Page 34 of Renegade
I look around the restaurant, and I can’t help but notice how romantic it is. I wonder briefly if Walker chose it for that reason, then mentally shake my head. Why would he pick a romantic restaurant? We’re just friends.
“Another Kevin recommendation?” I ask Walker.
He nods and smiles. “You never should have told him we were on our honeymoon.”
I try not to let his words sting. We’re just friends. I can’t want more.
After we finish dinner and a bottle of wine, we go down to the white-sand beach near the Lamplighter Inn. It’s a beautiful night, and the full moon reflecting on the water makes it easy to see.
“How’s McKenzie?” I ask as we walk along the shoreline.
“Great. I talked to her briefly before I talked to Noah. She sounds good. Happy. But she’s different. Noah brings out a side of her I’ve never seen before. She couldn’t stop talking about how cool diving had been. Can you imagine the McKenzie we know even swimming in the deep end of a pool, much less diving?” He shakes his head in wonder.
“No, I can’t,” I say in disbelief. “I wish I could have talked to her.” I miss my best friend, especially now. Not that I could have asked her all the things I really wanted to know, or told her all the things that have happened since she left. It would have taken at least an hour and required being out of earshot of both Noah and Walker.
“I know. She wanted to talk to you too. But you were in the shower, and they had plans…”
“It’s okay. Any leads on Liam?”
Walker nods. “Actually, it sounds like Liam was there about a month before he died. The dive master who operates the outfit that took them out recognized his picture. They’re going to check around and see if anyone else remembers seeing him, and if they can figure out where he went while he was there.”
“That’s great!”
Walker nods. “I also asked McKenzie about Liam’s passport. She couldn’t remember if it was in his personal effects the navy gave to her. She said she had been too emotional to look through it all and just put it in a box. We need to watch for that.”
“I can call Charlotte and ask her to go look. She has a key to our place.”
“I thought of that too. Figured we could call tomorrow. It’s three hours later there.”
I glance at my phone. It’s nine here, which means it’s midnight at home in Charleston. “She’s probably still up. I’ll try her now.” For some inexplicable reason, I need to hear Charlotte’s voice. I feel like my world has turned topsy-turvy since last night.
She answers on the second ring. “Hey! Is everything okay?”
Just hearing Charlotte’s voice makes me wish I could just blurt out everything to her—about last night, and my feelings for Walker, and how confused I am now—and let her tell me what to do. But Walker’s standing next to me, so instead I say brightly, “It’s great. California is beautiful. But we need a favor.”
“Anything.”
“Can you go by my apartment tomorrow and look for a box that has Liam’s personal stuff in it? I don’t know where it is. Somewhere in McKenzie’s room. We’re looking for Liam’s passport.”
“Sure. I can go tomorrow evening. Sorry I can’t go sooner, but I am jam-packed with appointments all day. That’s what happens when your business partners both go on fantastic vacations and leave you behind.”
I groan. “I’m sorry, Chaz.”
“Hey, I’m just teasing. You know I’m a total homebody; nothing makes me happier than my routine and staying busy running our business.” She pauses. “You sure everything’s okay?”
I swallow hard. “I’m sure. Let me know if you find Liam’s passport. See you in a few days. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I turn to tell Walker what Charlotte said, but he’s absorbed in reading something on his phone. I wait. After a minute, he looks up at me and grins. “You rock.”
“I’ve been telling you that for years. What made you finally realize it?”
“Earlier today I messaged the guy I’ve been talking to about the event at the Dominion, asking if you could get added to the guest list too. And just like you said, that seemed to open the door. He just messaged me back and said he’d put both of our names on the list; all we need to do now is show up with a picture ID.”
“That’s great!” When he doesn’t answer, I add, “Isn’t it?”
It’s dark on the beach, but I’m standing close enough to Walker to see his frown. My heart hurts at how obvious it is that he’s still not thrilled about me going.
