Page 45 of River & Rue

Maya’s stare presses against my face. I cringe in advance, knowing she’s about to say the quiet part out loud.

“It’s been over a week, Rue. You leave your cabin before dawn and sneak back in after dark. You haul your giant backpack around like you’re living out of it—don’t think I haven’t seen you shoving food in there—and you disappear between breakfast and dinner. Where are you hiding all day? Because we both know that’s what you’re doing.”

“The dome,” I mumble.

She gapes at me. “Like inside the dome? You’re writing in that spider-infested dump?”

I crack a smile. “It’s not that bad—at least not anymore. Kirk helped me clean it out. He also hooked me up with a giant, reclining camping chair, and there’s a hole near the top that lets some light in.”

Her expression doesn’t change; if anything, she’s even more outraged.

“You’re shitting me, right? That thing is one of the oldest installations here, made of rotting wood and covered in mildewed drop cloth. It’s one falling pinecone away from collapse.”

She’s not wrong. The whole structure groans whenever there’s a strong breeze, which is often. Not that I’ll admit that, or the fact I sit close enough to the entrance flap that I can dive outside if necessary.

“I’m perfectly safe. Most importantly, it’s peaceful and quiet, and I’ve been hitting my word goal every day.”

Maya doesn’t appear reassured, no doubt because I’m too tired to lie convincingly. Dropping my elbows to my knees, I press my thumbs to the ever-present tension in my forehead.

“My options were limited,” I mutter. “Kirk said the unoccupied cabins aren’t available for use and there are no spare artist studios. I can’t write in the Lodge or any common areas; they’re too exposed and distracting.”

“If only PAC assigned the largest cabin to the resident writer for exactly that reason.” The wryness leaves her voice. “You’ve seen my cabin, Rue. The rest of us are in single rooms with just enough space for a bed, dresser, and mini fridge. Even your porch is bigger, with more than enough space for a chair if you want to write outside. Just admit it. You’re bending over backward to avoid River.”

There it is.

“Yes, I’m avoiding him, but it’s for a good reason. He’s like radiation. The more I’m exposed, the sicker I get.”

She shakes her head as she stands. “I can’t wait to read this book someday.”

I sit up fast. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She opens a nearby locker, grabs a change of clothes, then faces me with an arched eyebrow.

“You think it’s a coincidence that the day you started avoiding him, his personality did a one-eighty? That man is dripping honey with one goal.” She points at me. “Luring his prey.”

My face contorts. “No. Just… no. Like I said, shitting charm is normal behavior for River. I’m glad he pulled his head out of his ass, but it’s got nothing to do with me.”

She gives me a mischievous grin before sauntering—no, dancing—toward the showers.

“You, my friend, are in deniaaaal.”

“Maya! You sit next to me at breakfast and dinner. I’m the one person besides Penelope he doesn’t talk to. He doesn’t even look at me.”

She pushes open the door, throwing over her shoulder, “My sweet summer child, you’re the one who doesn’t look at him. He watches you like a drowning man watches a rescue boat.”

The door starts to swing closed.

I yell after her, “You’re totally wrong, but I approve of the simile!”

As her maniacal cackle echoes off the tiled walls, I slump on the bench. I may disagree with her—entirely and vehemently—about the reason for River’s change in attitude, but she’s right on one count.

I am hiding.

Only I’m not in denial as to why.

I’m no different from the dome I’ve been spending so much time in. Years of isolation and storms have worn me down. My colors have faded and bled. My seams are splitting, my beams rotting.

Ivy hasn’t said anything, but she’s sensed it for a while now. I feel it in her stare, her worry. Sometimes I wonder if I’m why she’s put off moving in with Ryan, her boyfriend of four years. The notion I’m holding her back kills me. It’s why I have to finish this book and land this deal.