Page 62 of Why Not Both?

On Monday, when I wake up with an ache in my chest, I realize it’s because I’m not going to see him at all today. It’s a stupid feeling since I specifically avoided him yesterday and the day before, and I’m going to go for a hike with him tomorrow. But I feel it anyway.

I shake off the feeling, telling myself I’m stupid and I need to get over this. He’s just a man. An insanely attractive man who is also kind and funny and smart and overall, pretty much perfect, but just a man. And even better, we’re friends.

Right. Better.

Daze drives us out to Maple Ridge and we arrive at our parents’ house in the afternoon.

“Mom, Dad,” I call. “We’re here.” Cerberus runs ahead of me and by the time I catch up, he’s chowing down on a cookie Dad has given him.

Cerberus thunks his tail against the ground as he swallows the last of his cookie and looks up, asking for a second.

“No more,” I say. “You can spoil him more later.”

We sit in the chairs around the outside table and Mom and Daze start talking about wedding plans. Daze has a few places she’s thinking about. Unfortunately, after talking with Vic and Spencer a few weeks ago, she and Sophie had decided they couldn’t afford a wedding at Blue Vista. It’s also already fully booked for next summer, so even if they’d wanted to, they would have to wait until the year after. They’re trying to find something that will work for about a year from now.

Then Mom turns to me. “And how is Spencer?”

“Yes, Lis. How is Spencer?” Daze says, taking a sip of her sparkling water.

“He’s fine.” I roll my eyes. “You guys. We’re just friends.”

“Right,” Daze says, turning toward Mom. “They went on a date, you know.”

I want to strangle her.

“That was before I started at Blue Vista. It was one date and we’re just friends. I don’t date people I work with. Not anymore.”

Mom’s and Daze’s smiles both slip. They both remember how devastated I was when I’d been fired and subsequently dumped.

“Oh, honey.” Mom pats my hand.

“Is there a policy against dating at Blue Vista?” Dad asks.

I sigh. “No. But I didn’t think there was one before either. It’s just… It’s better this way.”

“Sure it is,” Daze says, unbelieving. I admit, I’m not sure how much I believe the statement anymore, either. “You’re just crazy about each other. But it’s better this way. Did you know he walks her home almost every night?”

I give her a look that I hope she knows means I want to strangle her.

“He’s just being nice. And it’s not like it’s really far. His place is only fifteen minutes from ours.”

“Which he has to pass and then backtrack. And he’s somehow convinced her to hike the Grouse Grind tomorrow.”

Forget strangulation. I’m going to stab her. Especially when Mom looks at me with delight.

“I recall you said you’d never do that hike again.”

“It’s awful,” I say. “My legs were killing me for a week last time.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Daze says.

“It’s what I remember,” I say haughtily, even though I’m certain she’s right. I think I was only sore for a day. I should have thought of that before I agreed to do it with Spencer when I have to work the next day. “Can we change the subject, please?”

Mom takes pity on me and begins to tell us about her pottery class that she started a few weeks ago. Then she gets up to check on dinner, which she started before I’d arrived to ensure I didn’t take over, and I follow her while Daze and Dad talk about work.

“How are you really doing, honey?” Mom asks when we’re alone. She hands me a bag of carrots and I take out a few and begin peeling them.

“I’m fine.”

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