He shrugged. “Came back early. Temp got a little hot so we turned back. If any of them want to go out later, there’s that firefly path hike we can do but most of them were keen on coming back to swim in the lake.”
I wondered what side Marlow was on: be grateful to head back to camp for the day or antsy to take up another course if given the chance.
It was hard to say. He was such an enigma that it made him hard to read. He had so much energy that made him the perfect client to take on any of the tougher courses to burn it off, but at the same time, he’d been content sitting around the bonfires at night, hanging out with the other groups he’d joined earlier that day.
“I see. Anyone giving you any trouble?”
He shook his head. “Nope. All good on my end.”
“Mine too,” Lydia answered. “Though, Chatterbox was in quite the mood today.”
My brow shot up. “Who?”
“Marlow Knight,” Talos supplied.
Now I was confused. “I thought he was assigned with your group today?”
I made that plan specifically because it was going to be tougher on him, and therefore, give him the challenge he was always craving.
Why the hell would Lydia take him when her guides were usually on the lighter side?
Talos shrugged. “He wasn’t interested in the hike. Wanted to head out on the jet skis.”
“Which was weird,” Lydia replied. “Because he didn’t even get on one. Just sat on the dock with his feet in the water and watched everyone.”
That...wasodd.
My stomach churned.
I hoped it wasn’t because of me. Or what we did Thursday night. The last thing I wanted was for his time here to be less fun because I’d given in and let myself cross that line that never should’ve been crossed in the first place.
Putting distance between us this weekend was my only solution to try and combat the wave of guilt I felt, along with what I was beginning to suspect were budding feelings I was trying to do everything tonotlet take root.
“Mood... as in?” I ventured.
Lydia shrugged. “Uh, tired I guess? He said he had a headache but he seemed fine other than that. Just wasn’t as chipper, I guess you could say.”
Oh god.
I rubbed a hand over my face, hiding the sudden panic that was coursing through me.
Seeking him out to talk to him was probably the worst idea I’d ever had. Then again, if he needed to vent or be mad at someone, it most definitely should be me. If I was the source of him no longer enjoying staying here, that was for me to deal with and address and not anyone else.
Putting that on someone else’s plate wasn’t fair in the slightest.
Right as I dropped my hand to tell Lydia I’d talk to him, my granddad’s phone call finally ended. “Ah ha, there’s my grandson.”
His cheery smile was had to not mirror. “Didn’t expect you today. Everything okay?”
He winked and pushed himself up from the stool, his body wobbling slightly as it slowly balanced out again. “Of course. You up to taking a walk with me?”
“Always.” Nodding to the rest of my staff, I held out an arm for my granddad and escorted him out into the sunshine.
“Ah, nice day today. As always,” he commented. “Why don’t we head over to the docks? I’d love to dip my feet in the water.”
My heart lurched at the suggestion. Hopefully, by now, Marlow was moved on to some other activity. With Lydia down visiting Lindsay, that was a good sign that her group had dispersed and had absorbed themselves into other ones.
“Yeah, definitely,” I said, turning and leading the way.
