“It’s really not like that,” I murmur, slipping my hand off the bar and rubbing the hem of my T-shirt between my fingers. “I don’t want people to get the wrong idea. My relationship—if you can even call it that—with the guys isstrictlyprofessional.”
“Ah, right.” Shetsks.“Because of Heath’s rule.”
“What rule?”
“Oh, a couple years ago, Heath made ano-fraternizingpolicy between staff, guests, or any other employees. I guess one of the guys in the bunkhouse hooked up with a guest who was here with her family. Her dad caught them together and she was a minor—it was a whole mess.”
Lydia glances up at me as she refills my water glass. “So don’t worry about it. Everyone knows the rule—and I’dneverpublicly out youifyou happened to break it.” She winks and gives the countertop a final swipe.
The lodge doors swing open, and this time, Emmett and Wesley stride in.
A wave of relief rushes through me, loosening the tightness in my chest.
Emmett must read the expression on my face because he casually saunters over and throws an arm around me.
“Relax, Sades. You didn’t think we’d leave ournot-girlfriendhanging, did ya?” he says coolly, squeezing my shoulder.
They’re really not gonna let that go, are they?
I roll my eyes and shrug him off playfully. The truth is, I was worried they might ditch me. The little voice in my head is annoyingly good at convincing me of things like that. But deep down, I knew they wouldn’t. There’s no logical reason they’d include me in their plans and then randomly ditch me.
Still…sometimes that little voice is hard to ignore.
“We would’ve been here sooner, but Hartford found another weak spot in the fencing, and that fucking donkey got out again,” Emmett says, digging into the bowl of assorted nuts on the counter.
Lydia unties her apron and balls it in her hands. “Well, good thing you’re here now, because I quit,” she declares, tossing it to the floor.
“No, you don’t,” Emmett says flatly. “Didn’t my dad say you could get off early today so you could leave with us?” He tosses a few cashews into his mouth.
“You’re right—I don’t.” She giggles, scooping up the apron and hanging it on the hook behind the bar. “He said I could leave earlier, but I was hanging out with Sadie.” She winks, then climbs over the bar.
It’s rare anyone around here calls me by my actual name. Other than Heath, everyone seems to come up with their own nickname, and you have to roll with it.
If I’ve learned anything from this stupid“not-girlfriend”situation, it’s that the more you fight it, the harder they push.
“Why do you always have to climb over the bar like a wild animal? And hanging out with your friend on company time? I’mdefinitelytattling,” Emmett says, rubbing the top of Lydia’s head.
She growls and shoves him off as he laughs.
“We should hit the road. We’re already leaving later than planned,” Wesley says, voice low. His eyes briefly meet mine, and his jaw tightens.
“You guys go ahead,” Lydia says. “Landon’s going to drive me. We won’t all fit in Em’s truck, anyway. Not with Land’s wide-ass manspread.”
“Uh, have you seen your brother? The guy’s got fucking redwoods for legs. Spreading is nonnegotiable,” Emmett says, pointing at Lydia.
She sticks her tongue out and flips him off. “Whatever. Sadie, you wanna ride with me and Land, or are you going withyour guys?” she teases.
“They arenotmy—”
“She’s riding with us,” Wesley says, his tone leaving no room for argument. He spins me around and guides me through the dining lodge, his hand firm on the small of my back.
I hear Lydia’s giggle behind me as I’m gently pushed out the door. Wesley grabs my arm, steering me toward Emmett’s truck—but I pull away.
“Okay,okay, I can walk to the truck, Wesley. You don’t have tojerkme around,” I snap.
He immediately steps back—hands raised, eyes unreadable. The apology is silent, but I feel it.
Emmett bursts out of the lodge. “Ah! My truck—and I called shotgun! Backseat for you, sweetheart,” he shouts, pointing at me as he jogs over and jumps in.
