The Log House on the Right

PART ONE

ALDER DAUGHTLER

Chapter One

While I’m proud to say that I’m officially a University of Nevada graduate, I can’t be a Las Vegas Rebel forever. It’s time for me to move back home: to Montana. I’m far from a rebel, anyway. I never missed a class, I went above and beyond for my studies, and I cried when my grades weren’t perfect enough. My classes were challenging, but they also served as a distraction from my struggles with my social life. I rarely had the urge to party, which is ironic given the city I was in, but studying Early Childhood Education and Psychology with a career goal of family therapy and trauma therapy for children tends to keep one busy. I didn’t have the time to have regular night-outs, nor did I make the time.

I was no stranger to Vegas. Growing up there for the first eight years of my childhood drew me back for my college years, but after experiencing heartbreak at its finest, I no longer wanted to be associated with the place. My boyfriend throughout college, Harrison, was all I could dream of until the relationship became a nightmare. I was caught up in unwanted miscommunications and pure immaturity. Being the other woman and a second choice isn’t quite my style when it comes to relationships. My poor choices in men led me to give up on the dating life altogether. Maybe it was because I was shy and allowed just about anyone into my life, or perhaps it was my ability to trust everyone around me. As a reserved and introverted person, I’ve always felt the need to change myself to fit in with friend groups and attract certain guys. I never really felt like I could live my life as Jaemes. Sadly, I no longer know who Jaemes truly is because of that. I do know I can’t continue to quietly sit in a corner for the rest of my life. It’s time to show who Jaemes really is, whoever that may be.

I’m honestly not sure how it’s going to go in Montana. I have my parents and friends here, but what about me? Can I really be myself here? I’m about to find out. I scheduled a few house showings in my hometown, and I start both a new job and internship soon. I always told myself that I should branch out and live somewhere I’ve never been and start a new life, but I couldn’t pass up the amazing career opportunities that led me back here. My long train of thought gets interrupted when my best friend, Ember Ellis, sweeps me away with a giant hug inside the airport, reminding me that there are even more positives about my decision to move back home.

“Hey, Jaemes!” she squeals. “I fricken missed you so much.”

“You’re crazy. I just saw you a few weeks ago,” I laugh as she lets me go.

Ember helped me with packing most of my belongings back in Vegas. I met Ember when I moved here in fifth grade, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Going through my school years with Ember was always an adventure. In high school, I was determined to follow in my mom’s performing footsteps and join the dance team alongside Ember. As a shy teenager, being on the dance team and befriending Ember helped break me out of my shell, giving me the confidence to meet new people. We maintained our strong friendship throughout our college years, despite the long distance. She stayed here in Montana and was accepted into a nursing program. We visited each other numerous times, making sure to meet during holiday breaks. Like many close friendships, we always continued right where we left off.

“Yeah, well, so? Can’t I still miss my best friend?”

“I missed you, too, you freak of the week,” I tell her and return the hug.

Ember hooks arms with me, and we head outside with my neon yellow hardshell suitcase following behind us. As we near her vehicle, I see her boyfriend, Bennett Tanner, and her younger brother, Eric, waiting for us.

Ember and Eric could pass as twins with their perfect porcelain skin and deep red, curly hair. Ember’s lengthy hair reaches just past the middle of her back. I have always been envious of her natural beauty. Many people are surprised that she doesn’t wear colored contact lenses, given that her eyes are different colors. Her right eye is green, and her left eye is blue.

“As you can see, I needed company. Plus, I thought maybe you would like to see these guys, too,” she says close to my ear as if she wanted to keep that a secret.

“Of course I do. It’s been so long since I’ve seen either of them,” I tell her, taking in a breath of fresh Montana air.

“Welcome home,” Bennett says as soon as we reach the vehicle.

“Thank you. I’m glad to be back,” I reply.

“Can we please stop to get something to eat?” Eric asks without looking up from his phone. Ember takes my luggage and gives it to Bennett to place in the trunk.

“No. I’m sure Jaemes wants to get home,” Ember assumes.

She assumes correctly.

Eric scoffs and opens the car door to get in. “Are your parents even home?” he asks me.

“I spoke with my mom before my flight departed. They won’t be home for a few days. With me being out of the house for the last few years, they’ve been working a lot more, so no surprise there.”

“You’re coming to my house with us, then,” Ember says. “We have a lot to catch up on.”

My hometown is approximately forty minutes away from the airport. The whole drive home, I admire the mountains surrounding us, the cows and horses spread out in the fields, and all the natural beauty Montana has to offer. It’s nothing like the artificial beauty from the loud city and bright lights of Las Vegas.

