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Abe’s tone was wry, while his gaze was anything but as he pinned it on Tag. “You could say that.”
* * *
ALLY WAS RELIEVED when Max called later that morning to tell Tag he’d found the part for his plane. The weather had cleared and this meant Tag would be leaving soon. She’d already decided not to fly back with him because, without the distraction of an emergency between them, they’d be forced to talk. She didn’t want to talk. She wasn’t sure she could have any more conversations about Shay or the campaign—and certainly not about Kendall—and keep her emotions in check.
Then there was the fact that she didn’t want to confess that he’d likely been right about her medical discussions getting her fired. She’d been in touch with Flynn, and he’d heard that it wasn’t looking good for her.
Tag found her in the living room, where she’d been pretending to read. “Max said his cousin is going to be in the area and can swing by and pick us up. Can you be ready in about thirty minutes?”
“I’m not going with you. My grandpa is flying Zeke to Rankins tomorrow. I’m going to wait and go with him.”
“Your grandfather is coming to Rankins?”
“Yep. He, um, he wants to consult with Doc about Zeke. And he has some business to take care of.”
“So, you’re not coming back with me?”
He phrased the question like he was having a difficult time accepting it. Ally tried not to read too much into it. “No, I already told Flynn. He’s going to handle any emergencies.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows what to do,” she said, purposely misunderstanding the question. “He used to do the job before I was hired.”
“No, I mean why aren’t you coming with me? I was hoping…” His look told her he knew exactly what she was up to. “Ally, I think we need to talk. I have to leave for Juneau tomorrow, and I won’t be back until Wednesday at the earliest.”
A rush of relief went through her. If he was leaving tomorrow, there was less chance he’d find out about the hearing. But that also meant it was that much sooner he’d be with Kendall and she’d find out Ally was lying about herself and Tag.
But it didn’t matter now, anyway; she and Tag were over. She needed to make that clear, lest she hold on to some pointless hope. She tried to inhale a fortifying breath but her lungs felt caustic and tight, like they were full of campfire smoke.
Her voice was a little low and throaty but she managed a level “No, Tag, it’s fine. There’s nothing more to talk about. You need to focus on the campaign, and I need to focus on…my job.” Or job hunting, more likely.
“Is Dave coming with you to Rankins?”
“What? Dave? No, he’s going to cover for my grandpa.”
“Mmm. Do you…? Are you guys…? Are you interested in him?”
Ally stared. Was he serious with this? How dare he ask her about Dave after the mauling Kendall gave him on that stage? Enough was enough.
The words bubbled up and burst from her like a volcanic episode. “Are you out of your mind? How could you think that when I’m so clearly—” in love with you. She’d almost blurted it out. A sheen of nervous sweat prickled her back. She needed him to get out of here.
“You’re what?” he asked, his voice tight and fraught. Tension radiated from his body. “It would be nice to hear you say how you feel, for a change.”
Ally froze and then struggled to keep her tone level. “You want to hear how I feel?” Those stampeding words pounded against the back of her throat, clamoring for release. But what difference would it make? There could be no future here. And that’s what she wanted: a relationship, a future, a family. If they couldn’t have that, what was the point in telling him how she felt? She didn’t want to be second on his list. She didn’t even think she’d make second place. Probably she was down there around fourth or fifth after the campaign, his family, Kendall, his business… Better to end this, once and for all.
“Ally, tell me how you feel.”
Corralling the caribou, she said, “Fine. I feel…fine.”
