Page 54 of Mountain Boss

He called me Cookie.

I try to look down to see if I have crumbs on my shirt. If that’s why he called me that. But insecurity flares bright behind my eyes, making it hard to see.

Maybe he meant it in a cute way.I try to convince myself.

But Sterling Black doesn’t say cute things.

He’s never been hurtful.

Not…

I press my free hand against my not-flat stomach.

Not until now.

Now, when he saw the receipt for what I ate.

Now, when he commented on it.

I bite my lip. Hard.

I don’t want to be here anymore.

I want to leave.

I dig my nail into my thumb pad, knowing that my situation hasn’t changed.

I’m still stuck here.

And even half starving, I’m still asnot thinas I’ve always been.

The urge to throw the rest of my cookie away hits me right in the sternum.

And that makes anger swell within my sadness.

Cookies shouldn’t go in the trash.

Only men.

“You guys need help unloading?” one of my coworkers calls out.

I think the voice might belong to Cook, but it sounds like more than one set of footsteps approaching.

Sterling turns away from me, and I use the opportunity to flee.

“I’ll be right back,” I practically whisper as I dart past him. “Bathroom.”

I don’t look back as I hurry down the path to my cabin.

Chapter 40

Sterling

“Didn’t meanto scare her away,” Cook says as he and Simpson cross the driveway.

I glance over my shoulder.

Courtney is speed walking away. “Not you. She said something about the bathroom.”

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