The afternoon sun is warm, but nothing like the desert heat I was accustomed to. I’m craving this fresher air and can’t wait to sit outside and relax in it. Maybe returning home won’t be so bad. I almost forgot how authentic the nature and scenery are around here.

We turn onto a gravel road, indicating we are almost at the Ellis household. This road evokes a range of memories and a sense of joy. I see the left turn up ahead, and I can’t help but notice the log house on the right. The Ellis’ have always lived down the road from this log house, which has never looked this elegant and well cared for.

“Whoa, someone actually cleaned this place up?” I ask.

“My buddy from work bought it a few years back and fixed it up,” Bennett mentions.

“Whoever it is did a phenomenal job. It looks amazing,” I say, trying to quickly glance at the log house and the property around it as we drive by.

“Alder Daughtler,” Bennett says, clarifying his name.

“You should have seen the amount of work and hours they put into that house,” Ember adds. “If they weren’t working, they were working on that house.”

Bennett looks back at me from the passenger seat. “We got it finished up about a month ago.” He turns to Ember. “He’s probably getting things ready for his housewarming bonfire tonight.”

Bennett works as a construction electrician. He explains that he and Alder want to start their own business soon. They have been good friends for years and have always worked well together. Ember expresses her interest in going to Alder’s bonfire, and Bennett states that he told Alder they’d attend but had to pick up a friend from the airport first. I’m hoping they don’t expect me to join. All I want to do after a long day of traveling is relax with my best friend and catch up on whatever needs catching up on. We are due for some much-needed one-on-one time. Ember pulls into their driveway and parks the car.

“Alright, Bennett, I think it’s time for that basketball rematch,” Eric says.

“You’re just asking for more embarrassment, dude,” Bennett replies as he goes into the garage to grab a ball.

The boys start their one-on-one basketball game in the driveway, and Ember and I walk down the road. The sun is about to set, but thankfully, it’s still giving off some warmth.

“How’s everything going with your nursing career? I know you were looking for the right position, but are there any updates?” I ask her.

“Actually, I recently accepted a travel nurse position. I’ll get to meet new people and see some pretty neat places,” she tells me. “Although I’ve just started, I know it’s going to be the job for me. My coworkers seem awesome, which makes it even better.”

“Great. I moved back home just in time for my partner in crime to leave me. You were one of the only reasons why I was semi-okay moving back to Montana,” I admit to her.

“Oh, please. Spare me. You’ll get over it just like I had to when you moved back to Vegas for college. Besides, it’s not like I won’t ever be home.”

“Oh, I see how it is. You’re trying to get back at me,” I tease, trying to find the light in this news. “Will that affect your relationship with Bennett? I’m sure it can’t be easy.”

“We’ll make it work. It will be like having a typical relationship and a long-distance relationship at the same time,” she laughs.

“I guess distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Are you happy to finally be back home?” she asks, then engulfs me in a bear hug, causing me to nearly tip over onto the gravel road.

“You know, I love you and the love you have for me, but one of these days, you’re actually going to hurt me.”

“Don’t be a baby. Just take it,” she chuckles. “On a serious note, how are you holding up with the whole Harrison situation?”

I knew he would be brought up at some point, but I still had high hopes of avoiding the subject altogether. I need to move on, and talking about him will only slow down that process.

“I’m doing okay. I was hurt at first, but now I’m pissed more than anything.”

It took a long time for me to come to terms with the fact that my three-and-a-half-year relationship with Harrison had ended for good. He was my everything for the duration of my college years. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be by my side throughout all of my college experiences. He understood me and was patient, despite our personalities being polar opposites. He saved me from all of the assholes I seemed to attract when I started freshman year.

Halfway through my senior year, I discovered from my roommate that a rumor was circulating about Harrison still being involved with his high school girlfriend. When I brought it up to him, he never denied it. Apparently, he thought he could live two separate lives, as he is originally from Colorado, and she never planned to accompany him to the University of Nevada. Harrison was undecided about whether he was going to stay in Las Vegas after graduation or move back home. I made his decision easier when I told him that I wasn’t staying and he wasn’t coming with me.

“I can’t believe he turned out to be another asshole. You two were so cute together—it made my heart melt,” she pouts.

“How do you think I feel, Em? I thought I was going to marry him, and we would start a family together. It’s hard to get over someone who was really important to you. Especially when he wasn’t who I thought he was.” My mood turns even more depressed as I recall my past with Harrison and what our future should have looked like. Now, we are states away and living our own lives separately as if our relationship never existed.

