I reached for a chip, loaded it up with salsa, and stuffed it in my mouth.“I cannot believe what an idiot I am,” I said after I finished chewing.
“You’re not an idiot,” Chloe’s voice reached me as she came walking into the kitchen with Elsa.
“Oh, God,” I muttered before stuffing another chip with salsa in my mouth.
“I have also noticed that you and Jude are both totally into each other,” Chloe offered as she slipped out of her jacket and hung it over the back of a chair.
Elsa’s smile was warm and understanding.“You love Jude.Jude loves you.Just be happy.Even Tommy is aware of this.The rest of the world has just been waiting for you and Jude to figure your shit out.”
I sighed again.I wasallabout the sighs tonight.I felt ridiculous.All this time, I thought I’d been so successfully masking my feelings for Jude, and, apparently, everybody knew about them.
“It’s not like I didn’t know I had feelings for him,” I began.“I just want to point that out, but I didn’t want to mess our friendship up, and Istilldon’t want to mess our friendship up.”
“I think friendship is an excellent foundation for a strong relationship,” Chloe pointed out.“Don’t go asking me for expert advice because my only serious relationship was an utter disaster of epic proportions.But I still say friendship is really important, because even if everything else goes away, at least you like each other.”
“Exactly,” Maisie said firmly.
“So what should I do?”I asked the group at large.
“Whoyou shoulddois Jude,” Casey offered with a sly grin and a dramatic brow waggle.
My cheeks were burning up, and I let out a sigh.“Seriously?”
“I’m kind of joking, but I’m as serious as I am joking,” Casey replied.“I’m very happy with Leo, but those Silver boys…” She let out a low whistle.“Elsa knows what I mean.”
Now, Elsa was blushing and giggling.I rolled my eyes as I looked amongst the group.“I’m not going to argue the point that those Silver boys are handsome.I mean, who would?”
“Exactly,” Casey agreed.“You’re not going to mess up your friendship with Jude, because that is rock solid.”
“Here’s a thought,” Farrah chimed in.
Alice flashed a grin.“Do tell.”
“You could have a conversation with him.Crazy, I know, but you can actually talk with him about it,” Farrah pointed out.
“We have—” I began.
Elsa’s mouth dropped open before she cut in.“Ohhhh, so things are further along than you’re letting on?”
I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds before looking over at her.“Okay, maybe.But now I’m kind of in a panic.”
Elsa must have read what was in my expression because she leaned over and gave me a side hug.“Honey, it’s going to be fine.Jude is a good man, and he adores you.He’s not the kind of guy to use you and then stop being your friend.You are going to figure it out, and it’s going to be amazing.And, finally, the rest of the town doesn’t have to wonder when you two are going to figure it out and stop being ‘just friends’,” she said, complete with air quotes.
ChapterTwenty
Jude
Three days later
Despite my best efforts, I’d barely had a minute to breathe, much less think, since what happened the other night with Kendall.We were beyond busy at the resort now, which meant long days and sometimes long nights.
For example, the other day, when Cole had taken a group for an overnight trip, one of the women had not worn hiking boots, for reasons that remained a mystery to the rest of us.After she had what could only be described as the adult equivalent of a tantrum, Grady and I had hiked up so we could escort her off the mountain while the rest of the group continued on.She had far too much gear that she’d been expecting others to carry for her.So that was fun.
The following night, I led an overnight trip.I usually loved the overnight expeditions, except right now, I would’ve preferred to be spending my nights with Kendall.
We’d awoken to frosty ground and a beautiful sunrise on that snowy morning.There was something about a sunrise in the winter in the mountains.The landscape was imbued with shades of pink and lavender, and the world felt like it was coming to life under the soft quiet of the snow.
Another night, I stayed late with Cole, Asher, Grady, and Haven, whoreallywanted to be at home with Elsa, but we were hustling to stay on top of things with the resort so busy now.
