Page 2 of Bad Boy Lumberjack

Number two is that I was never going to be a corporate suit and tie guy. My folks weren’t the best at parenting, we weren’t encouraged to read or study and that’s just the way it was.

Number three, just because I don’t want to be a part of the corporate rat race doesn’t mean I can’t make money off the suckers. And after various jobs and travels, with a little outside investment, that is exactly what I do. I get to live out here in the wilds, while suits pay for the experience of the great outdoors. And if they are rude or obnoxious, I just put them on the really hard ropes course to watch them suffer.

I stand back and watch the latest load of weekend adventures unload from their buses. Probably drive SUV’s who think off-roading is parking it on their front lawn once in a while. They’re always the same. The managers are arrogant. The women think shopping and spending money is what happiness is about. All of them, desperate for a little bit of joy and think they can find it in computer screens, gyms or online shopping.

But there is something different about this group. A name from the past. It’s probably not her, but still, I stand here scanning the faces in hopes of seeing Allison Goodall. Even just her name conjures up images of the shy, sweet, girl next door type we all fantasized about in school. She was too good for us. I had my crew of misfits and outcasts. We didn’t run in the same circles as Allison Goodall. But I was very aware of her, her long brown hair and glasses that made her eyes seem huge in her small face.

I would see Allison sitting alone in the cafeteria, or under a tree reading her books, and I felt a kinship with her. We were both outsiders struggling to find our place in the world. The difference was that she was good, while I was labeled bad. And she was smart. Smarter than anyone I’ve ever met. I always wondered what she was doing with her life.

So here I am, waiting to catch a glimpse, to see if it is actually my Allison Goodall.

And there she is. As she gets off the bus she pauses and takes in a deep breath giving me a moment to admire her figure. She’s put on a little weight since high school but it’s moved to all the right places giving her the most delicious curvy body. She’s cut her hair a little shorter, the glasses are gone, but there is no mistaking it is her. Just the way my pulse starts to race is enough to tell me that I’m looking at the sweet, little good girl I used to fantasize about taking for a ride on my bike.

I move towards her and can tell the exact moment she recognizes me. And then I laugh as I see her duck behind a tree. We’re not in high school anymore. There are no clicks out here to worry about, no gossip in the cafeteria if the good girl is seen talking to the bad boy. No reason for her to hide. But then, Allison always did hide herself away from the world.

“Are you one of the staff here?”

I glance at the woman who asked the question. She is pretty, blonde, an air of confidence and sophistication like many of the corporates we get out here.

“Do you need help with something?”

“Well yes.” She bats her eyelashes and puts her hand on my chest. “We’re out here for the Lumberjack, outdoor experience. Are you one of the Lumberjacks who can give us a really good outdoor experience?”

The two other women giggle and the sexual innuendo couldn’t be more obvious. But as I glance to the side, it’s Allison’s denim clad ass poking out that has all of my attention.

I give the women my most professional smile. “Why don’t you ladies gather up your people? It’s time I gave the welcome announcements.”

For the moment I leave Allison where she is, bent over, believing she is hidden from sight, behind the tree. The group gather together as I call everybody to attention, and in a loud voice I start the speech I’ve given a hundred times before.

“Welcome everybody. Hope you are all ready for a weekend of team building and survival training out here in the woods.”

I take reach out and take fist full of Allison’s sweater, gently pulling her out from her hiding place

“There will be no hiding this weekend.” I let Allison go and the group laughs as Allison, head down, cheeks flaming with embarrassment, joins the crowd.

She tosses her head back and glares at me and I hold her eye contact as I continue.

“We are going to push you out of your comfort zone, test you, see what you’re really made of. We are all going to get to know each other a lot better by the end of this.”

The girl next to Allison hip bumps her out the way so she is front and centre. I let my gaze wander over the crowd as I explain the rules and itinerary.

When I am done the crowd disperses and I pull Allison aside.

“Allison Goodall, right. I think we went to school together.”

I hold my breath hoping she doesn’t correct me on the last name. Maybe she is married now, though there is no ring on her finger.

“Sawyer, right? I’m surprised you remember me.” Her eyes dart about, determined to look anywhere but straight at me.

“I always had a little crush on you back then. I’m surprised to find you here working for a big corporate company though. I guess I imagined you running your own business.”

She finally looks at me, her eyes wide with surprise and then some unnamed emotion before she squares off her shoulders, tosses her hair and gives me a serious glare.

“Well, I’m a senior customer success manager. It’s a great job. Life is great. I have a beautiful house and a busy life.”

I smile, something about the look on her face makes me want to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything will be okay.

“That’s great, Ally. I’m glad you’re happy. I noticed you didn’t mention a boyfriend or husband?”

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