“Please tell me you’re going to the town’s party next weekend. We need to find you a man who will help get you over this hump.”

The mayor is hosting a party to celebrate the town’s one hundredth anniversary. Otherwise, this small town isn’t known for putting on any celebrations or events, so it’s a big deal. I roll my eyes at her before responding.

“Ember, the last thing that’s on my mind right now is going to the town’s party for a man, let alone a housewarming party at this man’s house,” I say while gesturing with my hand to the log house we are nearing.

“Come on…it should be fun…if you go, too!”

“We’ll see. I already agreed to help at one of the booths. The therapy office I’m interning at asked if I wanted to help,” I inform her.

Our walking route has taken us to the front of the log house, and I’m now able to take a better look at it. Before we turn around to go back, I examine everything in front of me. The barn features brand-new siding, the lawn has been freshly mowed, the logs on the house have been refinished, and there is a fire pit with concrete edging for outdoor seating.

I see a man on the porch working on the wood paneling. Three large dogs are roaming around the yard. They look like Labrador Retrievers—one white, one chocolate, and one black. After the dogs start barking our way, he looks up and sees us and waves us down, which makes Ember nudge my arm with her elbow before walking toward the property entrance. He walks down the porch steps and meets us halfway down the driveway. He’s tall and fit, wearing ripped blue jeans that are dirt-stained, and a gray Coors Light t-shirt. His white ballcap is on backward, and he’s wearing black sunglasses. As I look at him a little closer, I notice he has some facial hair. It’s longer than a five o’clock shadow but shorter than what I would consider a full-on beard.

“You’re still not done with this place?” Ember asks him.

He shakes his head and then removes his sunglasses from his face. “I can’t seem to catch a break.”

I can tell he’s trying to figure out who I am when he finally looks at me. His eyes are hazel, and they sparkle in the setting sunlight. Ember takes this opportunity to introduce us. “Alder, this is my best friend in the whole world, Jaemes.” She turns to Alder. “Jaemes, this is Alder.”

He holds his hand out to shake mine but doesn’t say anything. However, I don’t say anything either. I’ve been known to be socially awkward, and I don’t want to chance saying anything stupid. His hands are calloused and dirty, but he holds a tight grip during our handshake. He seems to be the type of man who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty with a project. Someone who would take matters into his own hands if it came down to it. Someone who doesn’t take shit from anyone. A man who is entirely different from the egotistical, preppy, party boys I was into in college. But these are only assumptions, like judging a book by its cover.

An extremely handsome, manly book cover.

“Hi, it’s… really lovely to meet you,” I blurt out loud. My face instantly feels numb. Really lovely to meet you? Could I sound any more eager? Although I’m trying to be a more talkative and outgoing person, I still come across as awkward and embarrassing. I have a lot of work to do if I want to change who Jaemes is. It’s a constant battle within myself—getting rid of the old that’s been alive for over twenty years and building a new self with a different personality that you’re proud to show everyone, in and out of your life. Starting a new life in your hometown isn’t easy. I want people who know me not to recognize me, and for new acquaintances to know exactly who this new version of me is. So far, I’m not doing a great job.

I look at Ember, waiting for her to say something since I seem to be having a hard time.

“So, are you good to go for tonight?” she finally asks.

“Just about. Once I’m done with this bullshit,” he says, gesturing toward the area of the porch he is working on. “You guys are more than welcome to come. I told Bennett about it a few days ago.”

“We just might. I think Jaemes needs a fun night out,” she says, tilting her head my way with a smirk on her face. Again, I roll my eyes at her and shake my head. She knows I would much rather sit at home and sleep in what was once my bed.

“Cool, see you later, then,” Alder says before looking at me one last time and then returning to his porch, while we slowly make our way back down the road to Ember’s house.

“You are so awkward,” Ember laughs.

“I’m totally no way, not going,” I tell her, then glance back at Alder, making his way back to the house.

My comment causes her to stop in her tracks. “And why not?”

“Ember, I know when I’m not wanted. Did you see the way he looked at me?”

She scoffs and continues walking again. “No, you’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m not stupid. He didn’t say one word to me. That wasn’t a good first impression. There’s no way I’m going back to that house.”

“You’ll be fine. Give him a break. He’s probably tired from constantly working on house repairs. You always get this way when you meet new people. Have a few drinks, loosen up a little, and have fun. Try to overcome your awkwardness.”

