We look at each other in shock for a few stunned seconds, then Leah crosses her arms over her chest. “Can we continue without her? The last hour with these three has been the best part of the retreat by far,” she says, gesturing to us with a tilt of her head.
“You are all welcome to stay for the rest of the weekend, but she is refusing to give me any of the book discussion details or reservation confirmations for the events that she pre-booked. We would be starting from scratch,” Cameron says. “Although the weather has been so bad that the star party at the UNC Charlotte conservatory and the bookstore tour would have probably been canceled, anyway.”
“I can’t believe that she would leave us high and dry like this,” Val says, and Ollie takes a step towards her as if he can somehow physically protect her from any further hurt feelings. She shoots him a warning glare, and he about melts into a puddle at her feet.
“Well, I take full responsibility for my part in all of this,” Cameron starts.
“But you didn’t do anything wrong,” I say, jumping to his defense. I know that Delaney has been irritated with him allday for stepping in where she claims he doesn’t belong, but I shudder to think how things may have turned out if he hadn’t intervened during her and Judith’s initial fight over the cookies.
“Clearly I did,” Cameron sighs. “Although none of it was intentional.”
“Of course not,” I say, but close my mouth because I am starting to sound like a fangirl.
He smiles weakly at my show of solidarity. “She actually thought that you and I had some secret prior working relationship, Drew. She’s convinced that you’re here undercover to scope out what she’s built, so that you can copy it when you take over as the new host.”
My jaw drops to the floor. “Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” he says. “She’s pretty distraught over it too.”
Val and Ollie exchange a look of confusion, and Leah narrows her eyes as she looks back and forth between Cameron and me.
“It’s not true, just to be clear,” I say.
“Then why would she leave the retreat over it?” Val asks curiously.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Cameron says, but the way his gaze flicks briefly to mine tells me there is definitely more he is not saying. Leah catches the look between us, and her eyebrows raise a fraction.
“I met Cameron today, just like the rest of you,” I say, mostly to Leah, then add, “Well, besides Ollie, since he said they knew each other before. But you know what I mean . . .”
Leah remains unconvinced, and I return her suspicious look with my own puzzled one.
“Like Drew said, the accusations are false,” Cameron confirms. “I wanted to clear that up in case any of you talk to her between now and when she leaves in the morning. I also wanted to let you know your options. You three are welcome to stay and finishthe weekend, if you’d like. I’m confident that we can find a way to make the rest of your time here enjoyable. Or you can also leave early, if you’d prefer. Everyone will be getting a full refund, regardless of their decision. I just need to know as soon as possible what route everyone chooses so that I can start making arrangements.”
Chapter twenty-four
MASTER PLAN
Myheartisinmy throat as I wait to hear Val and Leah’s responses, and it becomes abundantly clear what my choice will be. I don’t want this weekend to end early, which is a shocking realization, since I had to be convinced to come here in the first place.
I look back and forth between Val and Leah as they weigh the options but cannot read either of their expressions with certainty. Like Leah said, we’ve had more fun in the last hour together than we’ve had the entire day. Surely they are considering the likelihood of the three of us continuing to have fun on our own, since it will be up to us to plan the rest.
I, for one, would be happy to stay so that we can dive into the book study, go in the hot tub, and maybe watch a few movies together in the theater. I don’t think we even need to try and recreate the trip itinerary that Delaney had planned, other than the Greater Charlotte Bookstore Crawl. I was looking forward to that one.
I briefly imagine what it will be like to explain this turn of events to Scott, Gabe, and Monika, and I decide that I would tell them that this was probably for the best. I don’t think any of us will miss Judith, and Delaney was nice enough at the beginning, but if she thinks Cameron and I are out to get her, maybe it’s in my best interest to not spend any more time around her. I think that they will be proud of my ability to see the good in this situation that I may have seen as cursed before.
“Can we let you know in the morning?” Leah asks Cameron, interrupting my thoughts. “I think I’d like to stay, but I want to check in with my husband first.”
“Of course, take all the time that you need.”
Val does not share her thoughts and instead turns to Ollie. “How long will you be here for?”
He adjusts his shoulders and stands up straighter. “Well, I was planning to clean up and then get back on the road, but the weather has gotten a lot worse since I’ve been here, so I wonder if I should stay the night, just to be safe.”
We all turn to look out the glass accordion doors that overlook the backyard, and even though I am certain he was just saying that to make an excuse to have more time with Val, the storm actually has picked up. The patio cover keeps the doors from being pelted with rain, but the water that comes off the end of it falls in a solid curtain onto the already flooded walkway to the pool.
I turn back just in time to catch the end of Val’s pointed once-over of Ollie. “I’ll think about it, too, and let you know in the morning,” she says.
Leah then turns to me. “How about you, Drew? What are your thoughts?”
