Page 98 of Places I've Never Been

Mattie sat on the edge of the bed and clung to her favorite tie-dye sundress.

“Have you even talked to Adam about this? Does he know you’re packing?”

“No.” A reflexive wave of guilt tightened her chest.

“You’re going to sneak out without saying anything to him?”

“I’m not sneaking out. I’m leaving. There’s a difference.” She folded the dress in her hands and tucked it in the suitcase.

“Give me a break. You’re ghosting him.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. You do this all the time. You disappear any time there’s conflict. I think brunch with Della was the first time I’ve ever heard you actually say what you wanted to say,whenyou wanted to say it.”

Mattie flushed with remembered anger and embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have.”

Piper leaned closer to the phone so her face filled the whole screen. “Yes, you should have. It was perfect. You should do it more often. I just wish you’d stuck around to see the shock on Della’s face. I think for once she reallyheardwhat you said. It was glorious.”

A half-hearted giggle escaped Mattie’s throat.

“You deserve to be heard, Mattie. And this guy you like deserves better than to have you disappear without an explanation. I’m not saying you stay if you don’t want to. I’m saying ask yourself if you really want to leave. If you don’t, then put on your big girl panties and talk to the man.”

“There’s no point. We only have a few days left anyway.” Mattie swallowed at the lump now lodged in her throat.

“Life exists outside of paradise, you know. You have as many days as you want.” Piper stood up with the phone and moved it somewhere higher.

“What would I even say to him?”

Her sister pulled clothes out of the dresser. “Start by telling him how vulnerable you feel right now staying in a house with no walls. Then maybe move on to how much you like spending time with him. See where that takes you. Hopefully somewhere that needs less clothes.”

Mattie rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know. Where are you going so early?”

“We’re working on the opening song and it’s not going great. The words are crap, and the first guy they cast couldn’t sing on key if it was inserted up his rear. Hey, mind if we conference you in later? Only if we need it, of course.”

“Sure, no problem.”

Piper gave her a kind look. “Go get him, Mattie Cake. And don’t worry about that stupid post. It’ll get shoved to the side in twenty-four hours, tops.”

“Love you.” Mattie ended the call, then tucked her phone into the outside pocket of her suitcase.

Her clothes covered the bed. If she was going to make the shuttle, she had to get busy packing. Her temples throbbed, it was hot, and all she felt like doing was curling into a ball in a dark corner somewhere.

She peeked out from behind the curtains at the small patio behind the main bedroom. It was surrounded by a thick wall of trees and shrubbery that used to feel secluded and private. Now she felt like someone watched her from behind every tree. Her relaxed retreat had been destroyed with one post of a photo from someone a world away.

“Mattie?” Adam called. He rattled the bedroom door, then knocked on it. “Mattie, are you in there?”

She put the drape back in place and crossed to the door. “I’m here.”

His eyes brightened as if he hadn’t expected her to answer, then his face fell as he looked past her into the room.

“You’re leaving.” His voice sounded as flat as she felt.

“Yes.” She moved closer to the bed but couldn’t bring herself to fold anything. The pile of clothes mocked her.

“Why?” Adam came up behind her and put his arms around her.

“Why do you think?” She sighed and leaned back into him. It felt safe in his arms, but she knew it was a false sense of security. Their privacy had already been violated.

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