Christine isn’t the person I should tell about this. I should have a friend—maybe Dean, but we only ever spoke around the bakery. I’m alone. There’s no one to tell about Theo’s flaws—all of which aren’this. It’s everything else—my brother or Theo’s business—that creates the imperfections.
Those issues are still there, and I can’t go back to pretending I don’t see them. I do. Especially right now.
“I see,” she says smoothly.
“Do you, though?” I’ve never felt more misunderstood.
She smiles bitterly. “Maybe not. I’m not the type to mix work and pleasure, but I’ve had plenty of older men who tried to do that withme. You can’t blame me for being concerned.”
That’s exactly how it looks, isn’t it? My stomach sinks. “You’re right. I don’t blame you at all.”
“If you’re sure… I’ll let the topic drop. You should still speak to HR, but that’s your decision. I’ll pretend I haven’t seen anything.”
“I didn’t mean to put you in this position, Christine. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She stands. “Take care of yourself. That’s all we can do.”
But when she leaves, I’m not worried about taking care of myself—not one bit. I’m concerned about Theo. He hired me toassist him, but it’s becoming clear that I’ve done nothing but get in the way.
He’s toobusy for me. I never wanted to be the kind of girlfriend waiting around on a man, but there’s not much else I can do. I’m frozen. Christine knows. Everyone knows. I need to go, but I can’t.
The kitchen is filled with pastries, and I finish my calls by the afternoon.
I could call my brother. He texts me daily, and I text back, but never about anything serious. I know he misses me, and I miss him, but I can’t bring myself to talk to him. Calling Everett means lying to his face. If Christine doesn’t want us together, my brother has just as much of a reason to push us apart.
I can’t put off calling my brother for much longer. He’ll need to make sure my room is ready for me.
Theo doesn’t come home until it’s dark out. This is the first time he’s been in the woods this late, and I don’t know how to process my feelings around it.
It means nothing, but Christine has probably talked to him, too. We’re the last to talk about our relationship.
He sits on the rocking chair, so far from me, and bends over to take off his shoes. Watching him feels like heartbreak. I know what comes next, and it’s hard to swallow, especially when he lifts his gaze to mine. He’s always had the warmest eyes.
“Long day?” I murmur.
“The longest.” He smiles, and my heart breaks again, every little fractured piece breaking off into another chunk. “But it wasa good day. We got a lot done. Now that the trip is almost over, I’m trying to make the most of the final days…”
Anything else he says gets lost in the buzz of my fear. He seems normal now. Is it possible he doesn’t know how ruined we are? Or does he not care?
“That’s good.” I clear my throat to hide how my voice breaks. “Did you speak with Christine?”
He freezes with his hand on his boot, sitting upright, before he has a chance to remove it. “What did she say?” His voice is stiff, which answers my question even if his words can’t.
“She knows.” I smile sadly. “I have a feeling you already know that, though. Am I right?”
His jaw is tight, as is each of his movements, his head jerking away from me. He stares out of the window into the orange sunset glow. It doesn’t look as beautiful as it did during our early nights together.
I need to go home.
“You’re right,” he says. “I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I had to hear it from her. Do you know how terrible that was?”
“I didn’t consider that. I’m sorry.”
An apology is the last thing I want. He shouldn’t be sorry—I’m not sorry about our time together. The most sorrowful part of it all is that it has to end.
“Forget sorry.” My lower lip trembles. “Where does this leave us, Theo?”
