Page 57 of Broken Boundaries

I’m not sure if she believes me, but she lets it go. “Yeah. We got a lot of people here this weekend.”

“Excuse me.” A man is standing behind Jazz with a vase full of flowers. “Do you know where I can find an Aspen Fallon?”

“Oh, um, that’s me.” I just know my face instantly turns red.

“Ok, then. Here you go.” The man hands me the vase.

“Who are these from?” Jazz asks.

I shrug, and the man says, “Dunno. There’s a card in there, though. Have a good day.”

Once he’s gone, I set the vase on the desk and rummage through the flowers to find the card.

“Do you think it’s from Dawson?” Jazz asks excitedly.

I suppose it could be, but I’m really not sure. I open the small envelope and pull out the card. My shoulders immediately slump, and instead of being excited, I’m now irritated.

“Fucking Zach.”

“Oh my god!” Jazz groans. “Why can’t that man take a hint?”

“I have no clue.”

At that moment, Harper and Brooks reemerge from the back hallway.

“Aw, did someone get flowers?” Harper asks.

“Yep. Ms. Hot Stuff right here has boys chasing her all over town,” Jazz says.

“That’s not true,” I quickly add. “These are from Zach. He still hasn’t gotten the message…”

Harper gives me a sympathetic look, and when I glance at Brooks, I can tell he’s doing his best to look at anything but me.

“I don’t want them, though. Can we put them in a cabin for one of the guests?”

“I don’t see why not,” Harper says. “But are you sure you don’t want them? They’re really pretty. Accepting the flowers doesn’t mean you’re accepting his apology.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t want them.”

“Alright. Well, Jazz just pick a cabin and put them on one of the tables.”

Jazz picks up the vase. “You got it, boss.” She heads off toward the cabin while Harper heads to the front door. Brooks stays frozen by the desk. His eyes finally meet mine, and my heart rate starts to pick up. How can one look affect me like this?

He opens his mouth as if he’s finally going to say something, but then his phone rings. He looks at the screen and quickly answers it as he walks off.

I exhale the breath I was holding, and my shoulders fall. I guess we won’t be talking today.

I’m standing in the middle of my cabin after work, just staring at the walls. I’ve really come to love this place. It’s small and exactly what I need. But it was never meant to be permanent, and if Brooks is going to keep actively avoiding me, then it’s probably time I try to find another place to live.

I sit down on the couch and start searching for apartments nearby. As expected, not much comes up, but there are a few rooms for rent.

I’m looking through one of the listings when there’s a knock on my door. I’m very surprised when I open it to see Brooks standing there.

His hands are in his pockets, and he looks like he might be a little nervous. “Hey, uh, I made Philly cheesesteaks. You want one?”

“Um, what?” That’s really the first thing he’s going to say to me?

“I made food. Are you hungry?”