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Because I know exactly what he heard.
“It was my aunt,” I explain, quickly getting control of my emotions in a way I haven’t been able to for days. “I was checking in on her. She worries about me.”
Roy nods, but his face is creased with concern. “Does she know Jenson? You two grew up together.”
It’s a question that’s just a bit beyond polite. A challenge. I meet his eyes and decide to tell the truth…kind of.
Enough of the truth to save us all.
“She does. But she doesn’t know that we’re together.”
He looks surprised at how easily the confession came out. “She doesn’t know you’re engaged.”
“No, not at the moment. The thing is, Jodie—my aunt—she knows Jenson a littletoowell.”
Roy hums and sits in a nearby chair, inviting me to join him. I do, and feel the weight of the day lift just slightly. I can see why Jenson, and everyone else, likes him so much. And in that moment, I’m on Jenson’s side—I don’t want Zach to take what Roy has built and destroy it. I want to see it all thrive.
“What do you mean, knows him too well?”
A smile curves my lips. “I told you we grew up together. So, she knows Jenson well enough to know his flaws as well. And I don’t think she’d approve of us. Of my choice.” I shrug. “He can be too focused on work, and not enough on enjoying life. And he can be selfish. He’ll go to extremes to do what he thinks is right without questioning if itisactually right.”
It all spills out so easily that the guilt comes quick and fast. Roy returns my gaze pensively, chin in hand, glasses reflecting the sunset.
“You’re not wrong. I noticed the same things when I hired him. He was so willing to move to Boston without another thought of his family.”
I don’t mention that Jenson’s mom remarried and became consumed with her two stepdaughters and new husband. I know because Jodie told me at one point soon after we moved. It hurt to hear, but we haven’t talked about it these past weeks. I wouldn’t even know how to bring it up to him.
“And I know for a fact that he slept at the office some nights. Back when we were operating out of a duplex. Dentist on one side, us on the other.” Roy smiled at the memory. “But he was ambitious. I think that’s what stuck with me. And you’re right, he fights for what he thinks is right. But the thing is, I don’t think he’s ever been wrong.”
Roy sits back with a grin. “Don’t tell him I said that.”
“Of course not.” I chuckle. “Anyway…I think he can find his way back to what matters.”
Roy nods solemnly. “I believe it. And it might be you that helps him do that, Mel. Your aunt might not approve of him if you tell her the truth, but she’ll find out sooner or later, right? Why not give her a chance to come around to the idea? I’m sure if she saw you two together now, she’d understand.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “I’ve never seen him care about much else other than work. It’s part of what concerned me when he let me know he was interested in taking over the company when I retire. I don’t need a Steve Jobs or a Bill Gates stepping in and making a mess of things. Just someone who cares.” He looks at me over the top of his glasses. “And Jenson cares about you, Mel. I can see it. We all can.”
With that, he stands up, gives me a soft smile, and starts strolling back toward the main area of the lodge.
I sit in silence. Fireflies start to come out of the bushes, flickering at the edge of my vision. Roy’s words linger in the silence, making me second-guess my decision not to tell Jodie about Jenson.
It amazes me that everything I just said was the truth—that the truth can come out of any of this.
Except for one thing.
I’m not sure Jenson can find his way back to what matters. And maybethat’swhat really scares me. Because I’m not afraid of falling in love, but what if I fall for someone incapable of loving me back?
Chapter14
Jenson
The next day dawns beautifully. The moment I wake up, my eyes open and I think back on the past few days; the burning jealousy I barely tamped down, the argument with Mel. Mysteriously, later last night, I caught sight of Zach dropping into a dark car at the lodge’s entrance.
Thinking of Mel, I glance over to where she’s curled up next to me on the king-sized bed. It’s so massive that we don’t need to worry about touching. Since the night we spent having the hottest sex of my life, we’ve managed to keep our hands to ourselves. But still, in the nights here, I’ve woken to find myself reaching for her, and almost had to sleep on the sofa a few times to avoid an awkward explanation in the morning.
My eyes rove over her face as she sleeps. There are bags under hers, slightly puffy and pink, as if she’s been crying. When I came back to the room last night, she was already in bed and I’d assumed she was sound asleep. But I must’ve missed something. I should have come back sooner.
