Page 105 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
I closed my eyes and pushed out a deep breath.
This explanation wasn’t going to be fun.
“That wasn’t you. That was, um . . . Everett.”
“Everett?”
“I kind of have these, um, flashes sometimes about that night. They just pop into my head, like déjà vu but more real.” I looked to my feet, embarrassed that I’d had to tell Hunter about my craziness. Other than Gigi and my therapist from years ago, no one knew about my flashes.
His finger hooked under my chin and tipped it up. “Flashes? Like flashbacks?”
“Yeah. I guess.”
“How long have you been having flashbacks? Did the custody hearing bring them up?”
I shook my head. “I’ve had them all along.”
He dropped my chin. “Since that night?”
I nodded.
He closed his eyes. When they opened, his eyes were full of concern.
“I know it’s crazy,” I said, “but please don’t ship me off to the loony bin. That was actually one of the shorter ones I’ve ever had. So, that’s a good thing. Shorter is better. Well, sometimes. I’m glad you’re not short. Anywhere.”
The corner of his mouth turned up at my joke. With a fast tug, he pulled me into his arms. “This is all too much. You’ve got a lot going on up here.” He kissed my forehead. “I think we need to get you somebody to talk to.”
I nuzzled into his chest, soaking up his comfort. “I agree, but not until all of this stuff with Eleanor is over and tourist season comes to an end. I can’t take anything else right now. I’m just . . . I’m maxed out.”
“I know you’re maxed out, baby, but I really need to tell—”
“No.” I cut him off and hugged him tighter. “No. Just hold me close and tell me it will be okay.”
His arms squeezed tight. “It will. I promise. I’ll make this okay.”
Hunter
“Stuart.” I shook his hand. “Thanks for meeting me on a Saturday. I apologize for interrupting your weekend.”
Wearing jeans and a white polo, Stuart looked ready for a round of golf or an afternoon picnic.
“No problem at all,” he said. “Your call yesterday sounded a bit urgent. Is everything okay?”
“I’ll let you decide.”
He nodded toward his office. “Then you’d better come on in.”
While he walked behind his desk, I took one of the guest chairs I’d become all too familiar with this past month.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
I didn’t have much time to stick around. I was supposed to be at the hardware store buying another box of screws and then picking up lunch. Beau and Michael were currently at the loft, framing Coby’s bunk. Maisy was cleaning a couple of rooms at the inn with Coby as her assistant.
That meant I didn’t have time to chitchat with Stuart. I needed to get to the point and get the fuck out of here before they knew I’d been gone too long.
Stuart rested his dark forearms on the desk and leaned forward. “I’m ready when you are.”
