Letting You Go (Stone Lake 1)

“You might meet a hot cop and you know how you dig men in uniform,” I joke.

“Quit trying to give me reasons to end Gavin Lodge’s miserable life,” she complains while smiling at me.

“Jules, if Heath Ledger were to show up on our doorstep right now and ask you out and you could see in the future and know that going out with him means you are going to die a horrible death and you have to decide if going out with him is worth it. Would you still go?”

“How horrible are we talking?” she hedges.

“He sends you a breakup text while you’re driving down the road behind a truck carrying a load of steel pipes and you’re so distraught you don’t notice they aren’t secured properly. You look up right in time to see a steel pipe break free, crash through your windshield and impale you right through the neck, severing your head from your body in Final Destination style.”

“Did we have sex before I died?”

“You had sex.”

“Damn it. I’d still go out with him.”

“And that’s how I feel about Gavin.”

She lets out a long drawn out sigh, and I expect her to give me more flack about it when we hear a vehicle pull into her drive. I look up to see Gavin’s old beat-up truck pull into the driveway.

“Speak of the devil,” Jules grumbles.

“Be nice.”

“I’m always nice,” she lies, but it makes me laugh.

We stand up and I start walking to Gavin’s truck, Jules following me. I get to it just as he opens the door and steps out. I don’t give myself time to think about it. Instead, I go straight to him, hugging him close. This happiness fills me from seeing him again. There’s a part of me that was afraid I dreamed yesterday up in my head and it didn’t really happen. My eyes close as Gavin’s arms come around me and he holds me even closer. When I pull away, he’s grinning down at me, and I feel warm and flushed all over.

“Hey, Jules.”

“Gavin,” Jules utters rudely, proving she’s going to be a hard ass about this. I give her a warning look, but she ignores me.

“You ready, Babe?” Gavin asks.

“I’m ready.”

“You got your permit with you?”

“Permit?”

“To drive, Moonbeam,” he laughs.

“Oh. Yeah.”

“Good. Then, hop in.”

“I… You want me to drive your truck?” I squeak.

“I told you I’d teach you to drive, remember?”

“I thought you meant, you know have me watch you and take notes or something.”

“Best way to learn is to do it, Luna,” he says, opening his door.

“I… if you’re sure,” I concede, praying I don’t wreck and destroy his truck.

Gavin keeps his hand on the small of my back and ushers me inside the truck. Then, he helps lift me up in the big tall monstrosity. I’m still recovering from the feel of his hands on me when he leans down to buckle me in.

“Got to keep my girl safe,” he whispers and kisses my lips in a light peck.

I’m pretty sure I turn into a puddle of goo and my bones all completely melt. My eyes go to Jules and she’s looking at me with surprise.

“Moonbeam?”

She mouths the word, not letting sound escape, but I know what she says and I just grin. She shakes her head then turns her attention to Gavin. He’s walking around the front of the truck and Jules falls in behind him. He gets inside and Jules grabs his door before he can shut it.

“I don’t trust you, Gavin Lodge,” she warns.

“Jules—”

“I can understand that,” Gavin says, interrupting me.

“If you hurt Luna again, there won’t be anyone or anything that can save you from me.”

“Okay,” he replies, studying her. I hold my head down on the steering wheel, banging it slightly.

“I’m serious. You hurt her again and I don’t care if it means I’m decapitated before I have the chance to have Heath Ledger’s beautiful babies. I don’t even care if it means my head is torn from my body, thrown into the swamp, and becomes a midnight snack to a nest of crocodiles, I will hurt you.”

“Uh… So noted, Jules.”

“Good. As long as we got that clear. You two have fun now,” she singsongs, slamming his door a little too hard.

“Uh… Gavin…” I start, wondering how to explain Jules.

“Put her in neutral, Moonbeam and start it up.”

“About Jules…”

“She’s fine. Let’s get moving. We have fish to catch.”

“She’s just…”

“She’s looking out for you, Luna. That’s a good thing.”

“Yeah,” I whisper wearing a smile, because he’s grinning at me and his finger is moving along the side of my face.

“You ready to drive?”

“Umm… just one question.”

“What’s that?”

“What do you mean put it in neutral?” I ask.

“Oh boy,” he chuckles, and I blush, because I wasn’t really kidding. Mom’s car has a gearshift that’s easy to understand. Gavin’s truck is a standard, and I can’t remember ever being in a vehicle that wasn’t automatic. I’m completely lost. But I figure as long as I get to hear Gavin laughing, I don’t really care if I do make a complete fool of myself.