She’s right. I don’t do well with large gatherings, especially with people I’m not familiar with. It’s not enjoyable being the shy one. I was content and comfortable in high school because I could spend many years with the same people. It was the same experience during my college years. Now that I am back home, I feel out of my comfort zone as I comprehend starting all over again. But is there a better way to start a new life than going to a stranger’s housewarming party on your first night home?

I guess there’s only one way to find out.

Chapter Two

Here we are on walk number two toward the log house. This time, Bennett accompanies us. Ember and Eric spent the last half hour arguing about whether or not he could also attend Alder’s bonfire. As much as we all love Eric and his unique sense of humor, these people seem more mature and might not want to spend their evening with an eighteen-year-old.

By the time we arrive, it’s completely dark outside, and many people are already gathered near the fire pit. The log house glows from the lights shining through all the windows from inside. As we approach the patio doors, the music can be heard before we open them. Once we step inside, I look at the downstairs level. I have always wondered what the inside of this house looked like. A bar is located immediately to the right of the patio doors, with people surrounding it. Straight ahead of the patio doors is a nice living room with a sectional couch and a TV mounted on the wall. The layout is open and spacious, with a few bedrooms, a bathroom, and a laundry room. Surrounding the walls are assortments of animals that are also mounted, lending the log house a more outdoorsy atmosphere.

Ember engages with someone she seems to know and takes off, leaving me alone. Once again, I feel awkward and find myself looking for someone to talk to without feeling the need to hide behind Ember the entire time.

“You want a drink?” one of the guys behind the bar asks me.

“I could go for a Jack Daniel’s and Coke if you don’t mind. And make it a double,” I immediately respond.

“Ah, a whiskey girl. My kind of lady.”

Of course, I am.

It’s about what every other guy says when I mention that I have the balls to drink whiskey. I have my stepdad, Rian, to thank for that. My mom met Rian when we briefly lived in Los Angeles when I was eight. He works as a pilot and flies commercial planes. He introduced my mom to the airline industry, and she began working as a flight attendant when fame didn’t work out in her favor. After my mom married Rian, we moved here to his hometown in Montana. Rian never had any children of his own, nor had he ever been previously married. They were happy with me as an only child, and I was pleased with the parents God gave me. Every day, no matter what kind of day Rian has, he will make a Jack and Coke to end his day. If it weren’t for him introducing me to the savory taste of whiskey, I’d probably be a damn vodka drinker like most girls.

The guy hands me a tall glass, and I thank him for the drink. After he winks at me, I turn around and see Ember talking with a small group of people near the couch. As I attempt to get to know new people, I find that the guy who made my drink is already conversing with a group of people who just arrived. I walk over and join Ember to see if this will be any easier with her around.

“Hey, thanks so much for leaving me,” I say to her sarcastically.

“Oh, good, you have a drink!” she says ecstatically. “I went to search the house for some beer, but apparently, everything is down here.” She heads toward the bar and helps herself. Many people who were at the bar earlier are now sitting outside by the fire.

As we walk across the lawn and onto the cement slab surrounding the fire pit, we notice that all of the white wooden chairs are taken. Since we didn’t bring any chairs of our own, we remain standing with the rest of the group.

I try my best to incorporate myself into Ember’s conversations. I chime in when I can; otherwise, I listen, nod, and drink. Music is playing on a portable speaker in the background. With the combination of the music and all the chatter from everyone here, it’s somewhat difficult to make out what people are saying at times.

“Hey, Whiskey Girl.” When I turn around, I see the guy who made my drink standing behind me. “Looks like it’s almost time for another one.” I’m not ashamed of how fast I drank my cocktail. He’s the only one who would know my pace anyway, since he was the one who made it.

“Well, I will say you made it pretty damn good,” I tell him.

As I finish off my drink, he grins and holds out his hand, indicating that he will refill it. I smile back and give him my glass. The liquid courage will kick in at some point.

My eyes scan around the fire pit, and when I get to the other side, I surprisingly catch Alder’s eyes on me. He no longer has a hat on, so now I can see his hair. It’s short and chestnut brown. A shorter cut on the sides and it’s slightly longer on top, which shows a subtle shaggy style.

A blond girl is sitting on his lap, giggling at a different conversation. He doesn’t seem phased by me catching him staring. He slowly looks away and turns his attention back to her conversation. I almost feel relieved to be noticed by him. Maybe I didn’t completely blow it with my first impression. I keep my eyes steady on him just for fun, and then he makes eye contact with me again. This time, he gestures for me to accompany him with a two-finger beckoning sign.

I take a slow, deep breath through my nose and then start to filter through everyone and their diverse conversations. When I reach him, he appears more intimidating than before.

