Page 74 of Colton’s Inferno

Today was the day. After two days in a medically induced coma, the doctors were going to take Lucy’s grandfather off the sedatives. Now, there was only one question.

Would Grandpa Rusty recover?

Wrapping her hands around a mug of coffee, she stood next to the window of Aiden’s third-floor apartment. On the street, college students spilled out of other buildings. They carried travel mugs and water bottles. With backpacks slung over their shoulders, they waved to one another and gathered at the university bus stop across the street. It was the first day of the new semester.

She envied the students and their uncomplicated lives.

Aiden came up behind her. “Good morning,” he said.

She glanced over her shoulder. He wore a Red Grove Fire Department T-shirt, this one in gray, and a pair of shorts. His hair was wet from his shower. His cheeks and chin were covered with fine hair. He hadn’t shaved since Friday.

“I like the beard,” she said. Her fingers itched with the need to touch him.

He rubbed his cheeks. “I don’t know if I’ll keep it. But since I don’t have to be back at work for a while, I figured I could try it out.” He nodded toward the window. “They look happy to be back in class.”

He was right. The students smiled as they waved enthusiastically to friends. Would this have been her life if she’d gone to college and not stayed at the ranch? Instinctively, Lucy knew what she would have studied. Psychology. She would have gotten her certificate to be a substance abuse counselor. Her mission would be to save other families the pain that came with losing a loved one to an overdose. “They look young,” she said.

A white bus, the University of North Dakota at Red Grove’s logo painted on the side, pulled up to the curb. The students filed onto the bus. After a moment, it pulled back onto the road. Lucy watched it until it turned at the corner and disappeared from view. The street below was empty. The quiet filled her with a melancholy she didn’t understand.

With a killer on the loose, she’d been staying at Aiden’s apartment since Sunday night. But he’d been sleeping on the sofa and Lucy had slept in the bed. Aiden hadn’t brought up anything romantic or sexual—not since their one night of lovemaking. She understood that he was giving her time to heal. After all, she’d had been diagnosed with CO2 poisoning and needed hours of forced oxygen to recover. And yet, she was disappointed.

Maybe all they were going to have was the single night together. After all, she’d been dumped after a single episode of sex before. Why shouldn’t it happen again?

“My dad sent me a text,” said Aiden, oblivious to her thoughts. “He’ll be at the hospital by nine. I can take you.”

Having access to Dr. Colton was another perk of staying with Aiden. The chief of surgery was available to answer all of Lucy’s questions, even when he wasn’t at the hospital.

“You don’t have to give up your day to take care of me,” she said.

“I’m on medical leave, which is driving me batty. So really, you’d be the one doing me a favor.” He paused, “Besides, I’ll get to see my dad and everyone at the ER.”

It wasn’t just his father or future brother-in-law. Aiden knew everyone at the hospital. “I’d love for you to come with me. Not just because everyone likes you. But you have been my rock, the one solid and dependable thing in the middle of this whole mess. I keep asking myself, why do you want to help me?”

“I think that would be obvious,” he said, taking a step toward her. “I like you.”

She laughed, and coffee sloshed onto her wrist. She wiped her hand on her pajama pants.

“Why’s that funny?”

“Because I don’t get what you see in me, either.”

“You are beautiful, Lucy. But more than that, you are honest. And smart. And resourceful. I love how dedicated you are to the ranch and your grandfather.”

She didn’t know who Aiden was looking at when he saw all those things. It certainly wasn’t her. Still, his words filled her with, well, Lucy didn’t want to examine her feelings too closely. After all, she was just staying with Aiden temporarily. Eventually, she’d leave, and he’d find someone who suited him better.

It was a story that had been played on repeat. Everyone in Lucy’s life left. Her brother died. Her parents moved. Maybe she was somehow so flawed that nobody wanted to stay.

“If your dad is going to be at the hospital by nine,” she said, shoving away her thoughts, “I should get ready.”

He said, “I can leave whenever you want.”

Lucy went into the bathroom. Because Aiden’s brother was the sheriff—another fortunate connection—Lucy was able to get her clothes and toiletries from her house even though it was considered a crime scene.

She turned on the shower and stripped. After stepping under the spray, she poured shampoo into her palm. She worked it into a lather, and the scent of apples swirled through the steam. She washed quickly and rinsed. Lucy turned off the water within minutes of turning it on.

A towel she’d used the day before was draped over a bar. She pulled it free and buffed her body dry. That’s when she realized that she’d forgotten to bring in a set of clean clothes.

She squeezed the water out of her hair. She could redress in her pajamas. But if she put back on dirty clothes, then what was the point of her shower?