AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Wings rasp and rattle and Ruby screams like she’s being attacked by an ax-murderer from the Black Lagoon.
Then she’s running in frantic circles around the cabin, batting bugs the size of the baby potatoes we had for dinner from her hair while I scoop the equally frantic critters off the floor and toss them outside.
And I know it’s time for Plan B.
As soon as Ruby’s calmed down enough to let me pull her in for a hug, I stroke her bug-free hair and ask, “Luxury hotel? Twenty-minute drive? I checked this morning and they have plenty of rooms available tonight.”
She tips her head back, looking up at me with something so close to love that it makes my heart stutter and my throat squeeze tight. “You are the best man. The very, very best.” She bites her lip. “Rachel’s feelings won’t be hurt?”
I shake my head. “No. She isn’t like that. And . . . I might have warned her that it was your first time camping. That we might have to ease into the overnight thing.”
Ruby smiles, a grin that hits me in my stuttering heart all over again. “Yep. You’re the best. It’s settled now. I will buy you a fancy dessert at our fancy hotel to celebrate.”
“Sounds perfect.”
But it doesn’t. And I’m not the best.
As we pack up, bid Rachel goodbye, and head out onto the road in the sunset light, I realize I can’t do this anymore.
I can’t lie to her, even a lie of omission.
I have to come clean with Ruby.
Tonight.
23
RUBY
As we reach the ferry parking lot, the sun slips behind the blue-shadowed mountains, painting the sky in shades of peach and lavender.
I draw a deep, wonder-struck breath. I want to memorize that color. Paint with it, slide it across the top of a fresh sheet of hot-press watercolor paper.
It will always remind me of this perfect, magical day.
With the world bathed in light so gorgeous it makes my soul ache, we board the boat that’ll whisk us to our swanky hotel on an island in the middle of the lake.
“Wow,” I sigh. “It’s so beautiful. Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Jesse rumbles, his arm around my waist.
I lean against the boat railing beside him, relishing the breeze on my face and the sweet, mineral scent of the water.
I’m so happy it’s stupid. Truly, honestly stupid.
Because this moment isn’t what it feels like.
I’m most decidedly not on a romantic adventure with my incredible boyfriend who knows me so well he had a backup plan ready to deploy in the event of bug-related camping catastrophes.
I am on a friends-with-sexy-times trip with my good friend who will be leaving in a little over a week. Soon, he’ll be banging sexy starlets thousands of miles away.
On the other side of the country . . .
The thought sends a stab of pain through me, but I push it away. I refuse to let my rational brain ruin this trip—this detour. I’m going to keep enjoying it for what it is. I refuse to think about Jesse leaving or who he’ll be giving orgasms to in the future.
But turns out it’s not my brain that’s the problem.
It’s my heart, thumping harder in my chest as Jesse takes my hand when we disembark, keeping me steady on the gently wobbling plank. My heart patters faster as we cross the magnificent hotel grounds, walking past beautifully maintained gardens and a stunning pool with a view of the lake and mountains, and then inside a lobby where a soaring glass ceiling lets in the dreamy pink light.
My heart skips a beat as Jesse books a suite on the top floor for two nights.
Minutes later, we step through the door into the most gorgeous hotel room I’ve ever seen. “Oh my God.” I press a hand to my chest, padding across the thick carpet into the tastefully furnished sitting room with its floor-to-ceiling windows.
The mountains and the calm mirror of the lake far below are breathtaking.
Literally. For a second I can’t breathe. It’s just too perfect.
“You like?” Jesse drops our bags in the bedroom and then comes to stand beside me, his arms around me the only thing that could make this moment more beautiful.
I lean back against his chest. “I love. It’s crazy fancy and you shouldn’t have spent all this money, but . . .” I glance over my shoulder with a grin. “But I really, really love it. I’m never going to forget this trip. Never ever.”
A shadow crosses his face—there and gone in an instant.
That’s odd.
I could swear I saw that same shadow when we left the cabin. I’d chalked it up to him not looking forward to telling Rachel that we were leaving early, then, but now . . .
Now, I wonder if maybe he’s bummed. That maybe I ruined his plans.
