“So, ‘tis not a truffle?” Noah asked.
“No. There’s a difference. You’ll want to give at least one of these a try,” Joe added.
“But you have to earn it. I think we’ll begin with the ladies,” Kayn said. “We’ll start with Caitlyn and then Zoe.”
Caitlyn couldn’t help but glance at Noah. His expression still held no pity but rather an unexpected intensity, almost as though he were preparing to go into battle. She scanned the group at the table.
“I would rather get it out of the way. I’ll start with you, Noah. First though, I need to apologize in front of everyone for accusing you of name-dropping. You were only talking about your loved ones. Even if they’re important people, you have every right to do it. I was wrong.”
Noah looked about to speak, but Caitlyn raised her hands to stop him. She scanned the faces around the table.
“One thing I admire most about Noah is his positive attitude. We shared a class during his first semester. Despite sometimes getting rude comments about his accent and being Irish—which is a prejudice I hadn’t even realized was still a thing—he used humor as a deflection. Over the last two years, I’ve seen him around both the university and REKD Gaming’s campuses. His upbeat personality almost always wins the day.If you think about it, he’s done the same thing here with us. It’s an admirable quality.” Noah had ducked his head at her comments, his cheeks darkening. “Now, Heath, we wondered at first if you were a ringer?—”
“A what?” Finn asked with a frown.
“Someone pretending to be someone they’re not. Heath’s obviously more than a part-time employee working his way through college.” Caitlyn’s mouth twitched as she fought an embarrassed smile. “We thought you were a spy.”
“So, are you?” Finn asked Heath.
“It doesn’t matter,” Caitlyn added hurriedly. “He’s contributed significantly to our assignment.”
“Didn’t I tell you that’s what they would think when you brought me in?” Heath asked, sending Kayn anI-told-you-soglance. The man added nothing, just watched Caitlyn expectantly, so she continued.
“Finn, you’re a fantastic team player. You’re not afraid to speak up. Your arguments are sound, but you don’t hesitate to support the final decision even if you disagree with it.”
“Max, you must be one of the most pleasant people I’ve ever met,” Caitlyn said. “If we were to give an award for Mr. Congeniality, I would nominate you. You have a joy for life that’s almost childlike—and I mean that in a good way. What’s even better is that it’s contagious. I think the disagreements yesterday over the botched movie-making activity would have been worse without you there.”
Caitlyn let out a breath, shifted her gaze to Zoe, and said, “I can’t be emotionally removed when it comes to speaking of Zoe because she’s my dearest friend in the world. You’ve been a great team player, willing to do things you’re not comfortable with for the good of the effort.”
“Nicely done, Caitie.” The way Noah said her name gaveCaitlyn a delicious thrill. It was almost like a caress. His nickname for her was quickly becoming her favorite word.
He said, “Zoe, you’re next.”
“I’ll start with Caitlyn,” Zoe said with a sniff as she wiped her eyes with her napkin. “She’s the strongest woman I know. She’s faced so much in her twenty-one years. If my mother had died of ovarian cancer when I was fifteen, I would have shriveled up, but not you. And you were such a brick for your father and helped him with his own grief. Then when you got the same diagnosis last year?—”
At Caitlyn’s gasp, Zoe stopped. A ripple of understanding passed through the group. Zoe’s face blanched as she realized what she’d said.
Caitlyn looked down at her plate, feeling suddenly cold. She wished she’d put on a sweater. They all knew now. Would everyone look at her only as that girl with cancer?
And what about Noah?
Everyone had gone silent, and all she wanted to do was jump from the table and run to her room. But she couldn’t. She was a co-team leader and must behave professionally.
“It’s not public knowledge,” Caitlyn said, forcing back the tears which threatened, “so I would appreciate you all not sharing that information outside of this room. Zoe, you have four other people to do.”
I’m sorry,Zoe mouthed before she continued.
Caitlyn zoned it out. She’d worked so hard to keep quiet about her disease. Would they respect her wishes? Or would the information, like Keven’s lies, creep its way around work and school?
“Caitie,” Noah said softly, pulling her from her thoughts, “I don’t think you’ve been listening. ‘Tis a shame too. But now you have to say something nice about yourself.”
She took her time scanning the assembled group. Their expressions were as varied as the individuals who sat there, but she saw no pity. Maybe it was time to quit running.
“I guess what I like about myself the most is I’m a survivor,” Caitlyn said a little more fiercely than she’d intended. She lowered her voice. “Contrary to what Zoe said, going through hard things doesn’t make me special.Everyonegoes through hard times. I’m sure there’s not a person in this room who hasn’t lost someone near and dear to them or faced tough challenges.
“And yet, look at us. We’re all still here despite how hard this kind of thing is for some of us—like Zoe, who suffers from almost crippling shyness. Look at how she’s blossomed during this retreat. And Heath, who left his wife and family for a week to be with us. Or Finn and Noah—” Caitlyn’s voice hitched a little when she said his name. “They also left their families and came clear across the ocean in pursuit of their dreams. I’m grateful I was recommended to come on this pre-retreat retreat and get to know you all better.”
“Well,” Sona said, wiping her eyes, “I think we’ve all earned some bonbons.”
