Second, I need to see if there’s anything fun we can do. I ask at the front desk and the employee doesn’t have anything to share, besides what’s at the resort. I find myself wishing Bea was working because I’m not sure what I’m looking for. This won’t be a Salem vacation, but we’ll get to spend time together.
Again, we’ll take what we can get.
Chapter Thirty
MY PHONE BUZZES in my pocket and it makes me jump. I usually never have this thing on.
I can’t stop thinking about last night. My stomach flips but it’s a mixture of being terrified and excited. At the same fucking time. Obviously, I’m attracted to Ivy. But what is this? Does it need to be anything?
I have no idea what I’m doing.
For years, I’ve pictured my life centering around the lodge. The idea of sharing it with someone else has never interested me.
The lodge has kept me running around, getting from one season to the next, for the last few years. It was natural for it to be my priority and focus. Is that all I want?
Maybe it doesn’t matter what I want. Maybe I’m incapable of letting anyone else get that close? Is she too good?
Whenever women have been in my life, it’s been tense. Calculated. A game I felt like I could barely keep up with. One where there were no real winners.
Ivy makes me tense for other reasons. Good reasons. The image of her sleeping on my couch—with my dog, wrapped in my blanket—is stuck in my head. I’m nervous. Could it be this simple?
A second buzz from my phone breaks my concentration. Text message notifications from Ivy show on my home screen.
Both messages are pictures of food: truffle fries and butterscotch pie. It looks like she’s still in bed and taking full advantage of the lodge room service.
How are you feeling?
IVY
Better after cake and fries
You're going to get sick of that
Highly doubt it
Does Slate miss me yet?
He hasn't mentioned anything
WOW didn't expect you to be funny
Give him some love for me
Time for a walk tomorrow morning?
I stare at the message. Straight forward. To the point. Why can’t I give her an answer?
I don’t text Ivy back until morning. I turned my phone off and pretended it didn’t exist.
My mind races from thought to thought. I definitely want to see her. Maybe that’s enough? Does it need to be more complicated than that?
Typically, I run in the mornings before going into the lodge. My alarmwent off much earlier than usual because I wanted to sort myself out before seeing Ivy.
When I text her back, borderline too early, I don’t expect her to respond right away. Like she’s done since our first interaction with a strong opinion on a superhero, she surprises me.
If you're still up for a walk, I'll be at the lodge until ten this morning. Text me and we can go get Slate
IVY
