There was no obvious solution to the problem, so she simply climbed into the shower and washed off. She was hit with alternating waves of excitement and dread.
At some point, she was going to have to confront Gunner with the real reason she’d come to Middle River, and then he would, in all likelihood, hate her forever.
The question wasn’t if she would tell him, but simply when and how. What was the best way to do it? Was there something she could do to show him her true feelings?
As she dried herself off, Krista thought that maybe the best way to do it would be to call Drew Ellis and quit her job. Once that was done, she would tell Gunner that she’d worked for the UFF but had now quit. She’d tell him that she’d panicked and made a mistake in being untruthful in the beginning.
It would be painful, but maybe he would slowly see what she’d given up for him.
Of course, it was also very possible—even likely—that she would lose both her job and her man.
Krista got out of the shower feeling more stressed than when she’d gotten in.
Sleeping with Gunner had been a huge mistake, she realized. It would make the whole thing seem more sordid when she told him the truth.
But when she came out of the bathroom, she found him on the phone with someone, pacing the cabin in his boxers. “Really? You sure?” he sighed, shaking his head. “Okay. But later today or tomorrow morning at the very latest, right?”
She wrapped the towel tightly around her torso as she continued out, and watched him pacing and talking.
He hung up his cell and then glanced at her. “Hey,” he said, and broke into a wide smile.
Immediately, she felt more assured. There was the connection she remembered.
It was strong and real. It would survive the truth. It had to.
“Hey,” she said in return. “Everything okay?”
“Well, depends on how you look at it.” Gunner ran a hand through his hair.
“That was Ryder. He said your car had a few problems that are going to take him longer than anticipated to fix. He had to order a new part.”
“Oh, no,” she said. “That’s not good.” In reality, she knew that whatever the cost, it would be dealt with by the UFF and wouldn’t be an issue for her. But she couldn’t act like it meant nothing—that would have been suspicious.
“I’m sure it’s no big deal. Ryder said the car should be ready later today—
tomorrow at the latest.”
“Tomorrow?”
His smile faded a little. “Is the thought of hanging with me another day that horrible?”
“No, no. It’s not that. It’s just…well, I need to get back…”
“I can drive you back to Boston if you want,” he said. “Do you have class or something?”
She shook her head. “It’s no big deal. Honestly, I’m just being silly.”
He watched her curiously. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”
She looked at him.
Just tell him. Tell him now.
But she couldn’t. She needed to call Drew Ellis first, quit her job. She needed to make a statement so that Gunner would believe that she wasn’t just playing him.
She imagined herself telling Gunner. I used to work for the UFF, but I quit. Ichose you over them. And I’m sorry I lied to you. I made a huge mistake, but I waswilling to sacrifice everything to make it up to you.
Would it be enough?
She didn’t know, and she was scared to find out.
***
About an hour later, they were sitting down to breakfast at The Middle River Inn, and Cole was pouring them each a cup of coffee.
The place was busier than usual. “Sorry, I can’t do small talk today,” Cole apologized. “We actually have customers for a change.”
The ding of the bell from the kitchen caused him to turn abruptly and leave without either of them even having a chance to say anything in reply.
Gunner laughed and shook his head, sipping his coffee. “Cole’s a good guy.”
“What’s his story, anyway?”
“Funny you should ask.” Gunner lowered his voice. “He and his brother Caden were New York firefighters. They were in the towers when the shit went down. They just barely got out in time.”
Krista gasped and put a hand on her chest. “That’s horrible.”
He nodded. “Yeah, it was rough. After that, they both stayed on for a couple more years, but it was all too much. Too many memories, too many ghosts, you know?”
She looked down at the table, shaking her head with disbelief. “They seem so happy. I never would have guessed.”
“They decided to start fresh. So they moved here about seven or eight years ago and started this restaurant. I think it suits them pretty well.” He took another long sip of coffee.
“Are either of them married?”
“Nope. Both single. We should do one of those auctions where they put single guys up on the stage and the highest bidder gets a date with them. Caden and Cole would net a bunch of dough for some charity, don’t you think?”
“Definitely.”
Suddenly, a boy about thirteen years of age came over to the table with his dad.
“Excuse me,” the boy said, “but are you Gunner King?”
She assumed that Gunner didn’t like this sort of thing, but surprisingly, he smiled warmly at the boy. “I am.”
The father interjected. “My son is a huge, huge fan. Any chance I could take a picture of the two of you together?”
“Absolutely,” Gunner said. He slid his chair back.
The dad took his cell phone and prepared to take a picture.
Krista, seizing the brief opportunity, took out her own cell phone and quickly pulled up Drew Ellis’s number. Then she tried calling him.
A few other people had gathered around Gunner and were asking him questions.
He was even signing an autograph or two.
This was the perfect time to call Drew and tell him she was done working for his company. She felt a sense of relief, realizing that somehow she’d lost herself in trying
