“Hiking.”
Hallie watched him carefully, expecting him to crack a smile and break that deadpanned expression. But he didn’t. He was completely serious.
Well, that backfired. He wasn’t getting out to hike any time soon. With a broken leg, that would take months. And by the time he was feeling up to it, the temperatures would be dropping.
She cleared her throat and focused on the puzzle. “Oh.”
The awkward silence continued to permeate the room. She’d thought for sure she could come up with something he liked to do around the house. Reading. Drawing. Something that was great for rainy days.
But there was nothing.
“What about you?”
Hallie startled then glanced up, unsurprised to find Jacob watching her carefully. He didn’t seem at all interested in the puzzle they were working on anymore. The way chills skittered up her spine made her feel as though there was something he wasn’t telling her. Like he knew something and he wanted her to fess up.
Immediately her thoughts shifted to the camera she had hidden away in her room. No one knew she liked to take pictures. Not even her folks. It was something just for her. Something she didn’t want to share with anyone else.
Except Jacob had caught her taking a picture of the tree so perhaps he already knew she had an interest in photography.
She rolled her lips between her teeth and shrugged. Flicking a puzzle piece between her fingers, she dropped her gaze. “I like to read. Puzzles are fun. I go to all the rodeos.”
Jacob’s stare didn’t abate. He continued to watch her, his attention spearing right through her. It set her skin on fire and suddenly she shot up from the table.
“I’m going to get us something to drink.” She made it part of the way to the fridge when she remembered she’d only just refilled their glasses with lemonade. “I mean… a snack. Do you want anything?” When she paused long enough to turn around, she found him still watching her. The irritation in his eyes said it all. He was still just as angry at his situation.
He probably blamed her even though he’d said he didn’t. And when she’d asked him to tell her about things he enjoyed doing, she merely brought more attention to his current circumstances.
She was blowing this whole thing no matter how hard she tried to make things better.
Jacob remained ever silent and for some insane reason that infuriated her more than the guilt that had initially plagued her.
Stomping over to the pantry, she ignored his scrutiny. She gathered crackers, cheese, and sliced meat. Then returned to the table and plopped down. “Okay, so we’ve established that you’re boring.”
His brows lifted slightly at her unexpected shift in demeanor if she had to guess. Then they lowered further and that grumpy man returned. “I beg your pardon. I’mnotboring.”
“Yes, you are.” She lifted a finger for each word. “Working. Practicing. Hiking. Am I missing anything? Do you go out with friends regularly? Oh, wait, I know the answer to that one. I’d say occasionally is the best you could get away with. We’ve established you don’t have other hobbies or interests.”
Jacob’s face was turning a deeper shade of red and he started fidgeting in his seat. “Just because I don’t waste my time with nonsense doesn’t mean I’m not interesting. I’m driven. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“No, there’s nothing wrong with that,” she conceded. “But when you eat, breathe, and sleep one thing, what happens when that one thing isn’t available to you anymore?” She knew she was pushing him a little too hard. They’d been tiptoeing over the subject of his career since she’d moved in. The truce they’d found wasn’t going to last long at the rate this conversation was going and for a moment she considered backpedaling.
Jacob slapped a hand on the table. “You’re wrong.”
“Am I? What happens in a worst-case scenario, Jacob? What will you do if the doctors say you can’t get back on a horse without causing irreparable damage? I don’t see you as being willing to live your life in a wheelchair. So, what would you do? What career path would you seek out?”
“There is nothing left!” His voice rose but she didn’t flinch. Their good afternoon was shifting into something dangerous. Now it was time to rein it in.
Slowly, she rose to her feet. It was a tactic for her to shift the balance in the room so they were on even footing. Her voice lowered and she met his angry stare unflinching. “The fact is, we don’t know what happens next. You could make a full recovery. Or you might have to find another passion. Regardless of the path, you need to find something that brings you joy in the meantime.
He scoffed but it wasn’t as harsh as she was expecting. “Let me guess, puzzles and board games are supposed to fill that void?”
“It’s a start,” she murmured. “Or you could discover something new about yourself. What if you’re good at cooking. Or writing. What if you have a hidden talent you never explored before? You don’t have to share it with anyone, it can be just for you.” She was hinting too much at what photography was for her, but he needed to hear this. “Just think about it, Jacob. Now is the perfect opportunity to learn more about what makes you tick.” She moved closer and gently touched him where his heart resided. “There are endless possibilities. You just have to allow yourself to explore them.”
Jacob’s contemplative look gave her hope. She’d managed to bring him back from the brink. While she wasn’t sure if it would be enough, it was a start. Jacob needed to be pushed a little in order to realize what was at stake. She had all the faith in the world that he’d be able to get back on the horse and compete again. But living with him now had given her a lot of insight.
Jacob lived for his job.
He had friends, but she was the closest and that was solely because she’d pushed her way past most of his defenses. No one knew him like she did, and she was beginning to realize that she didn’t know him nearly as well as she’d thought.
