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Blake folded the paper and slipped it into his shirt pocket. “It’s not a bad thing. I like your lists and plans.”
She’d never had a say in anything. Her brother’s ambitions had started when she was barely walking, and she’d spent her childhood and young adult life following along while Ridge succeeded. She’d grown up hopping from one hotel to another for her brother’s gain.
Everly straightened and clasped her hands to her chest. “I can’t believe I’ll be in Cleveland in just a few hours.”
“Don’t you get tired of traveling?” Blake asked. He sure had. Going and going drained the life out of him, and he hadn’t realized the toll it had taken until he got to Wyoming. The exhaustion of a hard day’s work was better than jetlag any day.
“Yeah, but I haven’t seen David in almost two months.”
Blake wanted to dig his pocket knife out and stab himself in the ears. Maybe agreeing to drive Everly to the airport today was a bad idea. What kind of schmuck took the woman he loved to meet another dude? Not to mention the pesky fact that she was engaged to the other dude kept gnawing at Blake.
Oh, right. He was supposed to be leaving those unrequited feelings behind today. It should help that Everly had never given him any indication that she liked him as more than a friend. He’d gotten the hint a long time ago. Friend-zone it is. Why was it so hard to let her go?
“What’s with that sour face? Are you okay?” Everly asked.
“Yeah, just worried about you traveling alone.” That was at least a partial truth.
“I’m fine. I’ve been traveling on my own for years now. I’ve had plenty of practice.”
The drive passed quickly, and Blake tried to muster some excitement for her as they got close to the airport. He’d wasted the whole half hour with her brooding, and now their time together was over.
He slowed through the departure drop-off area, and Everly straightened. She rested her hand on the door and gave him a bright smile. “Wish me luck.” She looked around as he passed the entrance. “Wait, where are you going?”
“I’m not just dropping you off at the curb,” Blake said.
“Why not? You really don’t have to do that. I can walk inside on my own.”
They entered the parking deck, and Blake started scanning for an open spot. “I know, but I want to walk with you. Plus, Ridge would walk you in.”
Everly rolled her eyes, but the expression didn’t hold any malice. He was pretty sure Everly was incapable of any negative emotion.
They didn’t talk much on the way in. Blake carried her suitcase, and Everly studied the papers in her folder. Inside, they both walked straight to check-in.
“You can’t go all the way with me,” Everly said.
Blake’s jaw tensed. “Trust me, I know exactly how far I can go.” Unfortunately, those boundaries were always in his face.
His bad mood was pouring rain right now, and this wasn’t the way he wanted Everly to remember their friendship. He’d put distance between them after today, and they’d be civil acquaintances when she got back from Cleveland. Still, he wanted her to know he’d always be close if she needed him.
Everly moved through the short line to get her boarding pass and check her bag. Blake waited to the side and tested his restraint. He could go twenty-eight seconds without looking at her. He’d counted.
She carefully folded the boarding pass and stuck it in the front pocket of her purse. “I think this is where we say good-bye.”
She’d said the words casually, but nothing about the numbness in his limbs felt casual. He wasn’t ready. He hadn’t had enough time.
How much time did he need? Her engagement wasn’t changing, and that meant their friendship had to.
He swallowed hard to clear his constricting throat and looked over Everly’s shoulder. He’d been in enough airports to last him ten lifetimes, but this was by far his worst experience. He had enough miles to get a ticket to anywhere–first class. He could get one now. Then he’d have another hour before they had to say good-bye.
“Blake?”
He jerked his attention to Everly. A frown creased the skin between her brows, making her soft-blue eyes look darker.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re acting weird.”
Everything was weird. He’d been friends with Everly almost as long as he’d been friends with her brother, but things had changed along the way. Blake had missed his chance. He should have been quicker to ask her to that banquet. Instead, David had invited her first, and everything had gone downhill from there.
Well, for Blake, at least. For Everly, things were coming up roses.
