Page 104 of Again, In Autumn

A free staycation at a boutique hotel. Who wouldn’t love it?

“Breakfast is ready,” I announce, interrupting their conversations.

Francesca says, “A vacation from my vacation is just what I need.” She gestures to the environment. “This whole week is a lot of work.”

“Like having people cook food for you? And watch your children?” I pass her the platter and jar of syrup. “Will you take these out to the dining room?”

She throws me a look, and the kitchen empties until only Adam and I remain.

He pauses, then asks, “What do you think?”

I wipe my hands on a dishtowel. “I think French toast was a solid breakfast choice.”

“Vienna.”

I wince. “Adam, I don’t know if a night away is a good idea.”

“Please come,” he insists. “It’s friends and family night. And you and I are friends.”

“…yup.” I plaster an uneasy, conciliatory expression on my face.

“It’s not like we’re going to be shacked up in the same room,” he murmurs. “I promise I won’t walk down the hallway naked.” He surrenders his hands. “I promise. My hands will stay to myself.”

I pinch my lips together but a smile escapes anyway. “Fine,” I concede. “But what about Copper?”

“Maggie and Diego wanted to stay behind anyway. They’ve been itching for that peaceful time off they came up here to find before you people showed up.” He smirks. His hip presses into the edge of the counter, and he folds his arms. “Plus, it’ll be nice to not have a knowing audience around.”

I hang the towel back on the oven door and listen to oblivious voices in the dining room.

“There’s nothing for anyone to know,” I remind him.

He shrugs. “I was just planning to bring my guitar. I know how twitchy and uncomfortable that makes you.”

“Only if I’m being serenaded.” I rest my hand on the counter, our leaning bodies mirroring one another.

Adam looks at my hand, as if judging the distance between his.

“You’ve never heard any of my songs,” he says, dipping his voice low. “You don’t know anything about being serenaded yet.” He arches his brow, stretching his fingers a millimeter toward mine.

I should really not leave the parameters of this house.

Adam goes to join the others in the dining room, and I’m left in the kitchen, looking out of the window, wondering how much attention another jump in the lake will attract.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Francesca and Caroline ride with me and the others go with David in the van. Francesca fiddles with my phone in its stand suctioned to the window. I brush her away.

“Stop it! You’re going to mess up the map!” I fight.

“I want coffee,” she argues.

“We’ve been in the car for twenty minutes. We’ll be there in ten. Chill out.”

She grumbles and rubs her back into the passenger seat, adjusting her sunglasses. “I’m rarely without my children. This feels like we’re going on a girl’s trip, and I want to pretend that and get a cup of fancy coffee that costs seven dollars.”

“You will see your children in minutes, and we’re in the middle of nowhere. I’m not being murdered at a backwoods gas station.”

“You suck the fun out of everything,” she pouts.

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