“What’s up?” I ask him, trying to conceal my nerves.

He turns his head to me and slowly eyes me up and down. My brows narrow with confusion as I impatiently wait for his answer. What could he possibly want from me when there are so many other people here for him? I turn to walk away just as he finally responds.

“He’s only trying to get in your pants.”

“Excuse me?” I say, turning back to face him.

“Tate. He has his sights set on you; I can tell. I’d be careful.”

“Who is Tate?” I wait for him to answer, but instead, he gulps his beer and then shakes the can to see how much is left. Who does he think he is? I don’t need to be looked after. Not anymore, anyway. I’m done seeking out guys who only care about the bedroom. “Okay, well, thanks for the heads up, but I think I can handle whoever Tate is.”

“Like I said, just be careful. He gravitates toward people who are new to town.”

“I’m not new. I just moved—” I become distracted when I suddenly feel a hand on my back. The guy who has been making my drinks is now standing beside me again.

“So, what are we talking about?” he asks us eagerly as he hands me my drink. By this time, the blond girl sitting on Alder’s lap ends her separate conversation.

“Oh my God, I have to pee,” she says, finally noticing we are standing here. Her face turns from friendly to sour when she sees me. I think it’s time to remove myself from this conversation between the guy who thinks he knows me and his unpleasant girlfriend. With her eyes still locked on me, she gives Alder a playful peck on the cheek before grabbing another girl and going inside. I suddenly don’t feel very welcome here.

“Wanna go for a walk? See the property?” Alder asks me, standing up from his chair now that his lap is finally free.

“Nah, bro, she’s good,” Whiskey Maker says and then puts his arm around me, pulling me closer to him as if I’m his.

Ah, this must be Tate.

I shrug my shoulders and go with it. I know how to handle guys like Tate. After he walks me back to the other side of the fire pit, I throw his arm off of me. He confirms my assumption as he introduces himself as Tate.

“Good to know,” I tell him frankly. “I’m Jaemes.”

“I wanted to make sure you knew my name before you started calling me Whiskey Guy or something,” he confesses.

I laugh at that. “Awe, you’re my little whiskey boy,” I say while pinching his cheek.

Oh boy. Either the liquor is kicking in, or I’m doing a fabulous job of my new version of flirting.

He flirtatiously nudges me with his elbow in response. I feel his fingers lightly graze my hand in an attempt to hold it, but he immediately lets go when Alder grabs hold of his arm and snatches him away from me.

What the hell?

Alder takes him back to the other side of the cement slab as I tap on Ember’s shoulder. Something doesn’t seem right.

“What’s up with that?” I ask, showing her the intense conversation that’s being had between the two guys.

“They have always butted heads. He must have done something to piss Alder off because he doesn’t take any shit, especially from Tate. You’ll understand once you get to know him better.”

“Who, Alder or Tate?”

“Both.”

I try to ignore the situation and stick with Ember, but it’s hard to avoid the two men who seem to be bickering back and forth. I try to make out what the issue is, but reading lips isn’t my forte. Tate shakes his head and throws his hands up defensively. He eventually storms away from Alder before approaching the patio doors and meeting the blonde girl, who is coming back from the bathroom. As those two talk, I walk back over to Alder, now knowing who he was referring to earlier. Is he sure it’s Tate who has his sights set on me, or could it be that he does?

“How about that walk?” I ask him. He seems a little heated from his conversation with Tate, but I’m hoping a stroll around the property will help him cool off.

“Sure. Follow me,” he says, leading the way to the barn.

When he turns on the lights, I notice the horse stables to our right. It looks well taken care of, as if horses could be boarded here. To our left is an entryway to a more open area.

“Do you plan on training horses?” I ask.

He chuckles. “No. I have no idea how to train horses.” He immediately seems more at ease, as if he needed this time away from everyone. If I’m being honest with myself, I could say I needed the time away, too.

“This is a perfect place to board and train horses, Alder. Why did you fix it up this way?”

He shrugs. “This is how it was. All I did was restore its appearance and reinforce its structure. Who knows, I might sell it one day if the right offer comes along.” He walks over to another entryway, and I take in all of his hard work. I’m surprised to hear that he would sell this place after everything he’s done to it. He made this house and barn his own. Based on how it looked before the renovations, he basically rebuilt everything from the ground up.

After a moment, he whistles to get my attention and smiles when I turn to him. “Come over here.”

“Did you just whistle at me?” I chuckle, slightly taken aback.

