But for the rest of the evening, and even when I get back to the Airbnb courtesy of a ride from Ethan and Summer, I’m consumed by what Paige and Mila implied. And I’m confused by the hot and cold vibes Finn keeps throwing off. Part of me is sorely tempted to just barge into his room and confront him. But the fear of rejection, especially given my recent track record with relationships, is just too great.
Besides, in a few weeks, my job will be complete, and I’ll have to head back to the city and try to figure out what I’m doing with myself.
Or you could stay…. It’s not the first time the idea has occurred to me, especially since Tom mentioned looking for a partner. But my father, my life — at least what’s left of it, is in Vancouver.
Not here.
Chapter thirteen
Finn
The weird thing about the West Coast is that one day it can be cold and raining, and the next it can be weirdly mild and sunny. Today is one of those rare sunny days, and since most of the snow and slush is gone, Ethan and I decided to take advantage of us both having an afternoon off to hit the trails for a hike.
“You and Summer need a dog,” I tease when we stop for a water break. “Maybe then you’d get more exercise and could keep up better.” Ethan just rolls his eyes. He knows the truth is he’s in better shape than any of us guys.
“You sound like my sister. Ever since she found her mutt, she’s been on me about opening an animal shelter in town.”
“Well, you are the big important mayor; it’s up to you to take care of the citizens of the town, both human and otherwise.”
“Fuck off, you idiot.”
We both chuckle and I take another drink of water. Days like this are why I was so excited to move to Dogwood Cove. California was beautiful, but recent wildfires had put so many vineyards out of business and ruined much of the landscape. And the friends I had down there were different. There was no easy teasing and laughing like there is with Ethan and the guys. Down there, status is everything. It was too much.
We grab our packs and head back out on the trail to the lookout that gives an amazing view of the coastline of Vancouver Island and the Strait of Georgia. An hour later, we drop down onto a rock and stare out at the endless stretch of water. In the distance, you can just make out the edge of the mainland with all of the smaller islands dotted in between. It really is a spectacular sight.
“Care to tell me why my fiancée came home the other night and started bugging me about you supposedly being an asshole to Ashley?” He says it so casually it takes me a minute to register the words.
“I’m not…I don’t…” There’s no sense in hiding from Ethan. He knows me better than anyone. “Shit.”
“Is this still about that girl down in Napa?”
“Look man, last time I got mixed up with someone connected to my work, I lost my fucking job. That can’t happen this time. The winery is too important.”
Ethan stands up and rolls his neck from side to side before fixing me with a critical glare. “Okay, fine. Don’t get mixed up with her. But do you have to be an ass to her?”
“I don’t mean to.”
“Seriously, you sound like a fucking teenager. You don’t mean to? Last time I checked you were an adult, fully in charge of your own actions. So man up already. Ashley’s a great person, and she doesn’t deserve you making her feel like crap because of your own issues.”
Every word he says is true and makes me feel like a piece of shit.
“No woman deserves that, and I know you know that. Not to mention, acting like a tool isn’t the best way to get her on your side. Especially not if you’re into her.”
My eyes shoot up to meet Ethan’s. “I’m not into her,” I blurt out quickly, too quickly, given Ethan’s reaction.
A grin stretches across his face. “Yeah, you are. And everyone can see it except you, apparently. She’s not the waitress, Finn. Dating her isn’t going to cost you the winery.”
“She’s leaving soon.”
“So?”
“So…I dunno. What if she doesn’t want something casual?”
“What if she does? Or what if she stays? Or what if you stop being a pathetic excuse of a man and start treating her with respect and see what happens.”
I know he’s right. She deserves respect and so much more. And I am into her. Way more than I should be, way more than I expected to be. Ashley Elliott is under my skin and fills my head with dirty ideas. Keeping her at a distance seemed like the best possible way to avoid acting on those ideas, especially once I had a taste of her.
But I feel terrible that I’ve apparently been so good at pushing her away, I’ve come across as an asshole. Clearly my plan to think of her like any of my other female friends failed in the face of how attracted to her I am.
