Page 36 of Forgettable in Every Way

“Wait. I’ve never mountain biked before.”

“You can rent equipment at Granger Outfitters. By the way, this conversation never happened. Also, a word of advice: don’t use the words friends or mates if you happen to see my daughter. Only contact me again if things go well today. Goodbye.” She unceremoniously hung up like she was playing the part of his handler in a Mission: Impossible movie.

Still dripping wet, Simon stared blankly at his phone, wondering what had just happened. Bewildered, he looked at himself in the large, round, wood-framed mirror hanging above the sink, as beads of steam trailed down it, trying to process the unexpected call. “What do I do?” he asked out loud. The thought that maybe he still had a shot with Jules had him both terrified and elated. He hadn’t done so well winning her over. Hell, she’d hardly looked at him. Perhaps all the talk of friendship had angered her. He could see now how that might appear insensitive. But he wasn’t in love with her. At least not yet. The possibility existed, but he’d hoped to have time to explore his feelings for her, to see if his affection could become something more and lasting.

Simon wasn’t even sure if she wanted to see him or if her feelings for him had remained unchanged from New York. It was hard for him to picture Jules opening up to her mum, so he couldn’t be sure if Sandra was right about the way Jules felt. It was obvious Jules did not know Sandra had contacted him. There was a decent chance she would not be pleased to see him today. So, he wasn’t sure where that left him.

Yet, Calista’s words assaulted him. “If you really want to find her, you’re going to have to open your eyes this time around.”

He ran a hand through his wet hair and let out a deep breath. Amid the trepidation and confusion, there was one thing he was certain of: he wanted to find Jules and discover everything he’d missed out on. Maybe this time it was he who needed to take the risk.

“I guess that means we’re going mountain biking,” he said to his reflection. “How hard could it be?” He was in good shape, right?

Another thought crossed his mind. Jules wouldn’t push me off a cliff, would she?

Jules

I SLIPPED MY RIDING PACK on my back and took a moment in the parking lot of the trailhead to breathe in the mountain air. I mean, all Aspen Lake really had was mountain air, but I enjoyed the invigorating crispness and the smell of the pine trees all the same. The afternoon sun was warmer than I’d hoped, but I’d had to take Dad to his physical therapy appointment this morning, so I was getting a late start on my favorite mountain bike trail. I’d been itching to get away and go on a trail ride. Work off the nervous energy from the crazy week and contemplate my next steps. All I know was I wanted to go on adventures again, and this was a start.

That was the plan anyway, until an enormous surge of nervous energy pulled up next to me in his Audi, a mountain bike hanging out of the trunk, about ready to fall out from the looks of it.

All that air I had just taken in got stuck in my throat, making it so I couldn’t breathe. What were the odds Simon had chosen the same time I had to take a ride? I didn’t even know Simon was into mountain biking. Not that I necessarily would. We’d spent years apart, so for all I knew, he was a professional biker. Except, he didn’t have a bike rack, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a price tag dangling off the bike.

I didn’t know what to do. Get back in my car and flee, or hurry and get on the trail and do my best to leave him in the dust, both literally and figuratively. All I know is I felt like I was going into cardiac arrest for how hard my heart was pumping. My plan was to never see him again. Then I thought this new version of me, the not invisible me, should do the mature thing and not dart back into my car or hastily hop on my bike. I knew it wasn’t going to make Simon see me the way I wanted him to, but at least I wouldn’t be forgetting myself. Or losing my dignity.

Simon jumped out of his car and ran around to the back like he was on a mission. “Fancy meeting you here, love,” he said, like he was out of breath. “How are you, Jules?” His eyes roved over my ensemble of tight, pink, trail shorts and a tank top. A smile formed on his pretty face.

“I’m fine,” I stuttered.

“How’s your father doing?”

“Better. Thank you.” I gave him a good once-over and noticed he wasn’t exactly dressed for a trail ride. Don’t get me wrong, he looked fantastic in his dress shorts and polo shirt, but they were going to be filthy after riding on the dusty trail. And those dress shorts didn’t have a lot of give. It was probably going to be an uncomfortable ride for him.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he responded.

“How’s Jack?” I had to ask.

Simon thought for a moment. “He’s with his mum this weekend. I miss him. He misses you. He’s quite worried about the princess.”

I bit my lip. Oh, how I missed that kid. “I hope my father’s episode didn’t frighten him too much.”

“He’ll be all right,” Simon assured me.

“I hope so. I was wondering ...” I figured this might be my last chance to ask him where to get the book I had thought so much about the last few days. “Could you tell me where to get a copy of the Princess Jewel book? I’ve never been mistaken for a princess before, and I wonder how her story turns out.”

“Me too,” he said before nervously laughing. “What I meant was, it’s a really rare book. One of a kind, actually.”

“Oh. Like a family heirloom?”

“Something like that.”

“I get you wouldn’t want to let anyone borrow that.” Besides, if I borrowed it, it would mean having to see him again, and that was detrimental to my plan. Being in his presence only reminded me of how much I loved him.

He stepped closer, swallowing hard. “I’d really like to show it to you sometime.”

I leaned against my car for support, reminding myself not to engage with the delectable man. “That’s probably not a good idea.”

His countenance fell. “I get it.”

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