Page 86 of Just One Chance

"She assumed your relationship was a fling that ran its course. Why would she reach out again if she didn't think you felt anything at all?"

"I don't know." I had messed things up, and I wasn't sure there was any way to fix it. Especially if she was gone. She didn't have to respond to my texts.

"Hopefully, she'll get back to you."

"I haven't called her yet. She's probably in the air." I had no idea where she was even headed.

"Call her. Tell her how you feel."

"I don't want to do that over the phone." I had this whole romantic plan to tell her tonight.

"You gotta do whatever you have to, to show her how you feel. You're not going to get many more chances."

The question was, did I deserve another chance? I'd obviously screwed up if she thought she could just walk away for a job. I hadn't given her a reason to stay, and now I was worried that it was too late.

24

KENNEDY

Iwas on my way to New York. I should have been excited for this opportunity. It was something new and exciting, but all I could think about was what I left behind in Colorado.

I'd come to love the Hart family and Boone. Their property had started to feel like home. But Boone hadn't told me how he felt. So when that email came through, I only had to consider my business and what was best for me. Or at least that was what I kept telling myself.

I couldn't make decisions based on a man again. If our relationship didn't work out, where would I be? I needed to capitalize on my recent success. If I waited, the offers might disappear, and I could be left with nothing. That wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

I tried not to think about what I might have done had Boone told me he loved me. That would have put me in an impossible situation. It was better this way. If I didn't make attachments, it was easier to move onto the next thing.

There was nothing for me in Colorado. Just a family I connected with and a man I'd remember forever. And if he loved me, he would have told me.

I hadn't had a chance to text him or even talk to him about my decision. I was more than a little afraid that he'd talk me out of it. That he'd convince me to stay. I was afraid that I'd say yes, and what would that mean for my business?

It felt like I was running away from him as much as I was running toward an opportunity.

By the time I landed, a headache was brewing, and I was tired and hungry. I called for a car and checked into the hotel that I'd be working for. This was the usual arrangement I made with any hotel I worked with, so why did this one feel different?

I opened the door to a modern space with white nightstands, a bookshelf with backlighting, and a long hanging shelf under the large screen TV. The bedding was a darker blue, along with the curtains and the two upholstered chairs in front of the window. The artwork above the bed was an abstract piece. It was nice. But it didn't have the character of Hart Inn.

I was used to working in modern hotels, so this should feel normal. I should easily be able to determine what they needed to take this hotel to the next level. Instead, I felt uninspired. The room was already updated, the colors inviting, and the room comfortable. What else did they need?

The staff downstairs was competent and friendly. The lobby was grand and welcoming. Maybe he just wanted a snow room. Was this what I was going to do from now on? Create snow rooms in every hotel across the country? That didn't excite me, even though the pay for this job alone was far above what I'd ever earned before.

I was stepping into my next level, something I'd been dreaming about forever. But I felt lost, adrift as if I didn't have an anchor. I hadn't recharged at home. That made this change even more jarring.

This city hotel had nothing on the Harts' quaint inn. There were no mountains outside the window. I didn't need to open the curtains to see the other high-rise buildings and the traffic below. It was loud between the sirens and car horns.

I sat on the bed and pulled out my phone.

Boone had texted while I was mid-flight, asking where I was. What could I say in response? I got a job in New York that was too good to pass up? That sounded cold.

Kennedy: I'm in New York on a job. I hadn't intended to leave so early, but the CEO offered me a bonus to come right away. I guess he saw the snow room and was excited to see what I could do for him.

I read through my text. It wasn't enough.

Kennedy: I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

He didn't answer right away, and I wasn't sure what to think. Would he think that I left him? What else could he possibly conclude?

When my phone buzzed, I almost dropped it. My heart rate picked up as I turned over the screen.