Page 67 of Searching for Bristol
“It’s nice to see a familiar face,” Lance said, making small talk as they made their way slowly.
“I didn’t know you’d moved in,” Bristol said. “My boyfriend and I would’ve helped in some way with the boxes and stuff, if we’d known.”
Lance shrugged. “Not a big deal. The apartment came partially furnished, so I didn’t have a lot of stuff I needed to carry.”
Bristol nodded, figuring the manager of the complex must’ve left the furniture and stuff the town had donated to Elsie when she’d moved in. “What’re you doing in Fallport?” she asked.
“I’m only here for a little while, which is also why I was grateful for the furnished apartment. I’m a writer, and I’m on a deadline. I could’ve gone to a hotel or something, but that didn’t appeal to me. I read about Fallport in a magazine, in an article about the best small towns in America, and since it wasn’t too far away, I figured I’d give changing venues a shot, to try to boost my muse.”
“Where are you from?” she asked, taking the last step to the parking lot.
“I’m not sure you’ll have heard of it, but a small town in Tennessee, just across the border, called Bluff City.”
“I know exactly where that is,” Bristol told him, smiling widely. “I’m from Kingsport. Isn’t there a dinosaur park near Bluff City?”
Lance beamed. “Yeah. It’s called Backyard Terrors and Dinosaur Park. It’s a little hokey, but fun.”
“Cool. Well, thanks for the help. My ride is here. Good luck with the writing.”
“Thanks. See you around.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Bristol got the crutches situated under her and headed for Lilly’s Outback. Her friend had gotten out and was holding the front passenger door open for her.
“New friend?” she asked as she put Bristol’s crutches in the back seat.
Bristol shrugged. “His name is Lance. I guess he’s an author, and he’s renting Ethan’s old apartment while he finishes up his book.”
Lilly frowned.
“What?” Bristol asked after Lilly had walked around and gotten behind the wheel.
“I was just hoping maybe it would stay vacant, and you could move in there. It’s kind of a good luck charm for the ladies of the Eagle Point Search and Rescue team.”
Bristol laughed.
“I’m serious,” Lilly insisted. “I mean, I didn’t live there, but Ethan did. And of course, Elsie moved in and then,boom, she got more than serious with Zeke. I just thought maybe once you were up and about without the crutches, you could move in and…you know…since you’d only be three doors down from Rocky, you guys could move your relationship forward.”
“I’m thinking I don’t need to move out to do that,” Bristol said kind of shyly.
Lilly’s head whipped in her direction. “What? Oh, please pleasepleasetell me you and Rocky are doing the nasty!”
Bristol burst out laughing. “Well, no…but wemight’veif Ethan hadn’t called and interrupted us.”
Lilly groaned. “Dang it!”
Bristol loved this. She’d never really had close girlfriends to talk to. “And…” she said suggestively. “I’m not sure an apartment would work for me anyway. I’m thinking a house that has a small barn or outbuilding I can convert to a workshop would work out better.”
Lilly’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. “Seriously?” she asked.
Bristol nodded. “Yeah. I really love it here. But the last thing I want is to freak out Rocky by telling him I might want to move already. I mean, things are so new with us, I wouldn’t want to put any pressure on him, or myself.”
“You know Ethan and Rocky are twins, right?” Lilly asked as she pulled into a parking space behind the buildings on the main square.
“Yeah. Fraternal, not identical.”
“Yes. But they’re a lot more alike than anyone probably thinks. And seeing how fast things between me and Ethan moved, I’m guessing Rocky’s not going to haveanyproblem with you telling him you want to move to town. He’s gonna be excited. And relieved.”
