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It’s science! Research shows that men who pose with fish on dating apps are most likely to get swiped left
Chapter Eleven
CLOSURE
Charlee
How is he here? How is the Oliver the guy I’ll be working with for two weeks? Out of all the wildlife reporters living in BC, for fuck’s sake, I had to be paired with the one who ruined love for me. The very same one who destroyed my faith in men and relationships.
Of course.
Because that’s just my luck. Or karma.
Actually, yes, it does sound like karma for all the guys and girls I’ve sneaked out on and never called back. If I had a dark sense of humor, I would laugh at the cosmic joke of the century, but even I am not that sarcastic.
Now it all makes sense. I get why he tried to get away from the assignment, to get me fired. The fucking nerve.
I drum my fingers on my thighs as we wait for Donna to come back from wherever the hell she went. We’re seated so uncomfortably close to each other that I can feel the warmth radiating from him. I hope it’s because he’s nervous. Let him sweat his balls off. He can pass out from dehydration for all I care. All I want is for that woman to come back here and say what she wanted to say before she disappeared to god knows where.
Ugh. These West Coast people are in no rush, and I want to get the hell out of here ASAP.
“Are you okay?” Oliver breaks the silence, his eyes lowering to my jiggling leg.
I stop, crossing them at my ankles. “I’m perfect.”
“You look nervous. It’s gonna be okay. Don’t worry too much about it.”
I glare at him, and his cheeks turn that very cute shade of pink. No. Stop it, Charlee. This guy broke your heart. “Sounds like you know what this is all about, so why don’t you fill me in?”
“I think it’s better to let Donna handle this.”
I shift in my seat to look at him, and for once, Oliver doesn’t flinch. He holds my gaze, his chest rising a bit faster.
“Handle what, exactly?” I ask.
“Sorry for the delay,” Donna says as she barges in. “Last-minute emergency with our team leaving for Madagascar tomorrow.” She settles behind her desk and rests her hands on top of it, linking her fingers together.
Uh-oh. I don’t like that look. I don’t like it at all.
“Charlee, we’re so happy to have you as part of this amazing opportunity for Wild Planet. I’ve heard such great things about your work and the kind of professional you are.”
Oliver’s hum is barely audible, but I hear it, nonetheless, and when I glance at him, he nods slightly, as if agreeing with Donna’s statement. Like he didn’t expect anything else from me. The thought fills me with something I’ve felt a few times before when we used to talk. Something gentle and sweet, like snow falling softly outside and hot cocoa with marshmallows sprinkled on top.
I shake the thought away. What does he know about it anyway? He never stayed around to watch me become the badass reporter I am today.
“Thank you, Donna.”
“With that being said, I’m afraid I have some bad news. The bed-and-breakfast we booked made a mistake with your reservation and double-booked your room. They called us today to apologize and to tell us that the other person has already taken the room.”
“Uh . . . okay? Did they provide another?”
Oliver inhales next to me.
“Unfortunately,” Donna says softly, “they didn’t have another bed available.”
I shrug. “Okay. We can find another hotel, then.”
Donna’s smile tightens. “Pine Falls is a small town, you know. There aren’t many hotels around. The nearest one is an hour away, and not in the same price range.”
