Page 38 of The Other Room

But at least I had her as a friend again. At least she was in my life. Trying to remind myself I’d managed to survive her rejection once before, I wrapped my arms around her waist and shoved my feelings for her back inside the dark hole where they belonged. And where I hoped they would finally stay.

CHAPTER NINE

JO

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It’d been three days since Matt had taken me jet skiing. Three days since we’d played volleyball. Three days since we’d... almost kissed.

We had almost kissed, hadn’t we?

For three days I replayed the moment over and over in my head, trying to determine if his lips had actually been headed for mine, or if mine had been headed for his.

Or both?

Groaning, I pulled a pillow over my face. For three days I’d been living that moment on repeat and I still had no idea what to make of it. Part of me thought I’d finally lost my senses and leaned up for a kiss... a kiss he no doubt wouldn’t have wanted.

Because we were just friends.

But he’d leaned toward me. Hadn’t he?

And the look in his eyes. That wasn’t in my imagination. Or was it?

With more confusing thoughts cluttering my mind, I pushed the pillow off my face and willed myself to get out of bed. Even though three days had passed, Matt and I had successfully avoided each other. With him working all day, and me heading off to work at night, it hadn’t been hard to steer clear of him. Each morning when I woke up, he was already gone, and each night when I came home late from work, he was tucked safely behind his bedroom door. I’d tiptoe into my room and close Petunia and I inside.

Two doors between us were better than one.

But today he had the day off. And tonight I was off early. So, unless I planned on abandoning my cabin and making for Antarctica to live out the rest of my days avoiding him, today was the day we had to put an end to our successful evasions.

Actually, the chill of Antarctica looked pretty good.

Did we almost kiss?

No. Definitely not. Matt had always been, and would always be, just a friend.

I stood up, and without taking off my tank top, I slid a bra on underneath it. A skill I’d perfected since Matt moved in. After that first morning he’d shown up and caught me in less-than-appropriate clothing, I’d been certain to cover all my goodies before opening my door each morning.

Petunia chirped and trotted to her mostly full food bowl, but this time I refused to cave in and fill it up again.

“No. That’s over. Finish your food, you ungrateful feline.”

Her eyes widened when she saw me heading toward the door without stopping to fill up her bowl.

Meow.

The sweet, sad tones stopped me in my tracks, and I made the mistake of glancing down at her. Even though she had no ears to flatten to her head and improve on her pitiful gaze, I caved to the big blinking eyes staring up at me.

“Last time, Petunia. I mean it this time.”

With a shake of my head, I reached up and grabbed her cat food bag. Happy chirps filled the small room while she wove between my feet, her body pressing against my legs.

After Petunia’s bowl was topped off to her satisfaction, I put the bag away and went to my bedroom door. Closing my eyes, I took a breath and prepared for the inevitable encounter with Matt.

The door creaked on rusty hinges when I opened it, and I peeked out into the empty living room.

Nothing. No Matt. Good.

As I stared into the empty space, I noticed my absent couch and coffee table. Furrowing my brow, I walked through the void on my way to the bathroom. Still jumping at every creak of this old cabin and expecting Matt to appear at any time, I finished washing my face, brushing my teeth, and getting ready for the day. When I came out of the bathroom, I did so with the same tentative moves I’d mastered over the past few days.