Whiskey and Country

12

NICHOLAS

Afew miles outside of Beddingford, I stopped to fuel the truck and studied the map app on my phone.

Green Mountain.

Would it be where the list was supposed to bring me? Or was I forcing fate by accepting Tuck’s offer to work for his uncle?

Hundreds of unanswered questions popped into my head.

Parked on the side of the road, with a bag of takeout in my lap and two soda cups in the center console—because Derek would’ve liked this road trip—I called my best friend.

“Are you heading toward Green Mountain?” he asked as a greeting.

“About that—”

“Did you change your mind? Are you still at the ranch?”

“No,” I said, pushing a handful of fries into my mouth.

“Where are you now?”

“By the side of the road, eating my weight in fries.”

Tucker’s tone turned serious. “Not what I meant, man.”

I laughed and washed the food down with a sip of soda.

“Fine. On my way. Should be there by the end of the afternoon.”

“Yes,” Tucker screamed. “Are you okay? You sound a bit off.”

I pondered what to reply for a long second. “Yes. No. Medora Beach, the ranch, they just happened. Green Mountain—” I searched for the right words.

“Nick, it just happened too. Don’t overthink it. What are the chances that a job, in your field, close to where you were heading, got available at the same time you were around? None. I barely even talk to my uncle. And one morning, out of the blue, he called to chat about his investments because he wanted to retire within a year and confided he couldn’t find a qualified person to lead his new project. It’s fate, man. Nothing else can explain it. Serendipity. Luck. Aligned stars. Call it what you want.”

I closed my eyes. Tucker’s words hit me hard in the chest. They made sense. And goosebumps blossomed over my arms.

“You can’t argue because you know it’s true,” my friend said.

“Maybe.”

Tucker’s confidence in my destiny shook me to the core.

My eyes traveled to the two soda cups, and the air around me lightened.

“You’re right. It’s too many coincidences to just be all by accident.” My zest returned. I dragged a hand over my face. So many things in my life hadn’t been making sense lately. But they all interweaved, one thread at a time, as if I had planned them perfectly.

“Let me call Uncle Mike right away. He’ll meet you there. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re committing to something. I know this whole trip is about being free and going with the flow, but I’m not sure you would’ve thrived. You’re happier when there’s structure involved, always have, and with this lifestyle, you would’ve been miserable in no time, not knowing what to do next at some point.”

“Have you talked with my mom? She said the same thing.”

“No, Mrs. Peterson and I haven’t talked in a long time. I’m thrilled we agree on this, though. Should I call her? Or send her flowers?”

“Why?”

Tucker sighed. “To thank her. For drilling some sense into you, man.”

I shook my head. “Forget it. She didn’t. I listen to you more, to tell the truth.”

“Haha. I’d always suspected I was your voice of reason,” Tucker bragged.

“I’ll deny it in court.” He chuckled. And it chased all the remnants of doubt in the air. “I’ll let you know when I get there, okay?” I sighed. “Thanks, man. For everything. And your trust in me.”

“Always. I’ll send you the info. Talk soon. And Nick? You’re doing great. I’m glad you’re getting your groove back.”

“Thanks.”

We hung up, and I finished my meal.

When I left Chicago, I had no real plans. Nothing tying me to anything.

Now I had something to look forward to.

A destination. And goals.

No matter how much I tried to convince myself I could do impulsive shit, having a plan soothed the storm inside me. It loosened every knot. And calmed the heavy spiral of nerves in my chest. Tuck knew me too well.

I looked up and cleared my throat. “I don’t know where this will bring me, bro. I have no idea what I’m doing. Or if you can influence me, but it feels right. Somehow. Thanks for opening my eyes. I wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for you.”

And Tuck,I muttered to myself.

Lost in my mind, I drove for the next four hours in silence.

When “Monkey Business,” the Carter Hills Band’s song that Derek loved so much, started playing on the radio, I cranked the volume up.

…I thought there was a hippo in your closet

A monkey hidden under your bed

I thought I saw a lion in your kitchen

And a snake hanging from the chandelier

Because that’s what your love does to me, baby

You turn my world upside down

My imagination runs wild

I can become a pirate, a ghost hunter, or even an astronaut

There’s nothing I can’t do

No, nothing I can’t do

As long as you’re beside me…