Twenty minutes later while they waited for the check, Javier took off for the restroom and Jonah checked his phone. His heart stopped at the sight of a text from Lauren.
I’m sorry for what’s happening and that I haven’t been more compassionate.
She’d sent the text over an hour ago, seemingly out of nowhere. He reread the sentence three times. Tried to temper his hope. She wasn’t exactly asking for a new start, but she’d reached out to him. It wassomething, and something was better than nothing.
Javier slid into the booth. “Is it weird that I like those scented sugar scrubs they have in the restroom? Hey, what’s wrong?”
Jonah stared unseeing at Javier. “Lauren texted me. She hasn’t done that since the accident.”
“Hey, that’s great. What’d she say?”
Jonah showed Javier the text.
His friend nodded. “All right, all right. That’s a start. Maybe this is the answer you’ve been praying for.”
“If she’s open to communicating through text, count me in. That’s something. It’s a start.”
Jonah glanced back at the screen, rereading her text. “What should I say? I don’t want to scare her off.”
“Yeah, but you don’t want to tiptoe around her feelings either. That’s not healthy.”
“Good point.”
“You’re a smart guy. You’ll figure it out.”
The server brought their bills, and they took them to the register and paid. All the while Jonah’s thoughts spun. He hadn’t felt so much hope since the accident. He could hardly wait to respond to her text. But he couldn’t push. He had to be patient with her.
He and Javier parted ways at the office building, and then Jonah settled in his truck. He couldn’t even wait till he got home. He had to see where this would lead.
It’s not your fault. You didn’t ask for this either.He sent the text and waited.
The blinking dots appeared. He stared at those dots until his vision went blurry.
Then finally her response appeared.I know, but I haven’t been verykindand you didn’t deserve that.
He didn’t know what had brought about this revelation, but he was grateful. Maybe Meg had said something to her. He stared at her words. How to respond? She wasn’t where he was emotionally. She was still somewhere back in April. He should keep things light.
I remember how things were in the spring. I didn’t feel very kindly toward you either. Haha.
Her response came quickly this time. A laughing emoji. Then in a separate text.I really should get on with my chores. I have about eleven million loads of laundry.
That was fast. He fought against the swamp of disappointment—and the urge to remind her to take it easy. But he wasn’t her boyfriend at the moment and he didn’t want to pressure her. This was a good start. Maybe she’d text him again soon. Or maybe he’d start the conversation next time.
He found a funny GIF of a cat doing laundry and sent it. He didn’t start up the truck until she responded with a laughing emoji.
His heart soared with hope. Lauren was communicating with him again. It was something to build on. It was his chance to make her fall in love with him again. And because of that, he pushed away all thoughts of telling her about Glitter.
Chapter 14
May 19
Ever since the ice-out, business had slowly ramped up at the resort. Most weeks at least half the cabins were occupied and Lauren found herself busier. She embraced the work as an opportunity to prove herself. Not that she’d ever get anattagirlout of Jonah Landry.
Last week she’d presented her ideas to the Landrys. Tom, Tammy, and Meg had loved them. They’d wanted to build a pavilion for years but couldn’t justify the funds. Now that they were renting out boat slips, that would change. Turning the boathouse into a gathering space for teens would cost little more than elbow grease.
Jonah was the only one who seemed less than enthusiastic. But she chalked that up to obstinance. He probably wished the ideas had been his. Plus, he didn’t like change—that much was obvious. Heaven forbid they move a Ping-Pong table or change the schedule. The entire world might spin off its axis.
Friday was the first day all eight cabins were occupied, getting the weekend off to a great start. There were two returning couples, two young families, three new couples, and a group of four middle-aged sisters.