“Sorry, it’s a habit. I have three dogs, remember?” His smile becomes fuller. It’s the first time I’ve seen his face like this. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel a little warm inside. His smile enhances all of his features beautifully.

I join him in the last part of the barn. It’s a garage that looks like it was turned into an office space or an extra living quarter. It has a desk and a filing cabinet in the far corner. A large couch is up against the wall to our left. A TV hangs on the opposite wall, and repurposed cabinets surround a small kitchenette. Much cleaner and more amusing than a garage.

“This is nice. Do you ever park anything in here?” I ask him.

“No, not normally. This is more of a guest house. I just park my truck outside. I guess if I had to park something in here, I would; but so far, I haven’t needed to.” He pats the seat next to him on the couch, signaling for me to sit. I slowly walk over to join him. I’m starting to wonder where the blond girl is and if she has any affiliation with Alder. What was the reason for wanting to show me around and be alone with me?

“So, what’s up with you and Tate?” I ask, sitting beside him on the couch.

“There’s nothing to talk about when it comes to Tate. He’s just…” He takes a drink of his cocktail, and I do the same to silence the awkwardness. “What’s up with you? Are you from here?”

I get the hint that he wants to change the subject and nod. I’ll find out at some point, I’m sure.

“Kind of. I’ve lived in a few different places, but I’m mostly from here, yes.”

“And what does that mean?” he questions.

“Um…” I freeze up a little inside, as if I’ve just realized we’re in a building alone, making it hard to have a conversation with him. I take another sip of my cocktail and swirl the ice around the glass.

When I don’t answer his question, he asks, “Okay, well… when did you move here initially?”

Come on, Jaemes, stop acting weird and just talk to the guy.

“When I was nine. That’s when I met Ember, and we’ve been best friends ever since.”

“Makes sense,” he responds.

“When did you buy this place? I don’t ever remember seeing you around.”

He thinks for a moment. “Three years ago. Almost four. I moved here from South Dakota shortly after Bennett. We’ve been good friends for most of our lives as well. After trade school, we found jobs at the same place and eventually want to start our own electrical business. What do you do for work?”

“I just graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in Early Childhood Development and Psychology. My end career goal is to counsel children who experience childhood trauma or families with children who need guidance getting through traumas. That’s sort of why I moved back here. I accepted a job position at an elementary school that will help me get my foot in the door. I’ll be working with children who typically express their feelings through negative and aggressive behaviors, and help navigate them back to more appropriate behavior for a school environment.”

“Good for you,” he tells me. “You’ve got a lot of patience.”

He places his arm on top of the couch. His hand is nearly touching my shoulder. Even though we are at arm’s length from each other, I can’t help but feel a sense of closeness between us. This conversation and alone time must be fueled by alcohol consumption. When we were introduced earlier today, his demeanor was as if he couldn’t care less about who I am and where I came from. Now he’s sitting close to me as we remain the only two together, separated from everyone else, in a room that’s located in a different building. How did this happen?

“I think I’m going to make one more and then head out,” I tell him as our drinks near empty.

“Plus, I’m sure your girlfriend is wondering where you are.”

“Girlfriend? Who said I had a girlfriend?” he asks, genuinely curious as to who I’m referring to.

“The blonde who was sitting on your lap earlier. Isn’t she your…” I trail off now, thinking my assumption may be wrong.

Alder lets out a deep chuckle and shakes his head slightly. “She wishes.”

I say no more about the blond or Tate, and he follows me out of the barn, but then separates from me and rejoins everyone back at the fire. Ember accompanies me to the bar inside the house after we meet halfway in the yard.

“Where the heck did you go?” she asks me.

“You’ll never believe it,” I tell her matter-of-factly.

“Try me.”

“I was sort of in the barn talking with Alder.”

“Shut up! Tell me everything,” she demands as we walk back into the house. We each grab one more drink before calling it a night, and I fill her in on my conversation with Alder.

Well, that was supposed to be the plan.

Chapter Three

My head is pounding, my throat aches, my eyes burn, and my face is… wet? I get the strength to open my heavy eyes. Staring back at me just inches from my face are two adorable brown eyes, a wet nose, and a wagging tail. I look over at the nightstand, hoping to see my phone sitting there. Instead of my phone, there’s an open package of half-eaten Pop-Tarts and a bottle of water. I sit up and realize I don’t recognize where I’m at. Another dog is lying at the end of the bed. My surroundings are reminding me that I slept at Alder’s last night.

