Maisie had said she'd return an hour before closing. But I hadn't seen any signs of her. No texts. No calls. No nothing.
I knew because I'd been here the whole time, manning the front desk like a lighthouse-keeper in a storm. The place was empty except for me, the tick of the clock, and the lingering echo of our last non-customers – those two asshats trying to act tough.
The rain had picked up, now with enough wind to rattle the windows. The sign still said OPEN, but no one was coming through that door. Anyone with half a brain had ditched their bikes for fudge and shelter – a smart move considering the storm.
The forecast for tomorrow was sunny and bright, not that it would do any good for Maisie's shop. On Wednesdays, the shop was closed, which meant if I didn't see her tonight, it would be nearly two days before I confirmed with my own eyes that she was safe and sound.
I snuck another glance at the clock.Shit.It was time to lock the door and hit the lights. It wasn't, however, time for me to leave.
No.I'd be sticking around for another hour, maybe two, to see if Maisie showed. I didn't need an excuse. I had plenty ofreasons, including that tandem with rusted cables and a rear seat-post that wouldn't budge.
But first things first.Lock the door, flip the lights, get everything good and secure.I was maybe halfway to the door when it swung inward with a jingle of the bell and a gust of cold, wet wind.
And there she was – Maisie, looking rougher than I'd ever seen her. Behind her was her usual bike, parked haphazardly near the door.
She stepped inside, moving slow and unsteady, like the lone survivor of a wicked shipwreck. As she turned to shut the door, I got a good, long look at her profile and felt myself frown. Her clothes were soaked, her skin was pale, and her ponytail was dripping wet.
Taking it all in, I felt a surge of relief that she was finally here, followed by a new kind of tension deep in my gut. She looked a mess – and not the flustered, adorable kind I was used to. This was something else. She looked worn out and tired down to her bones.
I moved forward to ask, "Is everything alright?"
"Yup. Fine." She didn't smile as she said it, which for Maisie was one hell of a warning sign.Something was wrong.
When she shivered, I fought a sudden urge to reach out and gather her in my arms. Whether for warmth or support, she looked like she needed it.
But needing and wanting were two different things, so instead, I silently watched as she peeled off a saturated windbreaker and let it fall to the floor. She gave another shiver before saying, "Sorry I didn't call. I would've but…" She winced. "If you want the truth, I was just holding on for dear life."
I shook my head. "Holding onto what?"
"My seat," she said, looking a little green around the gills. "The water wasreallyrough today."
I felt the blood drain from my face. "Wait…so you were on the water?"
"Unfortunately." She wiped rain from her forehead with the back of her hand. "I had that meeting at the bank, remember?"
"Yeah, but…I thought it was here on the island."
She grimaced. "I wish." She gave another shudder. "Do you know, I saw like five people throw up on the boat?"
I glanced toward the window. Outside, the rain was coming down in sheets – sideways sheets – slamming against the glass like the storm had a personal grudge.
In a quieter voice, Maisie added, "Of course, there were like only ten people on the whole boat, so that's a fifty percent ratio."
I wasn't afraid of boats, but for some reason, the thought ofMaisiein rough water was enough to turn my blood to ice. "You took the ferry? Inthis?" Yeah, I knew the answer. I just didn't want to believe it.
She sighed. "I didn't have much of a choice."
Not the wayIsaw it. "But you could've postponed."
"The meeting?" Her mouth tightened. "Yeah, well…I tried."
"And?" Maybe it was none of my business, but until she told me to buzz off, I wasn't gonna let it drop.
"And nothing," she said with a hint of bitterness. "They said no before I finished asking." She headed for the counter, where she grabbed a clean shop-towel and started drying off without meeting my eyes.
Yup, something was definitely wrong.
And it was more than the weather.
