Page 15 of Searching for Bristol
“Right. What do you need from me?”
That was why Rocky had such respect for his friends. For Raiden. He quickly went through what Sandra had said that morning and how he’d hiked out on the Falling Water Trail and found Bristol. “We’re on our way to Doc Snow’s right now, but we might need to go to Roanoke depending on what the x-rays say.”
“All right. Again, what do you need from me?” Raid asked.
“Will you swing by Sunny Side Up and talk to Sandra? Tell her that I found Bristol and she’s okay. It might be a few days before she can come see her, depending on if we have to go to Roanoke or not, but I want to make sure she knows that Bristol’s safe.”
“Consider it done. What else? Want me to come sit with her while you go home and shower or grab something to eat?”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Bristol protested.
Rocky ignored her protest. “That’d be awesome, thank you. I’m kind of rank after everything. I’m sure Doc Snow and the staff in Roanoke would appreciate me not smelling like a dirty shoe.”
“Right. I’ll talk to Khloe then be on my way over to Doc’s. You need me to bring anything?”
“Nope. Thanks, Raid. I appreciate it.”
“Whatever, asshole. As if I’d say no. Even if youdidfuck up by not calling me. Later.”
Rocky winced as he clicked off the phone. Raid was an introvert. The fact that he hadn’t hesitated to call Rocky out at the end went a long way toward letting him know how pissed his friendreallywas.
“He sounds…nice.”
“That’s because he is,” Rocky said.
“Who’s Khloe?”
“His employee.”
“Where does he work?”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you earlier? He’s the head librarian at the Fallport Public Library.”
“Seriously?”
“Yup. Why?”
“I don’t know. I’ve got a picture of what he looks like in my head, and librarian is the last job that comes to mind for a former Coastie who has a bloodhound and is six-freaking-eight.”
Rocky couldn’t help but chuckle. “One thing about the Eagle Point Search and Rescue team…we definitely don’t fit most stereotypes.”
Bristol reached over and put her hand on his arm, and Rocky swore his entire body tingled from her touch. “Thank you for having him go talk to Sandra. That was very thoughtful of you.”
“You made an impression on her. She’s worried. It would be cruel to keep her hanging, now that you’re safe.”
“I agree. Which is why I’m thanking you.”
“You need tostopthanking me,” Rocky told her.
“Why?” she asked, pulling her hand back and putting it in her lap.
Her black hair was in disarray on her head—she’d put it up in a messy bun during one of their breaks, but tendrils had escaped their confines and were hanging around her face. She wore absolutely no makeup, her face was streaked with dirt, she smelled like anyone would after being out in the elements for days, and was definitely in need of a shower and clean clothes. And yet, Rocky couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her.
He was beginning to understand his brother’s hard and fast fall for Lilly a little better now.
“Because I don’t want to spend the next however long we’re together saying ‘you’re welcome’ over and over.”
“But you’re going out of your way to help me,” she protested.
