“Interesting. What do you sell?”

“Sports equipment,” I answered confidently, hoping it sounded convincing, but also boring enough that he wouldn’t ask anything else. I wasn’t a very good liar. Before he could ask anything else, I turned my attention to Fred.

“So Fred, how long have you lived here?”

“Oh, about 10 years now. I worked for the previous owner and when they sold the place to Sophia, she asked me to stay on and I was happy to.” He looked over at Sophia and winked. Sophia smiled back as she finished setting down the plates.

“Brody, you look very familiar. Have you done any acting?” Henry looked right at me; his eyes squinted as he studied my face.

Ashley sat up straight and gasped. “Do you know any movie stars?”

I laughed uncomfortably, wishing someone would stop this impromptu interview before I said something stupid.

“Nope, never done acting.” Looking at Ashley I added, “And sorry, no movie stars.”

She stuck her bottom lip out dramatically and made an annoying little pout noise. I looked over at Kacie who also noticed Ashley’s childish behavior and rolled her eyes.

As if Kacie read my mind, she started putting bowls down on the table and called out, “Okay everyone, dinner is served.”

“Excuse me, Mommy,” Lucy said, trying to squeeze in between Kacie and the table.

“Pay the toll.” Kacie bent down and puckered her full, beautiful lips. Lucy giggled and kissed her mom back.

That interaction was the purest, most intriguing thing I’d ever seen.

Dinner was finishing up and people were sitting around talking about the weather when I pushed my chair back and stood up. “I hope you all don’t mind if I excuse myself for a few minutes. I want to run out and check on Diesel real quick.”

“Diesel?” Sophia looked at me, puzzled.

“My dog, he’s in my truck.”

She gasped as she pulled her hands up and clapped the sides of her face.

“Oh my gosh! I forgot all about him. That poor thing. Go get him, bring him in so we can feed him something.”

“Thanks, I’ll just be a few minutes.”

I unplugged my phone, pulled my boots on and trudged back out to my truck. Diesel was waiting for me when I got there, standing on the driver’s seat with his tail wagging 100 mph. I pulled the truck door open and pushed him over to the passenger seat so I could get out of the pouring rain.

“Hey, buddy! Were you lonely out here?”

He panted and licked my face over and over.

“Okay, okay. Chill out, I gotta make a couple calls.”

I grabbed my cell phone and dialed my mom’s number.

“Are you home?” She answered the phone.

“Uh, hello to you too.” I laughed.

“Sorry, hello. Are you home?”

“No, Mom. I’m not home, but I figured I’d better check in before you sent out a search party.” I paused so she could laugh … nothing. I continued. “In a series of completely shitty events, which I’ll explain later, my truck is stuck in the mud. I just had the BEST chili ever at a little inn where I’m spending the night.”

Again, silence on the other end of the line.

“Mom?”

“I told you. Didn’t I tell you to wait and go home tomorrow? Why don’t you ever listen to me?”

“Mom,” I sighed, “you were right, I was wrong. I don’t want to argue, I just wanted you to know where I was. The bridge to get back to the highway is flooded, should be open tomorrow so I’ll be home then. I’ll keep you posted, okay?”

More silence.

“Okay?”

This time, Mom sighed. “Yes, Brody. Fine. This place you’re staying, is it decent?”

“Well, there are cleavers hanging on the walls and soft screams coming from the door with a padlock on it. Other than that, it’s great.”

Another sigh on the other end of the line.

“Brody, you are going to make me gray prematurely. Your sister doesn’t give me problems. Why must you torture me?”

I laughed loudly in the phone. “I love you, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“I love you too, Brody.”

I hung up with her and looked over and Diesel. “Are women always like that, D? She worries constantly.” He cocked his head to the side and eyed me curiously. “One more call and we’ll go inside and find you some food.”

Before I could dial the phone, my text alert noise chirped. It was from my mom…

COULD YOU PLEASE TEXT ME THE ADDRESS OF THIS “INN” … JUST IN CASE I NEVER HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN?

I laughed out loud and shook my head as I dialed my best friend and agent, Andy.

“Shaw.”

“Why do you insist on answering the phone like a jackass?” I teased.

“Ah, there’s my missing star.”

“Missing?”

“I haven’t talked to you in days. Where have you been?”

“I told you last week I was going home for a few days.”

“Ah, that’s right. Sorry, I don’t pay attention when you call. I usually wait for the tabloids to let me know where you are. Or the police.” He laughed, clearly proud of himself.

Andy had been my best friend since second grade. I was throwing rocks at cars driving past the playground at recess and I coerced him into joining me so that if I got caught, I didn’t go down alone. We’d been friends ever since. He kept my ass out of trouble all through college, so it seemed only natural that he would just continue keeping tabs on me as an adult and become my agent. He was more like a brother than a friend, we’d been through every step of life together and I’d take a bullet for the man. There weren’t many people I trusted like him.

“You’re hilarious, my suburbanite, minivan driving friend.” I shot back at him jokingly.

“First of all, it’s a SUV. Secondly, I don’t drive that; my wife does, asshole. Listen, what are you doing tonight? I haven’t left the office to head home yet. Wanna grab a beer?”

“I’d love to, man, but I’m still … somewhere north. It’s a long story, but the rain fucked up my trip back home. I’m stuck at some inn until tomorrow when hopefully they open this damn bridge again. Why the hell are you working so late anyway? Need a new coat of fresh, white paint on the picket fence?” It was my turn to laugh at my own joke.

“You’re a funny, funny man, Brody Murphy, but no. Someone needs to keep an eye on your contracts and deal with all the drama you bring. Try not to burn down this inn you’re staying at, huh?”

“Got it, boss. Talk to you soon.”

I hung up the phone and looked over at Diesel. “Ready for some food, my man?”

After dinner, Mom bathed the girls for me while I cleaned up the kitchen. The guests succumbed to their food comas and retired to their rooms for the night, everyone except Ashley. She was sitting on the couch with Fred, who was watching the news closely. She looked bored out of her mind, picking at her fake fingernails and yawning. I was sure she was waiting around for Brody, who mentioned going to take a shower.

“How’s it looking?” One simple sentence in Brody’s husky, baritone voice as he entered the room sent shivers through my entire body.