I get out of bed slowly, ensuring I don’t make any noise. I walk into the Hollywood-style bathroom and lock both doors. Of course, my hair is messy, and the little amount of makeup I had on is all over my face. I pull my long, bronze hair up into a messy bun and then wash my face with water from the sink. I’m forced to accept that this is as good as it will get as I painfully look at my reflection in the mirror.

I walk out of the bathroom and toward the closed bedroom door. I hear a man’s voice who seems to be talking on the phone. I chicken out and sit back on the bed. I suppose now would be a perfect time to eat the rest of the Pop-Tarts and finish the water. My stomach feels nauseous, and my head is throbbing. I rummage through the blankets on the bed and finally find my phone. I bring up Ember’s name and send her a text message.

Me: Where are you?

I wait for a response for ten minutes, but there’s no reply.

It’s time to rip the band-aid off and open that door. Immediately, the sun blinds me when I walk out of the bedroom. When my eyes finally adjust, I see that I am standing in the dining room with the kitchen to my right and a living room straight ahead next to the porch doors. The main door to the house is just past the dining room area to the left. I glance out of the window and see the fire pit still smoldering. I indeed spent the night at Alder’s house.

“There she is. Alive and well.”

I turn slightly to the right toward the same voice I heard talking on the phone earlier. Alder is sitting on the couch with his phone next to his ear. He abruptly ends the conversation and turns his attention to me, the random woman who just walked out of his bedroom.

“I’m alive, but definitely not well,” I correct him.

He lets out a light laugh and points to the kitchen counter. “That bottle of Advil is for you.”

Without hesitation, I walk to the counter and take three capsules from the bottle. “I’m sorry I made you sleep on the couch last night. I do not normally drink that much. I’m more of a social drinker and not the ‘drink to get drunk’ type.”

“I didn’t mind sleeping on the couch. It’s all good,” he says.

The last thing I wanted to do was to attend his bonfire, regardless of the occasion. However, I did start to enjoy myself as the drinks kept flowing. Something about Alder makes me a little nervous, not in a scary way, but rather in a bashful manner. I should be able to do and say what I want without worrying about looking or sounding pathetic. That’s one of the things I need to work on the most about myself. I need to have more self-confidence and the courage to be me. But I shouldn’t care what Alder thinks of me. It’s not like I’ll be seeing much of him after this.

“Do you have any idea where Ember is?” I ask him. “I tried texting her this morning.”

“She and Bennett slept in one of the bedrooms downstairs,” he says, folding a blanket and draping it over the back of the couch. “She got a little tuned up last night, too. There was no way we were trusting you two to walk home.”

“You underestimate her, then.”

Ember has always been known to be the life of the party. One time, when she came to visit me in college, she stayed awake for over twenty-four hours with a constant buzz and never became incredibly intoxicated. Her ability to drink and remain somewhat normal is incredible. And the hangovers? They are nonexistent for her. She is a wild one, but I love her.

“What’s the address here? I should call for a ride if Ember is still sleeping. I’d love to go home and cure this cute little hangover.”

“I can drive you,” he says.

“You don’t have to do that. You gave up your bed, food, water, booze, and Advil for me. I couldn’t ask you to drive me home after all that.”

“I insist,” he says, nearly cutting me off.

“You may have to clean out vomit in your truck,” I warn him.

“I’ll take my chances. I’ll even stop on the way and get you breakfast.”

Maybe I’ll be more up for food after I clean myself up a bit more.

***

When Alder said he would stop and get me breakfast, I didn’t think that meant he’d stop at a sit-down joint. A drive-thru or a gas station would have sufficed. Sassy Stacy’s is a popular bar and grill open for breakfast, lunch, and supper. It has an old-time saloon vibe to it. Although I love the food here, I’d much rather go home and sleep the day away.

I exit his truck, leaving my used clothes in a bag in the back seat, and enter the restaurant, practically drowning in Alder’s clothes. However, I’m more comfortable than I was when I first woke up. He was kind enough to let me use his shower and lend me some of his clothes. Even though his body wash smells fantastic on me, the high octane of the scent is making my uneasy stomach turn.

“What can I get you two for drinks right away?” the waitress asks as we take our seats in a booth by the window. I pull the shade so the sun doesn’t create a glare off the table and blind me. My head hurts way too much for that.

“Chocolate milk and water, please,” I tell her.

“Irish coffee for me,” Alder orders.

I almost puke hearing him order a coffee with whiskey in it. Apparently, he didn’t get enough to drink last night. Either that, or he is just like Ember and can drink whatever, whenever, and not be bothered by it. When the waitress returns with our drinks, I immediately chug half my chocolate milk with an amused Alder watching.

