Page 57 of Born in the Spring

She won’t.

Not after this.

And I know just where she’ll go.

Elara

You’ve never seen me in pursuit of you before. . .

I’m shivering with adrenaline, Jasper’s assertion causing a flurry in my body. A pleasurable flush I could easily become addicted to. A trampling over what I should do and a flourishing of what I want to do. What I have to do. What my heart has already chosen for me to do.

His eyes pierced mine as they never have, searching and now finding what he knows is there. His hold on me is strong, as was his touch, his fingers both claiming and confident, and they were only on my face, a place though he’s never dared to touch me before, all stirring my urgency to have his hands on me more.

Combined with his words, his fight, that’s lostallsubtlety—I won’t be able to resist him again, this way.

I focus on the mist of my breath as I blow one out to stabilize my lungs, the clicking of my boots louder as I speed up, my fingers curling in my pockets at the shaking in my body.

Ididcome back to all of them, to this town and to this mountain, but of course I didn’t want to be away from Jasper the most. I’ve been in a teetery fight against my feelings for him, against my attraction to him—and I fought so hard.

And though I know every reason why I shouldn’t cross that boundary I set years ago, my steps are steady as they keep me on the path to bruising the heart of the sweetest kid I know for the sake of my own.

“There she is!”

Skylar’s happy little cry rings out as I crest the small hill to the lot of Lulu Lodge—the closest one to mine. I spot Tripp’s idling car and watch the exhaust from the tailpipe as I approach the opened passenger side door.

I manage a smile as Skylar jumps down in front of me. “I saved your seat,” he says, and I almost want to climb in to keep the light in his face.

But with one look atmyface, Tripp pulls himself forward by the wheel and leans across the center console, his smile fading a little as he asks, “You all right?”

You’ve been crying.

I’m showing my grief, only this time it’s from being here, with Tripp, when I want to be back there, with Jasper.

My mouth moves around no words, but Tripp, at least, doesn’t need them. He falls back closer to his seat with an almost resigned sinking of his chest, a sigh of knowing I’m not getting in the car.

Skylar tugs on my jacket sleeve. “Come on.”

With a sigh of my own, I finally say, “I’m not coming, Little Man,” and my chest sinks too at his pout that forms.

“You’re not?”

“Not—” I cut myself off from sayingnot this time, and tell him honestly, “No. I’m not.”

“But why?”

“No, it’s okay, son,” Tripp starts, waving for Skylar to get back into the car as he assures him and tries for a simple explanation in one. “Something just came up. We’ll see her in a couple days.” When they’ll be back at the resort. Not off the mountain.

There’s a frown in his features, but no hard feelings in the lines, which further assures my future as a nanny for Skylar, who is an array of emotions as he stares up at me. I lift my hands from my pockets to hug him, but when he slips his fingers around mine, and Tripp calls for him again to get into the car, I guide him there, his only protests in his expressions.

“Go with your dad,” I encourage low, before confirming Tripp’s words. “I’ll see you soon.”

“But. . .” he protests now, but lets me lift him so his dad can then pull him over the seat.

“I’m sorry, Skylar,” I say to his newly Sad Eyes.

My apology to Tripp is a silent pass from my lips and he nods, repeating the words that have been mine. “It’s okay.”

I hear them now in Jasper’s voice. He still doesn’t know everything, but he read between what I was saying and gave it back so I can believe it will be okay. So I can stop standing alone and burning myself.

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