Page 47 of Already Falling

“Do you want to get some coffee with us, Reid? I’m sure Anni would love to catch up. You can tell us your favorite places in town.” She motions her arm, wanting me to follow her.

I reluctantly move my eyes away from Annika and over to Chloe. She looks actually genuine that she wants me to come with her, but I can’t. I need to process everything about today. A part of me wants to burst out from these doors and go to her, and another part of me wants to start this day over and tell my uncle I can’t cover the shifts today.

TWENTY-SEVEN

REID

I drive directly past my house on my way home from work and instead head into the hills where Tyler lives. He’s an Auburn Hills native and lives on his family’s property. He left Auburn Hills to study at the University of Oregon but moved back about three years ago after his parents passed away and has been fixing it up ever since. It’s really a charming land, and I always enjoy the twenty-minute drive through the rolling hills from downtown. The road winds through the charming craftsman houses and bungalows of Auburn Hills before starting to sparse out when you get deeper into the hills.

When I first moved here, I wasn’t sure why it was called Auburn Hills. The hills are green. Or in the winter, they have white at the top from the snowfall we get. The first time I drove up to Tyler’s house, I realized the name is for all the redwood trees you pass through along the hills. The bark is a rich red with deep green ferns covering the expanse. Tyler’s place juts off a long driveway off the main road that takes you through the hills and opens up to spacious grassland. It has a great view of the town and the sunsets from here are unreal. His place is a large stone ranch house that sits on three acres and a small guest house to the side. He has a soft spot for animals and so far, has a llama, chickens, and a little beagle pup named Scooter.

Normally, I love the drive, but today it’s different because I am preoccupied with the events of earlier today replaying in my head. If Tyler came into work, I wouldn’t be in this mess. Who knows if Annika and I will ever run into each other? I don’t even know if she’s just visiting or what her story is. Sure, it’s a small town, but there are plenty of people I probably haven’t met before. Who am I kidding? We can’t seem to stop running into each other. As if she’s my opposing magnet. Drawn together despite the forces surrounding us.

I head up the gravel driveway to Tyler’s property, giving the llama named Lucy a wave as I pass. I swing my truck next to Tyler’s 4Runner parked in front of his garage and hop out, jogging to his front door, pounding aggressively until he answers.

“Hey, okay, hey, I’m here,” Tyler says as he swings the door open.

I immediately squint at him. He doesn’t look sick. In fact, he looks like he more handsome, if that’s even possible. His dark red waves are trimmed and flopped stylishly to one side. He’s wearing new, clear brown wayfarer glasses that match his eyes, and I think he even has a new flannel on.

“You don’t look sick,” I say to him.

“And happy Saturday to you too, Reid. Please come in. Grace me with your lovely presence.” Tyler sarcastically bows and swings his arm as if he’s presenting his home to me.

I enter and pivot back around to him as he closes the door just before Scooter comes bounding in, trying to make an escape.

“No, Scoot, not today. Lucy doesn’t want to see you.”

“He and Lucy have a thing?” I ask, bending down to give the beagle scratches behind his ears. He flops down on the tile floor, rolling to his back so I can rub his belly.

“Puppy love,” Tyler says, shrugging. “So, what did I do to deserve this sudden visit? Not even an ‘I’m heading over’ text warning.”

We head into his living room, which has plush oversized couches surrounding a fireplace. The walls are all wood paneled, which gives the house a cabin vibe.

“I filled in for you today. Because you were ‘sick.’” I exaggerate the quotation marks on the last word, so he picks up my angst.

“That’s so kind of you. Thank you so, so much, and you’re right. I’m not sick.”

“So, you played hooky while I had the most traumatic experience of my life today?”

Tyler’s head shakes in disbelief.

“Traumatic? I hardly believe Parker Wellness is a facility to produce trauma, especially under Martin’s guidance. Did you know he’s starting to study Buddhism? He wants to get an acupuncturist on staff.”

“You’re avoiding telling me why you weren’t at work if you weren’t sick.” I squint at Tyler. We’ve been friends long enough that I know when he’s hiding something. He will tap his left foot a little too fast until he realizes he’s doing it and then swings his left ankle to his right thigh, trying to play it cool. But I see right through it.

“All right, I’ll tell you, but it’s kind of nerdy.” He uncrosses his legs again, tapping his left foot.

“You are already a nerd, but a cool nerd,” I reassure him.

“I appreciate that because I was ‘sick’ today because I booked my personal appointments and every check-up all on the same day so I don’t miss too much work because I enjoy it too much.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope, remember last year? I was ‘sick’ one day, and Nancy filled in for me. I went and got a doctor’s check-up, teeth cleaning, vision check-up, new glasses, a haircut, and even picked up a few more clothes today because I was near an L. L. Bean.”

“Wow, well, your haircut looks great, man.” Tyler’s stressed appearance melts away, and he relaxes.

“Thanks. I’m sorry you had a shitty day today. Was it Sheela? She can be a handful.”