Page 11 of No More Love Songs

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I have to hand it toher, she doesn’t look away even when I know she’d like to. And then she impresses me even more when she opens her mouth. “I’m going to have to spend more time with you Kit Morgan. You have a lot of shit figured out I’ve been confused about for way too long.”

“Maybe that’s our answer,” Grayson chimes in, apparently having decided it’s safe to join our conversation again.

“What is?” she asks, but I’m thinking the same thing.

“The lodge. You,” he says, pointing at me. “Sky can go stay with you for thirty days and do the nature thing and whatever else you two can cook up for her to try and fall in love with. It’s perfect.”

She doesn’t seem to think so. I’m inclined to agree, but I choose not to vocalize it just yet.

“Gray,” she starts then stops like she’s not sure where to begin with her argument. When she goes on again, she keeps it unexpectantly simple. “How is it perfect?”

“Because,” he says, clearly happy to enlighten us. “It’ll technically count toward our deal with Janelle so we can keep our integrity intact. Also, you need time to figure your shit out and what better place than a secluded lodge surrounded by nature and inspiring scenery and so wonderfully lacking everything likely to distract you if you stay here. A lodge which Kit just happens to own and operate. Lastly,” he says, grinning in a way that makes me uncomfortable. “There’s Kit himself.”

“There’s Kit himself,” I repeat his words, feeling like an idiot talking about myself in third person. “What does that mean?”

“It means we won’t need to invite over Brice’s softball team,” Skylar grumbles, stuffing a second donut in her mouth.

“Huh?” I still don’t understand. I’m starting to think I don’t want to.

“A few pictures of the two of you,” Grayson says casually. “Hiking. Sitting around a bonfire. Having coffee out on the porch. Whatever. It’ll be enough to lead Janelle to draw her own conclusions about Skylar’s efforts.”

“Look,” I start, not even sure what I plan to say next. This took a turn beyond anything I was expecting when I came here this morning to lay down piano tracks on Skylar Thompson’s new album. “I’m happy to set you up in a room at the lodge,” I direct my first words at Sky. “And I certainly won’t stop you from booking hikes or rock-climbing lessons, nor would I deny you access to the firepit and porch, let alone the coffee maker,” I pause to offer a small smile before I turn toward Gray and close with the bottom line of things, “but I’m not going to pretend to be anyone’s anything under any circumstance. Vaguely implied or otherwise.”

If I’d thought she’d take offense to this, I’d have been wrong. “That’s fine. I don’t really have an interest in fake boyfriends. That’s Gray’s thing, not mine.” She smirks smugly at Grayson like she just won a battle I didn’t know they were fighting. “I am, however, interested in hearing how real the opportunity for seclusion is at this lodge of yours. If I want to sit on this porch to drink my coffee and write music, how many people are likely to be there with me?”

I shrug. “This time of year? Not many. I’m between seasons right now, just finished the last of my team building retreats and don’t have any of the regular climbers coming in for another month and a half. Right now, it’s just random passers through looking for last minute lodging. Usually, road trippers and the young hipster types who think it’s cool to live in their decked-out minivans for a year and then remember there’s no indoor plumbing in those.”

She exchanges another brief glance with Grayson before she retrieves her phone from some out of sight pocket and starts to make a call. “What’s the name of this lodge of yours?”

It takes me a second to realize she’s still talking to me. “Rock the Falls.” It’s a play on words between my background in music and the climbing area we’re located in.

“Cam,” she says, breaking from our conversation to start a new one with whoever is on the other end of her line. “Can you book me a room at a place called Rock the Falls? I need to get away for the next thirty days or so to really ramp up my muse.” She’s quiet, like she’s listening. “A rock-climbing lodge? Yeah, that’s the place.” Another pause. “Whatever they offer, I want one of everything. It’s a thing I’m doing, just roll with it.” She smiles. “Perfect, thanks.” Then she hangs up and tucks her phone out of sight again.

For a moment I’m stuck staring at her, somewhat dumbfounded by what I just witnessed.

“You realize you could have just talked to me directly, right?” I ask, reminding her I’m sitting at the table beside her. “I’m right here and everything you just asked for goes directly through me.” My phone dings in my shirt pocket. “That’s your reservation coming in right now.”

She shrugs. “I don’t like to mix business with pleasure.”

This just baffles me more. “I’m here on a job.”

Her eyes shift sideways briefly. “I’m pretty sure discussing my need for soul searching and re-evaluating the meaning of love falls beyond the scope of a hired pianist. Nothing that happens at this kitchen table ever falls under business.”

“Not necessarily pleasure either,” Grayson mutters.

I laugh. “Any chance at all y’all are being a little extra nuts due to lack of sleep? Or is this what I’m about to have twenty-four hours a day for the next month?”

“It’s not the lack of sleep,” Grayson informs me straight-faced.

“But on the upside, you’re only getting half the crazy.” She pushes up from her chair, smiles broadly and winks before she spins on her heel and makes to leave. “Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready.”

“Ready for what?” I feel like I’ve missed a stop on her off the rails train of thoughts again.

“To leave.” She stops in the doorway to look back at me. “Or is a complimentary ride to the lodge not included in my booking?”

I shake my head, chuckling. “Of course, it is.”

Grayson waits for her to be out of earshot before he says, “She’s an easy keeper. Don’t bother with preparing any formalities. Sky excels in making herself at home.” He glances toward the hall and house beyond it. “Kai still thinks she actually lives here.”

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