here is Cory, Shawn, and Jorge.”
I say hello to them all. “Where’s Kingston?”
“Oh. He’s running late and then there’s the paperwork, so I wouldn’t expect him.”
Just as Lou tells me, my phone dings. I pull it out to see it from Kingston.
Kingston: Sorry, I can’t make it tonight. Next time, I swear. But I sent some guys over for you. ;)
I can’t be upset with him. Work is work and he’s done more than enough already by arranging this room. The anxiety squeezing my body eases a little.
“Well, boys, just give me a minute to get all the ladies set up.” I smile and rush back into the private room, shooting Stella a look to say no worries.
After I get all the women situated at their tables behind the cardboard partitions, I pop my head back in the hallway. “Come on in.” I open the door for them, and they file in.
A few more people come through the door and I position everyone in a seat.
After the speed dating is over, some couples go into the other bar area to continue their conversations. I’m packing up my stuff when Stella approaches me.
“Hey, it was a great event.”
“You didn’t find anyone, right? My brother might kill me.”
We both giggle nervously. Kingston’s always an awkward conversational topic between us.
“About him,” she says. “I don’t want to put you in this position, but could you keep it to yourself that you saw me here? I mean, I’m not ready to see him just yet.”
“Sure.” I hate that I’m keeping a secret from Kingston, but he’s better off not knowing until I’m sure Stella can deal with the ramifications of seeing my brother.
“Thank you. I promise I’ll come out from the shadows eventually. I wasn’t really planning on coming home at all, but…”
I stop putting paperwork in my bag. “Are you okay?”
She sighs, looking crestfallen. “I don’t want to burden you with yet another secret, but it’s hard being back and not telling anyone. It’s like I’m alone on an iceberg in the middle of the ocean. Cami’s great, but we haven’t really gotten to the ‘call me if you’re in jail and I’ll bail you out, no questions asked’ stage yet.”
“What’s going on?”
“My mom is sick and she’s being stubborn, saying that she doesn’t need my help. So I moved to Anchorage to be closer, but not too close, for reasons you must understand. But you’re telling me that Kingston works for the Anchorage Fire Department?”
I nod. “Yeah, but he’ll likely be mostly smoke jumping soon. He’ll be gone more than he’s home.”
“Okay. Again, I’m sorry. You won’t have to keep my secret forever. One day I have to face Kingston and deal with everything and put it behind me for good. We chatted at Austin’s wedding, but it wasn’t about anything of consequence. I know the day is coming when I’ll have to deal with what happened, but at the same time, I can’t imagine putting your brother permanently in my rearview mirror, you know?”
I offer her a small smile that I hope conveys how sorry I feel for her. Grabbing a pen and paper, I scribble down my number. “Call me if you need to talk.”
She puts it in her purse. “Thank you. Do you want to talk about Colton getting married?”
That’s like opening one of those cans of slinky snakes and a million silky fabric-covered coils flying up in your face. Then again, I can’t really talk to my sisters, because I know what their advice will be. Break up his engagement. But Stella understands how horrible it is to love a man enough to want his happiness over your own. It’s the reason she disappeared all those years ago.
Still, I feel like a boat lost at sea and all these lighthouses are shining to guide me to shore, but I have no idea which way is the best way to go. Who’s to say I won’t end up following the wrong light and end up on an island all by myself?
“No. Not yet.”
Her hand covers mine and she smiles as though she’s saying touché. “I get it, but at some point, you have to face that you’ll no longer be the first woman in his life. Are you ready for that?”
I shrug.
She squeezes my hand again before stealing the pen and writing her number on a napkin. “You can call me anytime.”
We say goodbye and I get in my car, hammering a text to Colton to ask if it’s