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"And if it doesn't?"
"If it doesn't, then we know. I mean, what's there to do? The heart wants what it wants. Your mother and I are prime examples of this."
I understood exactly what he meant. My mother was model beautiful. People from all over the world tried to get her to sign on to campaigns or to help sell their clothing and wares. Theyknew anyone who approached her would take one look, then do whatever she said.
She was a siren. At six foot three, she commanded every room she entered. Add to it her sunny personality and there was no stopping her power.
Pops was the complete opposite—short, average build, and sarcastic as all get out. Others questioned how a couple so different could look at each other and think, that's my person. But Pops knew. He said he knew the moment he met Mom. Within a few minutes of their first meeting, he'd made her laugh, which of course won her over. I came along a few years later and the rest, as they say, is history.
Which was also why I knew Grizzly was perfect for me. We were opposites, much like my mom and pops were. I’d known with one look I wanted more of him. Seeing the man in person wouldn't quell that.
My only hang-up was how he’d gone silent on me. What did it say about me that I just wanted to check in on him? I had texted twice, called once. His personal number went unanswered. And when I called the office to ask for him, they said he was out temporarily. When I asked how long, Cheyenne beat around the bush a bit.
"He might not even be there," I said out loud to myself.
Pops climbed from the bed and grabbed my shoulders. "If he's not there, at least you know where the office is and can let them know you stopped by. Tell them you're in town for a few days. Give him the chance to come out of hiding. You're not forcing him or pressuring him. You're merely making yourself available."
His words brought me a bit of peace. He was right. I could show up, make myself visibly known rather than just blowing up his phone. If he was sick or something like that, I might miss the opportunity. But if he wasn't, if this was just merely a wrong place, wrong time kind of thing, then I might get lucky.
"Okay, then," I said. "First we have to get dinner. Then I need to scope out the area, and tomorrow I'll go see him."
Pops sighed dramatically, letting his hands drop away. "Tomorrow?! That’s so far away."
"You’ll be fine. That gives you the morning to do as you please. You can hunt for food places, go shopping, maybe look at some of those rentals I know you have stored away in your phone."
Pops frowned. "How do you know they're in there?"
"Because you just told me." I did the little finger-gun maneuver at him. "You're never safe, old man."
He tried to pull me into a headlock, which was funny considering our size difference. But I bent down to let him anyway. He ruffled my hair, having tossed my hat away, then kissed my crown before straightening me up.
"I guess it won't be so bad to just wander around by myself tomorrow."
"I think it'll do you some good to be at the office either before he gets there or shortly after. Shows that you're tenacious."
"Uh huh," I said as I grabbed my stuff to get rid of the residual plane funk.
I hated the way an airport always made me feel. Even the buses we would sometimes ride for travel games were exhausting,what with the body odor and the stale chips smell. Oh, and the farts. Some of those guys were just animals.
I found Pops with a spread of takeout menus when I came back out. "What you got there?" I teased.
He didn't glance up as he said, "I went down to the front desk. They handed these to me and said have at it. Apparently I can't do any wrong. I just need to pick a place and eat there."
I moved beside him, looking at the variety. After a few moments, I pointed to one. "There, get that."
It was a small Thai place. I knew it wasn't Pops's favorite, but it would fill us up and knock us out. He glanced up at me.
"Oh, you really want me to go to sleep?"
I chuckled. "Yeah, I do. It'll be good for you. At the end of the day, all that matters is food and bedtime."
He laughed as he flipped open the menu. We worked together to get a little of everything to try.
I knew tomorrow would be an exhausting day, mentally and emotionally. No matter what happened, I would be getting some kind of answer to everything with Grizzly. And then I would have to make my next move.
Would I get to stay in Bellport like I'd dreamed, or would I have to start over somewhere else?
CHAPTER 6
