“But why hasn’t he fucking asked?” I complained.
“Maybe he’s a moron?” Anne shrugged. “A very good looking moron, I admit.” She grinned wickedly. “But we’ve spent time with the both of you and I've seen how he treats you. He definitely cares for you, maybe even as much as you do for him, but he probably doesn’t realize it or want to admit it to himself. So one of you has to be humble enough to lay your pride down, or both of you are going to lose out on each other.” She walked away and headed off to the bathroom.
“She’s right,” Tracy said. “And you still have until Saturday. Why are you jumping to conclusions now? We’re riding with him to the airport aren’t we? Maybe he’ll ask you then. It might be too early now.”
I rested my forehead in my hand. “I’m just so fucking embarrassed that I cried in front of him.”
“You’re a girl,” she said. “Allow yourself to be one.”
”Ugh!” I griped and rose to my feet.
Anne came out of the bathroom. “Everything resolved?” She asked.
I was too wound up to respond. I went into the bathroom and sat on the toilet lid, my phone in my hand and my mind running in contemplation. Eventually I summoned up the strength to craft the text.
‘I’m sorry about the tears. I just felt emotional about something going on back at home.’
I sent it before I could change my mind, and felt sick to my stomach. Why did I just lie to him? Why didn’t I just tell him how I felt?
I sighed, and chose to be kind to myself. Baby steps, Leah. On the last day, you’ll be able to spit it out.
The phone unexpectedly vibrated, and I looked down to see a response from him.
‘Back home? Is something wrong?’
‘It’ll all be fine’, I texted back. ‘Not a big deal.’
‘Ok. But I need to talk to you.’
My heart lurched into my throat. ‘Oh sure… I'll be in your room tomorrow morning before we have to head over to the castle.’
‘It can’t wait. Can I wait for you in your hotel’s lobby? Or at the beach?’
‘Let’s meet at the beach,’ I replied.
‘Alright then. See you in ten minutes.’
Chapter 14
Carter
I waited for her, close to the snack bar.
It was just a little past midnight, so the people still at the beach had reduced significantly.
I felt nervous, more nervous than I should have been but I couldn’t control the agitation humming through my veins. This had to be done either way, and could no longer be delayed.
“Carter!” she called, the light wind carrying her voice over to me.
I turned around to see her waving, and headed over to her.
She’d changed into a light sundress, with a cardigan thrown over her shoulders. “Hey,” she said, her hair billowing in the wind.
I wanted so badly to reach out to brush it away from her face, but I had to keep my distance, especially now. “Hey,” I said to her, a calm smile on my face. However, I couldn’t hold myself back. I caught her arm and pulled her to me for a quick kiss on her temple, and just like that, my body stirred in response to her.
I knew that thus far, in my thirty-two years, there hadn’t been a woman who’d captured my attention as strongly as she had. It truly made me wonder… what if? But I wasn’t in the position right now in my life to take on such a responsibility, especially with a woman like Leah. Women like her came around maybe once in a lifetime and it was either you started up with them and went all the way, or you fucked up and had to live with the regret for the rest of your life. There could be no clean escape from a woman as fiery and passionate as she was, but I just didn’t feel ready to dance to that kind of tune.
“What is it?” she asked with a smile.
Despite the smile, I could see the nervousness in her eyes. It brought to mind her tears earlier that evening, and it all made me feel a bit sick to my stomach. I decided to just get it over with. “Let’s take a walk,” I said.
We turned to stroll down the shore, side by side.
I couldn’t help myself, so I slipped my hand into hers and held on tight. “Leah,” I began, my heart pounding viciously within my chest. “Something has come up back in Minnesota. I'll have to leave earlier than I thought I would.”
She didn’t stop walking and neither did I, but for a few moments thereafter, there was only the sound of the waves as they crashed upon the rocks on the banks of the sea.
“That was sudden,” she said as she turned to face me, her eyes completely unreadable. “When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow morning,” I replied.
She immediately broke her gaze away from mine, and pulled her hand away.
I felt the loss like a painful jab.
“Alright,” she said. “It was nice knowing you, Carter.”
My breathing was labored and my chest tightened with a sudden pain. “It was great knowing you too, Leah. This week has been one of the best of my life.”
She nodded and managed to lift her gaze up to mine, a smile on her lips.
I’d watched her break out into wild, unrestrained laughter before and knew this smile wasn’t real. It didn’t reach her eyes, and it made me so very sad. I pulled her into my arms for a hug and held her there… refusing to let go.
I would never know for how long we remained together in that spot, but I was forced to loosen my hold on her when I felt her begin to stir.
Leah turned away from me without a word, and went on her way.
I stood there in the middle of the beach and watched her as she headed over to the tunnel that connected the beach to her hotel.
She
