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It’s what Lily said. The reason she dumped me.
She was right, and I know I wasn’t there for her. I was an absent boyfriend, and I hated that I hurt her like that.
A half hour from the time Elianna left, she comes back up alongside Drake, who’s brought us both hefty Caesar salads and homemade bread from Daria, the resort’s new head chef.
She’s wearing sensible flats and has untucked her crazy blouse. She thanks Drake for the food. “So what else do you do around here besides feed our fearless leader?”
Is there snark coming from her as she describes me as the fearless leader? It’s irritating that she feels the need to joke around like that.
“That’s pretty much it,” Drake says. “He’s methodical about what he eats, so I spend some time in the kitchens here with the sous chefs, making sure Sebastian gets all the essential macro and micro nutrients, you know?”
“I do know.” She lightly touches Drake’s arm and my first thought is that I want to take scissors to Drake’s man bun, something he’s carefully maintained in all the years he’s worked for me.
Jealousy? Where did that come from?
Elianna continues on, and it’s like they’ve forgotten I’m here. “Heismethodical. I can already tell.”
“And very precise,” Drake says. “When I met his mom, she said he used to count and line up his peas in his highchair as a toddler before he ate them one by one.”
She throws her head back and laughs, and the traitor Drake joins in.
“What’s the social scene like here in Longdale?” Elianna asks him.
“I don’t know if there is much of one,” Drake says. “I drive to the next county over to ski. That’s where I get most of my social interaction.”
Elianna gasps. “I haven’t skied in years, Drake.”
“You’ll have to join me. My favorites should open in early November.”
“It’s a date,” she says. They’re smiling at each other like they’re on a toothpaste commercial.
Why does my gut feel like a steel bar’s been shoved through it?
Drake clears his throat, and Elianna glances over at me and takes a small step back.
“Sebastian’s great,” Drake says. “I wouldn’t do this job if he were a jerk about it. He’s not a jerk.” But the way Drake leaves the words hanging implies that some people do think I’m a jerk.
I don’t want to be. I know I am sometimes. Did anyone soft and submissive ever get anywhere, though? The world is run by overachievers like me.
“Well, you and I will have to compare notes on what does and doesn’t work on the ‘managing Sebastian’ front.” Elianna does air quotes and gives him a sly smile.
“Sure,” Drake says. I hate how he’s looking at her.
“Does Longdale have a community theater?” she asks Drake.
“Not anymore. They don’t have anywhere to perform. When they built the new civic center, there weren’t enough funds for an auditorium.”
“That’s too bad. If they had a place for their productions, do you think there would be an interest?” Elianna asks.
“Definitely,” Drake says. “The high school drama club is robust. And I know some people who drive into the next county to participate in their theater troop.”
“Hmmm.” Elianna taps her chin. “Thanks for the info, Drake. You’ll also have to fill me in on how Britta did things because—” She leans in for a conspiratorial whisper. “I have a feeling this job isn’t going to be easy.”
I reach out and take the bags of food from Drake and thank him. “If you ask me, Drake has the best job in the company. It gives him plenty of time to hit the slopes all winter.”
“It makes it all worthwhile.” Drake says dramatically.
I roll my eyes. “Thanks, Drake.” He interprets my dismissive tone correctly because he heads out the door.
