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Chapter Fourteen: Danielle
It must be signal hour. My phone buzzes in my pocket as I try to find good footing for my next step.
I take the phone out and see the text from Savannah. I’ll have to answer her later. I shove the phone back into my fanny pack and take another sip of my water.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Adrian again. He’s far back, behind a row of trees. I can't make out what he's doing.
It looks like he's intentionally staying away from the crowd. Then he walks away again toward the ranch’s main cabin.
I have no idea why I’m this nervous.
Adrian and I have spent hours talking to each other, about anything and everything we can think of. While it scares me to know how attached I’ve grown to him in such a short amount of time. However, it's also not surprising.
He’s an easy man to talk to, and even easier man to fall in love with.
And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my feelings for him are real.
But I have no fucking clue what I’m supposed to do if he’s going to alternate between hot and cold all the time.
On the one hand, I understand why he feels the need to keep me at arm’s length in front of the other guests for now.
On the other hand, he always manages to find a way to reassure me and let me know that he’s still thinking about me.
Today that’s not happening, and I have to wonder why.
Am I coming on too strong?
Have I scared him off already?
I’m so out of my depth that I’m tempted to step away, just to call Savannah. It isn’t until I realize that my signal hour is over that dismay settles over me.
Not only am I on my own, but Adrian is nowhere to be found. Once again.
What is the matter with me? Why am I falling back into old habits and trying to build the courage to speak up?
It’s not like I’m asking Adrian for much, just the bare minimum. And the thought makes me sad.
As we begin to descend the hill, I start to think about the warm and loving Adrian I have gotten to know.
Where is the warmth and the fire I’ve gotten used to? Where is that smile that makes me go weak in the knees?
I have no idea what’s happening, but I have a sinking feeling that the man I encountered today is nothing like the Adrian I have come to know.
Not by a long shot.
Then, abruptly, I skid to a halt and glance over my shoulders. But I’m still on my own, deep in the bowels of the woods. With no one around.
Am I lost? Are there wild animals around here? I shiver with fear.
I place a hand over my chest and lean against the nearest tree. I don’t realize I’m crying till I touch a hand to my face.
I’ve got scrapes and bruises, and I can’t tell if I’m crying because they sting or because of Adrian’s brutal rejection.
All I know is that I’m all alone in the woods, with no idea where I am, and no one who will notice I’m gone.
At least no one who cares enough to come after me.
Fucking Adrian.
