She walks over to the bed, sitting down and leaning against the headboard.
“What’s going on in that head?”
She tosses the envelope from Sanders to the side and drags both of her hands over her face. “God, I’m so sorry I roped you into all this. I know this is not what you were expecting. You probably thought you were going to have a little fun, role-play, and be on your way. You didn’t know you were bunking up with a girl who has a truckload of baggage.”
“You act as if that’s a bad thing,” I say.
Her eyes meet mine. “Isn’t it though?”
“Who doesn’t have baggage?” I ask. “There isn’t one person on this earth who hasn’t opened a metaphorical suitcase and dumped in it. No life is perfect, no journey unmarred. Everyone’s carrying around something. So there’s absolutely no need to apologize.”
Her head tilts to the side as she studies me.
“What?” I ask after a few seconds.
“Nothing.” She shakes her head.
“Uh, no, you’re not going to get away with that. What were you just thinking?”
She drags her finger over the comforter beneath us, avoiding eye contact. “Just that, you know, you’re pretty mature.”
“Jesus, Scottie. I’m two years younger than you, which is not that big of a difference.”
“I know, I know. I’m just not used to such maturity in a man your age is all. I mean, even Mika isn’t as mature as you.”
I chuckle. “Mika’s on his own path.”
“That he is.” She pushes her foot against my leg. “Seriously though, you know how to say the right thing.”
“I’m not saying it just to say it.” I look her in the eyes. “I mean it.”
She nods. “I know.”
I turn toward her and ask, “So do you want to go home, or do you want to stay? I’m good either way.”
She looks toward the window, and I can see her wavering on what to do, so I decide to help her.
“Please tell me if I’m overstepping here, but it almost seems like after today’s session, you’re considering staying because you might think it could be helpful. I don’t know what happened in your divorce, and I won’t ask because I know that’s personal to you, but if it seems like being here could help weed out some of the negative feelings you’re experiencing or the animosity or anxiety, then maybe it might be good to stay. If anything, staying might break the patterns of behavior for you. I know I can get into them sometimes, and breaking a routine helps break through some of the baggage we hold on to.”
She stares up at the ceiling as she leans back on her hands. “Yeah. I was thinking that, but I don’t want to keep you. The option to leave is there, and I feel like you should be able to get back to your regular life.”
“But do you really think I want to do that?” I ask. “Why do you think I’m here in the first place? Because my regular life is boring me.”
Her eyes meet mine. “You’d really stay an extra seven days with me, knowing that we could leave tomorrow?”
“Gives me an extra seven days to shower with the fleshy poker. I call that a good fucking time.”
That makes her smile. “I’m being serious, Wilder.”
“So am I.”
And I realize that I honestly want to stay here. It’s not just about experiencing something fun to relieve my boredom now. It’s for Scottie. It could be because she’s such a good friend to Mika that makes her okay in my book. But I think it’s just her too. I like her. I’m enjoying spending time with her. And if this helps her unpack her marriage and heal? Then I’m in.
“I say we do it,” I continue. “Stay. Enjoy the ride. Have fun basking in the knowledge of throwing off Sanders, because he’s probably never met a couple like us before. Enjoy watching the other couples scramble while we win challenge after challenge while bickering the whole time. I say we stay, paint each other’s faces, canoe out in the lake, go on hikes, and just be adults at an adult summer camp.”
Her smile grows ever so slightly. “I mean, when you put it like that, it does sound kind of fun.”
“Exactly. And I say you just let loose. Shake off the insecurities, don’t worry about what your coworkers might think, and just do this for you. Experience everything for you. Because you and I both know you won’t be working with the Brads and Chad forever, so might as well give them a show.”