“Don’t judge me. Believe it or not, chocolate milk has more electrolytes than water and most sports drinks. I always drink it when I’m hungover,” I say before proceeding to drink the rest of it.

“No judgment on my end,” he says.

Usually, the heaping amount of food Alder orders would sound good to me, but I’m on the verge of dying. I’m still dehydrated, and my whole body feels sore. I end up ordering pancakes and a side of buttered toast.

“Are you from around here?” I ask, finally thinking of something to talk about.

“No…I grew up in South Dakota.”

“What brought you to Montana?”

“My family vacationed here a lot growing up. One day, my parents bought a ski resort, and the rest is history,” he says, continuing to eat.

“We never went on any extravagant family trips. Just camping mainly,” I tell him.

Alder laughs to himself and takes another bite.

“What?” I ask, wondering what could be so funny.

“Nothing. It’s just…” He finishes chewing and wipes his mouth with a napkin, “you’ve said all this already. Last night, you asked the same questions and said the same things.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“It’s fine. It’s cute how you can’t handle your alcohol,” he teases.

I throw a napkin at him. “Like I said, I don’t normally drink that much.”

I can only eat a few bites of my food. If I eat any more, it will unfortunately come back up after it hits my stomach. I sit back and watch him. I watch him eat, I watch him drink, I watch him look around the place like he has never been here before. His eyes will catch mine occasionally, but I can’t look away. I’m trying harder to figure him out rather than focusing on what he might be thinking of me.

“I can pay,” I tell him right after the waitress lays our bill at our table. I reach for it, but he quickly snatches the paper bill from me and lays his credit card down on the table, all while maintaining eye contact with me. I look at him pointedly. “Come on, it’s the least I can do. I’ve been a nuisance, and because of that, I owe you.”

“You owe me nothing, Jaemes.”

“Why didn’t Ember take care of me last night?” I ask.

“Ember is my best friend’s girl. You are best friends with Ember. She was off doing only God knows what most of the night, and I couldn’t find her. No one else knew you, so I stepped up to the plate. Plus, you were…entertaining.”

“Well, I’m glad I could entertain you and your party,” I say with sarcasm.

“Remember when you tried to break up a fight between Tate and Preston?” he asks with a chuckle. “You held your ground, but I stepped in before you almost got your ass kicked.” He takes a sip of his whiskey-infused coffee and then continues. “Plus, I wanted to see Tate get his shit handed to him.”

“Yeah, I remember. Things are a tad fuzzy, but I remember. I still don’t understand why you don’t care for him.”

His shoulders rise and then back down again while a sigh escapes from his lips. “I don’t like the way he treats women,” he tells me. “And I didn’t like his encounter with you. I know him well enough to know his true intentions.”

“Why do you care so much about what he does?” I ask genuinely, wanting to know his answer.

“That’s a conversation for a different time,” he says as he moves the plates to the end of the table for the waitress. “Ready to go?”

I don’t understand what the issue is between Tate and Alder. Although I know why Alder doesn’t like him, I still don’t get why he’s concerned about what he does with me. Or anyone for that matter. Ultimately, it’s none of his business. No one is getting hurt, right?

When we reach his black Chevy, I give him directions to my house. The house I lived in for thirteen years before moving off to college. “I bet you’re excited to see your family,” he says.

“I’m not sure when I’ll get to see them. My parents are working this weekend.”

Alder smiles. “Oh, I know.”

“Ha. I bet you do. Drunk me can’t keep anything to herself, apparently.”

“Any siblings home?” he asks.

“Nope, I’m an only child. I’m surprised I didn’t tell you that last night.”

“Me, too,” he laughs.

We pull into my driveway and notice how empty it looks. There are no cars parked in it, and the shades attached to the windows are closed. Rian always insisted that everything be locked and closed whenever no one was home. Alder puts his truck in park.

“Thank you again for everything, and I sincerely apologize for making you take care of me last night. I feel bad you had to sleep on the couch in your own home.”

Alder turns his head to me. “I would say, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ but I think we both know you will.”

“It’s like you know me so well,” I say in a monotone voice.

Alder smiles, making that warm feeling return. I’ve enjoyed his presence. I still feel like a complete loser for relying solely on liquid courage to get through the night. I end up smiling back at him and not wanting to leave the truck, but then I remember that the most comfortable bed in the world awaits me inside that house.

Chapter Four

“Surprise!” I hear from multiple people the second I walk through the door. It takes me a minute to realize what the hell is going on. I look to my right; no one is in the living room. I look to my left; no one is in the dining room...

END OF SNEAK PEEK