irrational."

"No. I don't want to talk about it. Get dressed, and let's go to the Grange."

"Alright, but we aren't finished with this conversation." Zoe raises a brow at me, and her lips are a thin line.

"Fine."

"Fine."

She showers and puts on a cute little black dress with boots that match mine. I had to admit we looked smokin'.

I grab my guitar, and we drive into town. The Grange's parking lot is already starting to fill up, but we find a spot along the side near the door leading to the stage. We file inside, and I get set up while Zoe finds her way to the makeshift bar.

Voices and laughter mask the thundering in my chest. As people pour in, I chat with the band and do the sound check with them.

My palms are damp, and my guitar pick slips from my fingers as I check my guitar levels.

No one notices heat flash across my cheeks, and Georgia offers me a smile when I catch her eye.

She walks over and squeezes my shoulder.

"You've got this."

I nod and finish my sound check.

We file off behind the curtain on the side of the wooden platform stage and sit in the fold-up chairs. After a few minutes, Callie comes on to give opening remarks. My mouth feels like it is stuffed with cotton as I hear her speak about the festival before she welcomes us on stage.

I can feel my pulse hammer in my chest. This is it. This is the moment. I step out from behind the curtain as the crowd roars for Frayed Edge. The room is packed like sardines, each looking up at us.

I step behind one of the microphones, and Jordy, the drummer, kicks us off with a countdown.

With each beat of his stick, I feel my body relax.

The bass player, Trevor, joins in, and it is like a call to arms. People start to clap to the beat— they know this song— and I get swept up.

When Georgia opens her mouth to sing, I am right there with her, ready to harmonize for the chorus.

My hips start to sway, and the music washes over me. I synch with the rhythm and give myself over to the song. Before I know it, we've finished our first set, and the crowd is pounding their feet for more.

"We'll be back in fifteen minutes with a big surprise for you, so don't go anywhere!" Georgia shouts out before we step back behind the curtain.

Callie brings us some drinks and gives me a huge smile. "You're doing great, kiddo. Can't wait to hear the second set."

My mind is floating on a cloud because I am so deliriously happy. There is nothing like it in the world. Nothing like looking out on a crowd and being connected to them through the sound. Through the music.

We step back out for our second set, and in the back of the room, I catch a flash of someone familiar, but they disappear before I can register who it is. Maybe it is just my imagination. Or I am starting to know more people in this town than I thought.

After our second song, Georgia takes a pause.

"You've probably noticed we have some new people on stage with us tonight. So I want to introduce everyone up here."

The crowd starts to howl and clap again.

"Jensen, our old drummer, had to move away, but now we've got the amazing man with the sticks, Jordy!"

He plays a quick solo, and they go wild.

"Trevor, who you know and love, plays bass guitar."

Whistles and whoops fill the room.

"And tonight only, we have Renée on rhythm and vocals!"

The thunder pounds in my head. They cheer louder than the crowd did when my high school made it to the regional championships, and I feel my body expand. They are cheering for me and haven't even heard my solo yet.

"And I'm Georgia, on rhythm guitar and lead vocals."

They go wild again, and I look around at these players. This is what I'd dreamt of, and here I am.

"We'll let Renée take the lead vocals for the next song. I think you're going to love what you hear."

The crowd quiets down as my hands start to shake.

I need to get back into the zone— quickly.

I look at all the faces staring up at me, then see him.

Cole stands to the side, leaning against the wall with a grin and a beer.

We lock eyes, he nods at me, and the whole world disappears.

It is just him and me. I sit on the stool in front of the mic, close my eyes, and strum.

That is all I needed. Seeing him there and supporting me was all the balm I needed to calm me back down.

The band plays a little backup as I belt out my song—the one I'd written about my mom, the one about love and loss and feeling like half of a whole because that's how I felt when she died.

When I finish, I see people wiping their faces before the cacophony of their cheers fills up every crack and crevice in that room.

They loved it. They loved my music.

I look over at Cole, and he is beaming at me.

I have to admit, I wanted him to love it more than anyone else.

More than Zoe, who has heard me sing before.

More than Callie, who helped me get this opportunity.

I want him to know why I am leaving. To see for himself that music is part of my soul.

It is my connection to my mother and the thing that gives me hope that I can have something more than what is waiting for me back home in Downsville.

We finish the set to more applause, and I walk off the stage, exhausted but exhilarated. Just as I step down, I feel a hand on my arm. I swing around and come face-to-face with a crazed-looking Michael, the boyfriend I'd left behind in Downsville.

