Page 7 of Forever Theirs

My thick hair shifted with my quick headshake. “Not to those of us who live here and came here for that exact reason.”

“I’ve wanted to come here since the initial research I did several months ago, but we couldn’t fit it into James’s busy appearance schedule, and he didn’t want me coming here with anyone else from the magazine?—”

“What the hell? Why not?” I snapped.

She shrugged. “I mean, we were… whatever we were—practically a team after doing so many trips and editorials together.”

My hands tightened around the steering wheel. “That shouldn’t give him the right to dictate where you go and who you go with. It was your job, for one, and two, no one owns you.”

She turned in her seat and stared point-blank at me. “What? Explain more of that thought process.”

I cleared my throat and shifted uncomfortably. “If you trusted the person you’d be working alongside, male or female, then why shouldn’t you have been able to go if your editor allowed it, no matter what that fucker James said? Obviously, if there were other red flags about the coworker, that would warrant some concern, but it seems like he was more focused on keeping you at his side for selfish reasons rather than your safety. If he was a real partner, he would’ve dropped everything to go with you or encouraged you to go without him, knowing it was what you wanted.”

Her jaw dropped. Eyes wide, she blinked at me, not uttering a single word. My stomach cramped and my heart raced, worried I’d just fucked this up—whateverthiswas—by opening my damn mouth.

Out of nowhere, she lunged across the console and slammed a palm against my bicep. I cursed at the unexpected assault, even though it didn’t actually hurt.

“You are so right!” Aspen exclaimed, hitting me again. “Holy fuck, you are so right. He didn’t want me around the other guys at the magazine, yet he was messing around with Barbara behind my back. And we were never really a couple, even though he liked to make me feel like we were,” she grumbled at the end.

What a leeching fucker. Probably led her on, kept her waiting in the wings for when he was lonely or needed her for something. I fucking hated users.

“And Barbara is…?”

“My editor. Well, former editor, since I emailed her my resignation letter this morning.”

“Good for you. Look at you, taking a spontaneous trip to Alaska and starting a new chapter in your life. This calls for drinks.”

She beamed a megawatt smile and clapped her hands. “Yes. That’s exactly what I need. Alcohol to celebrate my 170-pound weight loss.” I shot her a confused look. “I’m talking about the relationship, losing the weight of James’s jealous, self-centered, egotistical ass from my daily life.”

“And how do you feel?”

Please don’t say sad.

Please don’t say regretful.

Please say horny.

She released a heavy sigh and slumped back against the seat. “Relieved. Free. Not sad. I should feel sad, right?”

I shrugged. “No one can tell you how you’re supposed to feel, Aspen. You’re the one who lived the life, felt the strain and effects of the toxic relationship you were in with him.”

“Are you a driveranda therapist?” she asked, hitting my shoulder again.

“Nope, just someone who has made his own mistakes and has fucked up enough to know everyone is different. How we handle life is based on our past. Only someone single-minded would ever put expectations or boundaries around how someone should feel.”

“Yep,” she said, popping theP. “Totally an undercover therapist.” Rummaging through the bag at her feet, she pulled out an expensive-looking camera. “And I’ve decided, starting right now, I’m going to document this new me—this new chapter, as you called it.”

Raising it to her face, she pointed it at me. Before I could protest, several clicks sounded through the SUV. Lowering the camera, she studied the small screen with a soft smile.

Fuck it. If taking random and terrible pictures of me made her smile like that, then she could waste the battery on me.

Though I should probably tell her I photograph best naked.

Too soon?

As we crested the hill, the resort came into view. Smiling to myself, I slowed so I could gauge her reaction. It wasn’t fancy by any means, but that wasn’t what the resort was for. The Nest was built for those who wanted to enjoy nature and experience it during the day or on short camping trips but have a warm, soft bed in a private cottage to come back to. Just outside Anchor Bay was a trailhead that started a long and dangerous trail that led to Kenai Fjords National Park, so a lot of people stayed at the resort before backpacking for days along the trail or as a reward after the long hike if they started in the park and headed our way.

Twenty-three cabins were spaced around the main part of the resort that housed the restaurant, bar, small outfitting shop, and reception desk, which was where I guided the SUV as we wove through the expansive property.

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