Page 58 of (Un)Expected

“Sorry, man,” I said, anxiously shifting to the seat across from him. “Did you at least get the shots you needed?”

“Think so,” he said, resting his head on the back of the couch. “Had to shoot it fifteen fucking times because Everly was asleep on her feet. She couldn’t get her lines straight. They had to bring out fucking cue cards, man. Thank fuck this day is done.”

My hands flexed, trying to do something to dispel the anxiousness inside me. I knew Adam better than most people in this world—this was the wrong moment to push him. Everything in me screamed to run out and let this whole Alex thing go.

Actually, that sounded like the best plan I’d had in a long time.

As I lifted out of the chair, a flash of Alex’s bright smile came into my mind, forcing me to sit back down. No. I’d avoided this conversation for too long already. My feelings for Alex weren’t going away, and it was time to tell Adam the truth. As soon as he knew, I could talk to her, see if she would give me a chance. We weren’t scheduled to be in Saint Stephen’s Lake forever, and my window with Alex was closing too quickly for my liking.

“Look, Adam,” I said, running my hand through my hair. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Shit,” Adam said, sitting straighter on the couch. “I was going to say that to you.”

Fuck. My palms started to sweat, thinking of anyone who could have told him first. The only people I talked to about this were Calla and Dani. Dani would never betray my trust, so I doubted she’d sellme out—Calla was more of a wildcard. From what I’d learned, she didn’t seem like the type to share anyone else’s secrets. I’d been wrong before, though.

Shifting back in my seat, I tried to play it cool, but my leg wouldn’t stop shaking. “What’s up?”

Adam sighed, running his hand over his face. “Before you say anything, I know this was probably a mistake. I promise, I thought this through this time.”

My eyes narrowed, already hating the turn this conversation had taken. This had nothing to do with Alex. His tone had somebody else written all over it.

That fucker, Theo. “What did he rope you into this time?”

Adam winced, and that’s how I knew he’d fucked up. “Look, I wanted to tell you before the date. Theo convinced me it wasn’t a good idea, but fuck that—I’m not lying to your face.”

“Adam, tell me what’s going on.”

“Alex and me…it’s not real.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re only pretending to date for the cameras,” he sighed. “Everything between us, our entire relationship—it's all fake.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Dozens of print-outs and pictures were piled all over my counter. It was impossible even to see the butcher block lurking underneath all of them. Despite the towering pile of photos, they still didn’t feel like enough. I could have taken a thousand more.

Every single day, I drove by the Fox Creek Lodge, and yet, I’d never once given it a second thought. Not until Paula, the real estate agent, pulled into the gravel drive. The grass was overgrown, its only inhabitants raccoons and squirrels, but it was special, the kind of vacation that would take up permanent place in your memories. It reminded me of summer camp as a kid, of the power of escaping your life for a few days, just enjoying the world around you.

Every step I took further onto the property cemented the fact that it was meant to bemine.

I could feel it in my bones.

Granted, a million things had to happen first, and the owner had to be willing to drop his price drastically, but I wasn’t going to think negatively. Sure, so much could go wrong, but I was determined to make this new dream a reality.

I could picture it: spending each day guiding tourists through ourtown, crafting nature trails and other activities. My days would be spent rebuilding each of the cabins to give them more personality, blending nature and comfort to match my style, nights spent planning excursions for my guests, letting them experience all the beauty Saint Stephens' Lake had to offer. The idea made me smile; maybe everything I learned at the Isadora wouldn’t be worthless after all.

I’d repay the town that brought me back to life—make themproud.

I let out a little squeal and danced in the middle of my kitchen, not giving a single fuck about being ridiculous. There was a light at the end of the tunnel, a future where I might not dread heading to work each morning. Maybe I wouldn’t get to travel the world as much as I originally planned, but there was something to be said about living a life you loved at home.

I reviewed Paula's paperwork one last time, the number in bold making my stomach lurch a little. It was a significant dip in the asking price, but considering how long the property had been sitting vacant, it seemed like a reasonable ask. I’d already started the process of obtaining a loan to cover the mortgage, and my savings would be enough for the down payment, but the renovations were another story. I would need the money from the contract with Adam to get everything back up to code, much less in the style I wanted them.

My stomach dropped a little at the thought, still apprehensive about the money part of our agreement. I would have helped Adam without it, but it would be precisely what I needed to make this new dream come true. Even if I scrimped every one of my pennies for the next ten years, I’d never be able to match it.

Pushing the thought from my head, I gathered the paperwork and tucked it into a folder. Just as I placed it in the drawer, three subsequent bangs sounded from my front door, and I stopped instantly, glancing up at the clock on the wall. It was almost midnight. No one bothered to call me at this hour, much less tried to break down my door. Calla and Javi would have come through the kitchen door, considering they both have a key. Marta and Curt were asleep bynow, and they would have called or texted if something was seriously wrong.

Grabbing the baseball bat from the coat closet, I summoned all my strength as I stepped behind the door. “Whoever you are, get the fuck out of here before I bash your head in!”

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