That is who I'd caught a glimpse of before the second set started. He must have decided to come after Zoe let it slip that I was in Owl Creek. How he knew I'd be here tonight is a mystery, but nothing stays mysterious for long in a small town.

"Alright, Renée. You've had your fun. It's time to come home now."

I wrench my arm out of his grip as Zoe pushes through the crowd.

“Renée, I am so sorry. I tried to stop him."

"What are you doing here, Michael?" I didn't think he had it in him to call and ask me why I'd left, let alone come after me. But the way he looks right now, it's as if someone I'd never met is standing before me.

"I came to take you home."

"I'm not going home. Downsville isn't home for me anymore."

"Oh, and I suppose this place is?" He grabs for my hand just as Zoe steps in between us, standing inches away from him and poking him in the chest.

"Leave her alone, Michael. I already told you it was a mistake to drive out here."

His face is red and sweaty, and his eyes are bloodshot. "I'm not leaving without you, Renée. You belong with me." He pushes around her and tries to grab me again.

Suddenly, I see both Caleb and Cole emerge from the crowd. Within an instant, Caleb is flanking Zoe, and Cole is flanking me.

"Is there a problem here?" Cole puts a protective arm around me.

"Oh, now I see. My bed isn't even cold, and you're already spreading your legs for someone else."

Cole's fist is flying through the air before Michael can finish his sentence. The sound it makes when he connects with Michael's jaw is painful and thrilling.

He's protecting me, even though I'm not his to protect.

Michael doubles over as he covers his jaw with his hand, blood pooling around a small cut on his lip. "What the hell, man?"

"If you ever insult her again. If you ever come near her again. I won't pull my punches."

Michael looks at me like a kicked dog, and I see the man I know. The one who would always be too cowardly for me. The one who thought building a successful fast-food restaurant in a dying town was a woman's idea of a big score.

"You didn't even say goodbye, Renée. Didn't I mean anything to you?"

I look at Cole, and we seem to speak without saying anything. I let him know it is okay, and I pull Michael aside. Cole watches our every move.

"Michael, we had some fun, but that's all it was.

I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry, but I am not the woman who will marry you and give you a boatload of kids.

I don't want to cheer you on as you build the Slop Shop.

And I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye.

That was shitty of me. I knew if I told you, you'd try to talk me out of it, and you'd probably talk to my dad about it, but I couldn't let my family know.

I saw my chance to leave, and I took it. I hope you will understand someday."

Defeated, he nods his head. "You were great up there."

I gently kick his foot with my boot. "Thanks. Sorry about the punch in the face, but you were being a dick."

"I'm going to get some ice and go home." He turns to walk away and then looks back over his shoulder. "Bye, Renée. I loved you, you know."

I nod. "Bye, Michael." I turn back toward Cole, but my eyes lock on Zoe and Caleb, standing close to each other, chatting. Just as I am about to break that situation up, she whips out her phone to answer it. When I reach her, I see a panicked look on her face.

"I gotta go. My mom fell at work, and she's at the hospital."

"Is she going to be okay?"

"Yeah. Can you get a ride home from Cole? I'm going to grab my stuff and head back to Downsville."

"You don't want me to go back to Cole's to help you pack?"

"Hell no. This is your night! You need to stay here and meet all your new fans. I'll be okay."

I squeeze Zoe in a hug and lean my face to her ear. "Thank you for coming. It means the world to me. Please drive carefully and text me when you get to the hospital."

She squeezes me back and nods again. Then she says goodbye to Caleb and Cole and disappears through the crowd.

I spend the rest of the evening chatting with locals and tourists and having the time of my life.

Every few minutes, I scan the room and find Cole towering above whomever he is talking with, and his eyes inevitably meet mine.

He smiles, holds my gaze, and occasionally raises an eyebrow if I look at him too long.

And everything about it is driving me wild.

He isn't treating me with kid gloves, but he isn't letting me out of his sight either.

He isn't beating off other men flirting, but he isn't further than a few steps away, just in case I need him.

He keeps my cup filled with cold beer or water, whichever I want, and he brings me a burger from God knows where, exactly when my stomach starts to growl.

He knows what I need, and he cares for me. Leaving him after two weeks will be harder than leaving Michael after two years.

I push the thoughts of leaving out of my mind as I scan the crowd one last time to find him.

He nods toward the door, and I smile, climbing the stairs to the stage to grab my guitar.

I say goodbye to the band and thank them for the best night of my life, and then I find Cole waiting by the side door.

"Ready, Wildfire?"

"Ready."