Page 47 of Five Alarm Love
Sorry.
The emptiness in her chest threatened to expand until there was nothing left of her.Her friend hadn’t given up on their connection.He had apologized for something that wasn’t remotely his fault.Finally, she typed back.Me too.I was kind of harsh.There’s a lot going on.
It was just flowers and asking for a date.
He was right.She cast around for an excuse that wasn’t a dodge but wasn’t the whole truth.An excuse that wouldn’t hurt him.I know.I’m pretty allergic to public exposure with a relationship.
From Ryan?
People are still talking about the breakup.
Makes sense you’d be leery of an influencer.
I’m really sorry.
Dots moved on the screen.Typing.Finally, the message popped up.What if I promise to keep us a secret until you say otherwise?That way, if it doesn’t work out, nobody has to know.
Her heart cracked like a thick piece of wood finally breaking open in a burn pile.What he was offering felt like leftovers.A consolation prize for him.Suppressing his open, friendly nature to be with her.
He still didn’t know her life-altering secret, either.Could she tell him?
Not like this.
He didn’t deserve her waffling.He didn’t deserve a relationship with conditions.Yet here he was, willing to accommodate her spoken and unspoken needs.
He didn’t deserve to share in her limited future.
What.If.
Was this selfishness?Willfully ignoring her reality and leading him on?
What.If.
What if she told him and let him decide?
Still sounded unfair.
The image of his smiling, open expression floated before her.Years of friendship.Of history.She trusted him with her story.He deserved the truth.
Lou typed back.Ok.
More typing dots.When is your next day off?
Chapter Sixteen
Four days later,on Friday, Tuli and Lou rode ATVs up to the top of Blackberry Hill.All the locals knew that the location was the best place to find late-season blackberries.At the top of the knoll, he inhaled the crisp fall air and took off his canvas jacket, leaving him in a black, long-sleeved thermal shirt.Temperatures had cooled, now that they were well into September.They’d have snow in the next month.He looked toward the higher mountains to the north.No termination dust yet.
But soon.
For now?Blackberries.
His mouth watered at the prospect.Hopefully, the bushes weren’t picked over.He also crossed his fingers that there wouldn’t be unwanted visitors.He patted his bear spray on one hip and his holstered pistol on the other.
He dismounted with a wobbly stumble, cursing to himself and glancing at the dust drifting away from his tracks up the hill.The second ATV was not in sight yet.Good.Lou hadn’t seen him.He dropped a light fist onto his thigh.The ATV ride had fired up the nervy pain down his leg.The prickly half-asleep sensation never seemed to go away, no matter how much he rubbed on the skin.
He listened carefully.No rustling of large animals trudging through the shrubbery.Just the sound of Lou’s ATV growing louder.
He pulled out his phone and snapped a few pictures of the scenery for a later post, then quickly stowed the device.He grimaced at the loss of a video opportunity.
