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“Yes.” Jenson starts back toward the path, then stops, holding a hand out to me. After a beat, I take it and follow him. “Sorry. We just needed a moment of privacy.”
Roy Dupont looks back and forth between the two of us, suspicious, curious, and worried. “I know it’s been a long trip, and some of the team building activities were a little more competitive than I would have liked…”
Jenson waves his words off. “No, no, they’ve been fine. I think we’re just in need of some alone time.” He plasters on a smile and pulls me in tight against him. I drape an arm around his waist, but my smile is weak. Roy notices.
“Well. If you two would like to leave early, I’d understand. No harm in getting back to the office early and seeing how everything’s running.”
His smile is kind, and I feel my eyes start to water again. Jenson rubs my back, thanking Roy for understanding before leading me back toward the lodge.
His body is stiff and tight against mine.
“Sorry,” I mutter. It hits me suddenly that I—we—could lose everything. That check. The company. Both of us with nothing, and for what? “I should hold it together better.”
Jenson only shakes his head, his lips tight.
“If you need a break, that’s fine, Mel. But tell me. We aren’t strangers.”
His eyes bore into mine for a moment before he heads back toward the porch and the group of people waiting on him.
That’s the problem,I think as I watch him go. We’re not strangers.And this would be so much easier if we were.
* * *
The hike leavesme physically exhausted on top of the emotional and mental exhaustion. I find an excuse to step away on my own before dinner and head to a private area of the lodge, away from the guest rooms and dining areas. It’s quiet back here, a series of stone terraces with little tables tucked away in dark corners and tiki torches lighting the coming evening.
Slipping my cell out of my pocket, I take a deep breath and put on a fake smile.
Jodie answers on the second ring.
“Hi, love! How’s it going? Did you get up to anything fun today?”
I give her a quick rundown of the hike, and an ice carving that was wheeled out for breakfast—a replica of the falls we ended up hiking to. She pokes and prods for details, catches me up on an appointment she had with Dr. Salazar, and then we’re both lulled into a comfortable silence.
I want to be back in her little house, although it’s really too small for the both of us. Tucked up on the couch next to her. Head on her shoulder, telling her about all my worries and fears.
But I haven’t done that since before we left Harwinton. And I won’t now. Jodie has more than enough to worry about.
“Tell me, hon, have you met anyone there? Anyone catching your eye?”
I roll my eyes and chuckle, leaning against a railing that overlooks a series of trails across a meadow. Deer are starting to creep out of the shadows now that the sun is setting.
“No, no one is catching my eye, Jodie. A relationship isn’t exactly my top priority right now.”
She sighs, trying to make it sound lighthearted, but I know it bothers her that I’m always alone.
“You need to make time for yourself, Mel. Fall in love. Fall out of love. But you should experience it either way.”
I don’t tell her what I already know deep in my heart; that I was in love once. With Jenson. That I’m scared a part of me might still be.
Instead, I turn the conversation to when the next bills are due, and when a good time to visit would be. I assure her that I already have PTO to take a Friday off and stay the long weekend. When we hang up, I don’t feel any lighter, but I am calmer.
Until I hear pebbles scatter across the rocks.
Turning, I gasp at the sight of Roy standing nearby with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I’m sorry—I was out for a stroll before dinner. I couldn’t help but overhear…”
He hesitates and my heart gallops in my chest.
