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“We’ll see if you give your notice.”
“We’ll see how you like roughing it.”
“Roughing it?”
“I can’t imagine you dealing with nature. Bugs. Outhouses. Tents.”
“This resort is a premium outfitter. They have log cabins with cable TV, high-speed internet, full bathrooms and kitchens in the cabins, running water, the whole deal. They also have a giant lodge where they feed everyone. I don’t even have to cook for myself. Hardly my version of roughing it.”
Zoe gives me one last fierce scowl before she turns and leans back in her seat. She closes her eyes, and it’s clear we’re at the end of the discussion.
Which is fine with me. I’m just as content to sit here and watch her while she pretends to be sleeping. I’m not weird and creepy at all.
I realize I might be losing it because this is the most at peace and content I’ve felt in a long time. If I’m losing it, at least I’m losing it to Zoe. She’s not a stranger. She’ll never be a stranger. She used to be my best friend, and there might have been a lot of years between then and now, but she’s always going to be special to me.CHAPTER 10ZoeAfter flying on Monday and attending a full two days of seminars, I’m looking forward to the downtime we have on Wednesday afternoon. I can’t believe how fast whoever planned this got it all together. Even I have to admit the lodge is pretty incredible.
There is a shit pile of cabins, though I’m not sure how many because a lot of them are hidden throughout the woods. It’s all forested and rocky with a lot of lakefront access and a big log lodge to top it all off. It’s all seriously amazing. The skies also light up at night and in the morning. The air is fresh and slightly crisp, and there isn’t the crazy humidity we all just get used to in Miami.
The training, guest speakers, activities, and all are pretty amazing too. There are guest speakers, employees from other companies Raiden owns, specialists in the tech field, HR experts, blah, blah, blah. It’s actually really inspiring. I hate to admit, but it kind of makes me want to burn the letter I wrote, giving my notice. I’m somewhat excited about taking additional training and all the awesome things we could do as a company. I think that’s what this thing is geared to do. I can’t help that I’m falling under its spell.
I’ve successfully avoided Raiden since we got off the plane. I’ve caught glimpses of him here and there, but I’d be a liar if I said my heart didn’t do a double backflip and start racing like I’m the track and field star, not Raiden.
After lunch, I cut past the cabin I’m sharing with Bonnie and her daughter. She asked for us to be placed together, so I didn’t have to bunk in with a whole bunch of other people from work. I know everyone, but I’m quite shy, and sharing personal space with people I don’t hang out with outside of work and don’t even know more than as a passing acquaintance kind of freaks me out. Bonnie’s daughter, Jenna, is twelve. She’s really enjoying the kid’s camp so far, and she talks endlessly about it every single night.
I head straight for the trails leading into the woods behind the row of cabins. Everyone else seems to be hitting the lakefront and the boats, but I’d like some quiet time to think. Mostly, I just need to mentally prepare myself for lunch tomorrow with Raiden and his mom. I wish I could just get my body in agreement to dislike him as that would make everything much easier.
Of course, just as I get to the trailhead that leads into the woods, Raiden appears like a ghostly apparition that is, unfortunately, mostly flesh and far too handsome. I’ve never seen adult Raiden in khaki hued shorts before. He’s also rocking a tight white t-shirt with palm trees on it and a set of black slides. Who wears slides anyway?
“Hey.” Raiden appears all casual like he didn’t just follow me here.
“Um. Hi. I’m going for a walk…”
“I see that. Can I join you?”
“No. Obviously not.”
“Can I trail behind you, pretending like I’m not following you while, of course, you know I’m there the whole time?”
“No!”
“I’ll just walk in front of you then. I won’t bother you. You won’t even see me if you give me a five-minute head start.”
“No!”
“You don’t own the woods.” He waves at me, so obnoxious that I want to scream. I’m pretty sure this breaks every single kind of rule about not being a huge meathead douchebag, but he’s right. There isn’t anything I can do to stop him. “But this is the start of all the trails. Don’t worry. It branches off. We probably won’t even see each other along the way.”
