Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
I slumped onto a nearby bar stool. “Fine. But… if he orders anything else, you have to let me take it to him. I just want to see if he’s okay.”
Maggie put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “He likes you, too, you know. You two should have an actual conversation.”
I dropped my face into my hands. “You’re implying it’s something serious. It’s not. I was just hoping to see him again before he leaves.”
“Aren’t you flying him back to Juneau tomorrow?”
Boston stepped forward and placed his hands on the bar before leaning in to meet my eyes. “Swap with Ryan. He’ll understand.”
Maggie’s expression turned concerned. “No, he’s picking up his next fishing clients, remember?”
Boston winced. “You could ride with him?”
I let out a breath. “No, it’s fine. I…”
Maggie squeezed my shoulder again. “It would be a tight fit. It’s a big group.”
I let out a short laugh. “No, it’s fine. Everyone’s making this into a bigger deal than it is. I just had a nice time with the guy, that’s all. But he lives in Florida, about as far away from Alaska as it gets. Nah. I’ll be around in the morning to say goodbye.”
I shot them a smile we all knew was fake as fuck, and then I slunk back to the back stairs and up to the tiny room under the eaves we kept as a spare for guest emergencies.
I wasn’t about to go all the way home tonight and risk missing him in the morning.
That night I slept like a handful of rocks in a blender, thumping from side to side in a violent effort to get comfortable. Everything in me wanted to sneak back down the hall and stay pressed against Jonah’s bedroom door until he changed his mind about letting me in. He had to know I was missing him. We’d spent every night together since that first afternoon hookup at my place.
But it was possible—no, probable—his feelings weren’t as serious or as strong as mine.
Which was fine. I could be cool and normal. I could float downstairs tomorrow and wish him well without revealing the jagged shards of my shattered heart.
And then maybe I’d go for a long trail run after the plane took off. If I got far enough out of town before letting out my anguish in a loud roar, hopefully no one would hear it.
The next morning brought with it symptoms almost as bad as a hangover. I was overtired and wound up at the same time. After making my way down to the bar, I helped myself to a giant mug of coffee and slumped onto a bar stool to wait for the caffeine to kick in.
Despite the early hour, the sun was already high in the sky. When my eyes could finally handle the brightness, I peered out at the water and noticed a familiar form sitting on the edge of the dock.
Jonah.
I quickly poured a second cup of coffee and took both mugs out to the dock to join him.
“Morning,” I said, offering him the steaming mug.
He beamed up at me. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re here. I was afraid you’d gone back to your place and I’d miss you.”
My heart ping-ponged around in my chest. “No. God no. No.”
Shut up you blathering idiot.
“I wrote my article,” he said proudly before looking a little sheepish. “I got your email address from Maggie and sent you a copy. I hope that’s okay?”
I nodded. The lump in my throat was too thick to speak around. I loved him so much and he was leaving me. How was I going to survive this?
“Of course it is,” I finally croaked. “I’d like that. I’m… happy for you. That you… finally got what you needed from the trip.”
A little wrinkle appeared between his eyebrows before disappearing on his next breath. “I did. It’s so beautiful here. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And the people are nice and welcoming. It’s like… I don’t know. I’m happy I came. So happy I came.”
I reached over and took his hand, pulling it up to my mouth so I could speak the words into his skin. “Me, too.”
Our eyes locked and the words I wanted to say to him fought past the lump that had reappeared in my throat.
Jonah cleared his throat and took his hand back to help bring the full mug up to his mouth for a sip of coffee. The moment was lost.
“Kinley has a puppy you need to go see. She’s adorable, and Kinley can’t use her for sled-pulling so she needs a new home. She needs you.” He peered at me. “Promise me you’ll go see her?”
I didn’t want a puppy. The last thing I needed was another potential heartbreak right now.
“Promise me,” he said, more firmly this time.
I nodded. I’d pretty much promise him anything he wanted.