I can’t hide away anymore.
Waiting, biding my time. It just isn’t working.
I grab my keys off the counter and head straight for the door, ignoring Gracie’s warnings that she doesn’t want to see me.
If she’s not coming back to me, then I’ll go to her.
The Timberline Inn lobby is warm and quiet, all polished wood and flickering lamps. A fire crackles in the stone hearth, not that it does anything to calm down the pounding of my heart.
“Dee?”
She’s behind the counter, tapping something into the computer. She looks up the second the bell over the door chimes… and I see it in her eyes before she says a word.
She straightens, arms crossing over her chest. “No.”
That’s it. One word.
I slow my steps, hands raised slightly. “Dee, please. I just want to talk to her.”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“I only need five minutes.”
“She doesn’t want five seconds.” Dee’s voice stays calm, but there’s steel under it. “You need to leave.Now.”
“She won’t even let me explain?”
“You had your chance, Knox. You made your choice. Now you have to live with it.”
My jaw flexes, teeth grinding. “I know I messed up. I froze. But I swear, I never meant to hurt her. I love…”
I cut off before I say it again. Like saying it louder will fix everything.
Dee’s eyes narrow. “Then love her enough to back off. Give her time. Give her the space to breathe. She’s not okay, and you being here isn’t helping.”
The worst part is, I’m sure she’s not wrong.
My heart is screaming at me to keep pushing. To make Josie hear me.
But the smarter part of me knows I can’t force this.
Especially with Savannah still loitering like a bad smell.
I take a step back. Then another. My throat’s tight, like something vital is stuck there.
“Just…” I swallow. “Tell her I came.”
Dee nods once, arms still crossed like a barrier. “She’ll know. But don’t come here again. Not unless she asks.”
I don’t say another word.
I turn and walk out the door into the cold night, my footsteps echoing on the wooden steps like a countdown.
This isn’t how I wanted it to go.
But this time, I showed up.
And next time, if I’m lucky enough to get one, I’ll be ready to fight for her the right way.
