A familiar arm slides around my shoulders with the confident ownership that only men with full hairlines and a healthy relationship with their mothers can muster.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Dylan says, all polite charm and messy curls.He’s a walking Bon Iver song.
‘Well …’ Ella says, her eyes bouncing between us with interest.‘It’s good to see Jamie has decided to settle down.How’d you convince her?’
Dylan shrugs.‘We met for a drink, ended up talking until two a.m., and the rest sort of … happened.’
I smile, teeth and all.It hurts a little.
What actually happened was that I concocted a fake job in urban planning and told him I once played piano for a children’s cancer fundraiser.He said I had an old soul, and I said, ‘Maybe.’Since then, it’s been weeks of polite lies and avoiding musical instruments.I’m in way too deep and pressing the eject button on this mess seems like more trouble than it’s worth.
Ella laughs because I already filled her in on Project Dylan.But she hides it well and gestures towards the gravel path.‘You guys are in cabin three.’
My stomach sinks a little.Cabin three.The same room where Luke and I—
‘Thanks,’ I say, forcing lightness into my voice.‘The place looks exactly the same.Except for the weird swing set thing.’
She winces.‘Darcy built that for the baby.Don’t ask.’
We pass a paddock with two horses swishing their tails back and forth.
‘I feel like I’m on the set of a Western movie,’ Dylan says, adjusting the bag on his shoulder.‘Do we get cowboy hats?’
‘You need to earn those,’ Ella answers playfully before she ducks inside the main house to grab us some water.I drift towards the fence, extending a hand to a chestnut mare – at least, I think that’s what she is.My knowledge of horses begins and ends withThe Saddle Cluband one very traumatic Shetland pony ride at a birthday party.
The mare snorts gently, warm breath huffing against my fingers.
‘Wow,’ Dylan murmurs, slipping an arm around my waist.‘This is really something.’
I nod, though the moment feels hollow.The air’s too thick, the silence too heavy.It’s like my body remembers something my brain hasn’t caught up with yet.
Ella returns with two bottles of water and that same unreadable look in her eyes.
‘So,’ I say, voice scratchy, ‘what’s the plan for tomorrow?’
‘The morning’s yours,’ she replies with a coy smile.‘I could show you around after I bake the cake.Then the baby shower kicks off around two.’
‘Sounds good,’ I say as we walk.‘Who’s coming?’
‘Just close family and friends.Some staff if they’re around.’
I nod, pretending that doesn’t send a chill down my spine.Dylan takes the room key and my bag before walking inside.In a lowered voice, I ask Ella, ‘Any tall neighbours whose names start withLand end inuke?I mean, I just wanna make sure it’s not awkward.’
‘You never told him, did you?’she asks quietly, referring to the unexpected pregnancy I took care of at the end of last year.
‘No.It wasn’t his business.’
Ella presses her lips together, clearly holding something back.She doesn’t say it, and I’m grateful because it has nothing to do with her.‘I’ll let you guys freshen up.Dinner’s at seven.Just family tonight.’She hesitates, then kisses my cheek.‘You look great, by the way.’
‘Well, you’re a goddess,’ I say honestly.
She smiles and walks back to the house.
I push open the cabin door and freeze for a beat.Same room.Same bed.Same air that once carried a different kind of heat.
Dylan is already sprawled out on the bed, butt naked.
‘Come here,’ he says with a lazy grin, patting the space beside him.
