Burying Water (Burying Water #1)(64)

The hands that pulled me back earlier fall from my arms. “Sorry about that. I didn’t want you getting in the mix.”

I turn to see the guy Jesse walked in with beside me. “Thanks.”

“They need Licks here, right?” He nods toward the scattered fries.

I frown. “Licks?”

Jesse’s friend stares at me for so long, an unreadable look in his eyes, that I begin to get uncomfortable. Finally, I hold my hand out. “I’m Water.”

“Right.” He takes my hand. “Luke.”

“Luke,” I repeat. “Nice to meet you. Are you from around here?”

He shakes his head. “Portland. On my way to Boise tonight, and I thought I’d stop in Bend and see Jesse for a bit.”

“Do you know him well?”

“I guess you could say that, yeah. We lived together.”

Lived together? He must know Jesse very well. I know this is prying, but I’ll blame it on the beer if anyone accuses me of being nosy. “Do you know why he moved back to Sisters?” And why he and Sheriff Gabe were fighting last night?

“Uh . . .” Luke drops his gaze to the floor, as if he’s searching for an answer there. “I think he just missed being home.”

I can’t tell if Luke doesn’t know the real reason or if he’s lying. “I can understand that. It’s beautiful here.”

“You like living here?”

I smile. Finally, a question I don’t have to lie about. “Yeah, it’s a great place.”

“Really? I wouldn’t have—” He cuts off abruptly, a frown zagging across his forehead. “I need to go. Uh . . . I’m going to go outside and wait for the cops with Jesse.” He grimaces. “Bartender called them.”

“Crap . . .” Jesse’s going to get into more trouble with his dad. Because of me.

Why would he even do that?

“Maybe I’ll see you around.” Luke heads for the door, his steps quick.

After a brief visit to the restroom to make sure my hair is all fixed, I head back over to our table to hear Bonnie say, “I thought Dean and him were over all that.”

I sit down beside Amber, who’s not bothering to hide her scowl. “Over what?” I ask.

“Something that happened to Dean’s best friend, Tommy, back in high school.”

Tommy . . . “The kid who was stabbed?”

Amber lifts a questioning brow at me and then clues in. “Dakota told you.”

“Yeah.” I give her a sheepish shrug.

“I didn’t say anything earlier because I didn’t want you to worry about having Jesse next door after . . . you know.” She snorts. “Funny, I figured Dakota was too stoned in high school to even know what was going on.”

“Did you say Dakota?” The redhead rolls her eyes. It’s obvious that everyone at this table shares Amber’s opinion, though some are more catty about it than others.

“I’m going to get some fresh air,” I tell Amber. Maybe I can help by talking to the officer about what happened.

She sighs, dragging herself up. “Yeah, I guess I should come with you and see if my brother’s in handcuffs. I’m sure my dad’s here by now.”

I spot the sheriff’s emblem on the white car as soon as we step outside. Jesse’s sitting on a step under the watchful eye of a police officer, his elbows resting on his knees, glaring at Dean, who’s talking to the sheriff.

“Do you know what set him off?” Amber asks.

“I’m not sure.” Did it even have anything to do with me? Or was I just an excuse for Jesse to pick a fight? Is he that kind of guy?

We watch as Dean nods to Sheriff Gabe and turns back toward us. His eyes catch mine briefly but he ducks his head and keeps marching, until he disappears into the bar. I’m guessing Dean isn’t as interested in knowing me as he was earlier.

With a holler and a wave from Sheriff Gabe, the other cop leaves Jesse and his friend sitting on the curb and drives off.

“I guess he’s getting off for that,” Amber says as we watch Jesse and Luke climb into Jesse’s car. “Probably easier for everyone.” She sighs. “I’m heading back in.”

Sheriff Gabe looks over at us, his lips pressed into a firm line. “I’m actually going to ask your dad for a ride home.”

Amber frowns. “Aren’t you having fun?”

“Yeah, I am,” I lie. “I’m just tired.”

She shrugs, giving my arm a squeeze. “Okay. See you later.”

I make my way over to the sheriff’s car. “Could I get a ride? In the front, preferably,” I add with a smile.

He dips his head. “Sure, Water. Come on.”

The farther away we get from the bar, the more I relax. His police radio keeps going off until he turns the volume dial all the way down. “I’m not supposed to be on duty anyway,” he explains, adding softly, “though I don’t really know what that means anymore.”

“You should take a vacation. I’d love to recommend somewhere, but . . . you know.”

His head nods slowly, but his solemn mask never cracks. It doesn’t seem as though he finds my attempt at amnesia humor funny. I can guess that he didn’t enjoy having to bail his son out tonight. “So how come you wanted to leave? You weren’t having fun?” Sheriff Gabe finally asks.