Page 52 of Beauty and the Beard

He shifts on his feet, glancing at the lake before returning to me.

“Can we talk?”

With a nod, I unlock the door for us. He stands while I drop my shoes and place my camera on the table. He remains quiet, and it irrationally irritates me. Having him hover like this in my space.

“Well, what is it, Perry? Are you here to tell me I’m no good for your brother? I should just leave and the sooner I do, the sooner he’ll forget?”

Perry’s mouth drops.

“No… I …no! What the hell? Is that what you think? I know I was an ass the first time we met, but I thought we had fun last night? You did like being out with us last night, didn’t you?”

His look turns guarded and I know I could be mean right now. I could crush them both and stick to keeping everyone but Roman out. But my question has genuinely hurt Perry and as much as I’m confused, I can’t hurt them. Not like this.

“It was one of the best nights of my life.” My voice wavers and I wish it wouldn’t. “I mean that Perry. I had a great time. It’s just…”

Trailing off, I don’t know how to put it into words. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I feel like a fish out of water. Gasping and hoping to go back to the world I know well, but also hoping I can figure out how to live a new life somewhere else.

“Listen, I just wanted to come and tell you thank you.”

“Thank me? For what?”

Perry drops his head back, swallowing before his gaze returns to mine. His pale blue eyes shimmer and I feel like an absolute dick for being so rude.

“When Connor died, I lost himandmy brother. Leaf has never been the same. I expected him to be different, but I never thought he’d stay that way.” He runs a hand over his face with a sigh. “My brother died too, and last night he was back. The three of us used to hang out like that all the time. Leaf was happy for the first time in years, Sasha. Genuinely happy. And I have my brother again. So I wanted to thank you.”

Sinking onto the sofa, I hold my head in my hands.

“Perry,” I croak. “Thank you for telling me, but I… I don’t belong here.”

His jaw sets, and he nods. A heaviness hangs in the air as he gathers his words.

“I don’t say a lot of nice things, Sasha. I’m brash and in your face and I don’t believe in love. And I interfere with my brother when needed. Usually against his wishes. I asked you to come with us last night because I noticed how he looked and spoke to you. I knew he took you fishing, and I knew he took you to the place he left the other half of his heart.” With a large breath, he continues and I shrink back as his voice slices like tiny shards of glass. “If you think you don’t belong here, I can’t make you change your mind. So I won’t bother to list the ways youdofit here.”

He turns toward the door, storm clouds now over his previously smiling face.

“Maybe I was wrong about you after all.”

Perry leaves without another word, and I remain in the silence of the cabin. My thoughts are too loud and I pace around, packing clothes and items I’ve left strewn about.

Maybe I can call a taxi and leave before Leaf comes tonight. Do they even drive out this far? Dammit. I might need to track down Pete.

But instead of searching for Pete, I sag back onto the sofa.

At what point do I stop running from the things that scare me the most?

The cabin is dark when I’m drawn from my sleep by a gentle, yet persistent knock on the cabin door.

I know it’s Leaf.

But I curl back into a ball and ignore it until he goes away.

With a backpack loaded with my phone, laptop, and camera, I’m at the lodge close to the time Pete runs the shuttle into town. I’m dying for a coffee and one of Millie’s homemade muffins, but I don’t want to go inside.

“Hey, Sasha. We missed you at breakfast.”

“Pete! Hi, I slept in. But I need to go to town. Are you going in?”

He nods slowly. “I am. I need to do some errands for Millie. I’m just about to get the list from her. Come on in with me.”

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