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Oh yes!

Hooray!

I mean—oh, I don’t even know how to process this, and all I can do is hold my breath when he leans forward like a six-foot-tall threat in motion.

"Don't push me, Karyna. If you don't want to see who I really am…sign the damn papers."

Chapter 12

Not Coming Back

He has to be lying.

That's what I keep telling myself two hours later. He can be reasoned with. He just needs time, that's all.

He'll come around.

He has to.

These thoughts run through my head over and over as I do my usual rounds. I was supposed to have the rest of the day off, but after what happened—or didn’t get to happen—during the meeting…

I just think it’s better that I go back to work. The busier I am, the less time I have to think about…the things I still don’t want to think about.

“Excuse me. Do you have arm inflatables for kids?”

Thursdays mean poolside duty, which includes assisting first-time visitors with any question they may have. This one in particular has me accompanying them to the swim shop, and after that it’s back to helping out at the bar and handing out towels⁠—

Sadie.

I catch sight of her and her friends arriving at the pool area like supermodels about to hit the runway, and honestly, they all look and act the part, too. They have everyone staring or trying not to stare at them while I…I can’t make up my mind.

A part of me wants to stare at her because I realize I’m the type to be full of self-pity when jealous. But another part of me just wants to forget she exists because I realize I’m also the type who wants to practice selective amnesia. I want to pretend that I didn’t see her and Ruel⁠—

Uh oh.

I think she just looked my⁠—

Oh no.

I’m right. She did look my way, and worse, she’s also heading my way, and I don’t know why, but I find myself slowly backing away. Will I get fired if I choose to turn around and⁠—

Too late.

Her long-legged stride has Sadie easily catching up to me with my not-as-long legs, and I feel like a hobbit as she stares down at me with a smile that…well…

I want to say it’s a smile that reaches her eyes, but maybe I just need to look harder?

“I heard you were at a meeting with Ruel?”

She knows his name.

No one says this out loud, but it’s just obvious. The words are written over everyone’s faces, and no one’s even trying to pretend they’re not listening to us at this point. From this point on, everyone will remember that it’s Sadie who’s unlocked Mr. Mysterious’ identity.

And the thought hurts for some reason.

Badly.

I know I’m being silly, but it feels like she’s made him hers just by being the first one to say his name in front of everyone.