“What? I’m just saying, you never know what skeletons are in people’s closets. I’m just offering to give her a little leverage in case she needs it.”
Her heart was hammering so hard that she thought she was going to be sick. Could this really mean this part of her life was safely over? Were her parents going to back off and maybe learn from this? Or did they already have someone else lined up that they were going to force on her?
“Oh God…” With one hand on her stomach and the other on her head, it felt like the room was spinning.
“Okay, okay, we’ve got you,” Connor said as he and Milo guided her across the room and sat her down on one of the stools. “Get her some water.”
“On it!”
It took a few minutes for her to compose herself, and when she finally felt like she could breathe, she tried to relax. “I…I don’t even know what to say. I mean, other than thank you. Both of you. I don’t know how you found out everything you found out, but…”
“Are you kidding? Milo’s a tech whiz in every sense of the word. There isn’t anything he can’t find out about anyone. And if he can’t find it, he knows people who can,” Connor said. “I wish I could say this fixes everything, but you’re still going to have to contend with your parents.”
She nodded. “I know. I’m almost afraid to be the one to reach out first.”
“That’s understandable.”
“I can’t even imagine what a conversation with them is going to sound like.” She groaned. “But I don’t think I should wait too long. The sooner this is all over, the sooner I can have my life back.”
“If there’s anything else I can do,” Connor said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Just ask.”
“Thank you. I can’t believe you were able to accomplish as much as you did.” Looking up, she looked at Milo. “I appreciate all the work you put into this. I’m so embarrassed that all my dirty laundry is out there. You all must wish you had hired someone else.”
“That’s not even a little true,” Milo assured her. “The work you’ve done here in the lodge is amazing. It’s exactly what we all hoped for but couldn’t seem to make happen on our own. I know I personally can’t wait for you to get started on the cabins.”
Another nod.
The cabins.
Axel.
Shit.
Slowly, she got to her feet and looked at him. His expression was completely closed, guarded; she had no idea what he was thinking.
And she seriously wished everyone would just leave so she could talk to him.
“Axel, I…” she began, but stopped when he pushed away from the wall and started to walk over. But instead of looking at her, his eyes were on Connor.
“You knew about all of this?” he asked, his voice sharp with barely concealed anger.
To his credit, Connor kept his tone more on the calm side. “I did.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me? I thought we were friends, dude. How could you keep something like this from me?”
“It wasn’t my place.” Shoulders sagging a bit, Connor went on. “The entire situation was shitty, but I promised Maisie I wouldn’t tell you. When the time was right, I knew she’d talk to you.”
“I never thought Bryce would come here,” she said. But when Axel’s expression only hardened, she realized that it might not have been the right thing to say.
“So maybe you were hoping to never have to tell me, huh? You were gonna keep stringing me along until you got Connor and Milo to help you out, and then I would have never seen you again. You would get your help and freedom, so what the hell would you need me for?”
“That’s not it at all,” she argued. “Can we…can we go someplace and talk? Please?”
But he was already backing up. “What’s the point? Now we don’t have to have the awkward conversation.” He shook his head in disgust before glancing at his friends. “And now you all know what’s going on, so it will save us having to talk about it.”
“Axel, come on, man. Don’t be like that,” Connor said, taking a step toward him.
“Like what?” he demanded. “Just being honest so no one tries to do the intervention thing again.”
