Page 60 of Losing Sleep
“Of course. I’m flexible,” Kylie rushed to reassure.
Grey seemed the only one truly bothered by the pronouncement. Trent didn’t react, and Kylie looked excited at the prospect of a change of rides. A look of shocked hurt filled Grey’s face, and I forced myself to ignore it. He’d move on from me soon enough. I bet he’d find his unicorn in Oregon, probably someone who enjoyed long walks on the beach while getting caught in the rain.
“What do you mean you’re heading back tomorrow? We’re supposed to be here a couple more days,” Grey protested, looking back and forth between the three of us, his eyes snagging on mine and holding until I finally broke his gaze, choosing to stare at the straw wrappers littering the table in front of me instead.
Brad gave a noncommittal shrug. “Some stuff has come up at home, and Audrey mentioned needing to get back too.”
“Tory, you’re okay with this?” Grey turned to look at her, and Tory gave a small shrug.
“I’ll miss them, but if they need to head back a bit early, I understand. Life happens.” I could hear the words she didn’t say about how I needed space. Though I guessed having Trent and Brad in separate states wouldn’t hurt things for Tory either.
I bit my lip, waiting for someone to question Brad further, to dig into his vague excuse for cutting our trip short, but they seemed to accept his reasons, though Grey appeared less than satisfied with the answer, trying to read something on my face from his position across the table from me.
Our waitress arrived with our food, and the table descended into silence, the only noise the sound of cutlery on plates. I barely tasted my food. Instead, I stared at my plate, doing my best to avoid Grey’s probing gaze.
Finally, Grey broke the silence. “I can officially say bison burgers are not worth an extra five dollars.”
A stilted laugh escaped from the group, breaking the tension. Soon everyone dove into conversation. It was quieter than before but served to distract everyone from our pending departure and the holes it would leave in the group.
Chapter Thirty
The drive back tothe cabin was quiet. The setting sun chased us home, casting shadows and making me strain to see if deer or moose lurked in the dark. I tensed at every turn, relieved when the headlights illuminated a clear roadway instead of hidden wildlife.
When we arrived at the cabin, I went straight to my room and started packing. We might not be leaving until morning, but I could still be ready to go as soon as Brad gave the word. I quickly packed everything into my duffle bag and backpack and changed into joggers and a hoodie, ready to join the group for a movie or whatever they had decided on for the evening’s entertainment.
Stepping into the living room, the cabin was oddly quiet. Grey lay on the couch, typing on his phone, but no one else was in sight.
“Where is everyone?” I hung back in the hall, wary of the conversation ahead.
“Since Alex and Brad are leaving in the morning, they ran over to their family’s cabin to check on a couple of things for their grandpa. Tory, Trent, and Kylie went with them to help.”
My stomach clenched. Why had Tory left me alone with Grey? She knew Grey was the reason I was leaving tomorrow. I didn’t want to talk to him, to risk showing him just how badly he’d hurt me after only a few days.
I debated returning to my room and hiding from Grey until the others returned.
“Come sit. We might as well wait for them together.” He patted the cushion next to him, making the decision for me.
I sank onto the loveseat, reaching for the book I’d left on the floor nearby. I flipped to my bookmark, not seeing the words in front of me.
“So, is it work, the reason you’re heading back?” he asked, curiosity and something else filling the deep timbre of his voice. “I thought you said you weren’t going to let them ruin your vacation.”
“Something like that,” I hedged, not wanting to lie but unsure how to explain that he was the reason I was running. How did you tell someone you hadn’t even dated that they’d broken your heart and that you were running away from them? “It’ll be nice to get back to Ruby.”
That part, at least, was true. I missed my dog and her familiar weight at the end of my bed and the uncomplicated way she loved me, no strings attached, no pressure.
“Are you sure that’s all?” Grey sat up, turning to face me, his face stoic as he slipped his phone into his pocket. Maybe he’d been spending too much time with Trent. He was starting to adopt his facial expressions.
I told myself not to notice his arms and how his flannel shirt hugged his chest.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to hold in the emotions I could feel raging inside.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you started shutting me out after you hiked back with Kylie. What did she tell you?”
“Nothing. We just got some one-on-one time, a chance to get to know each other.” I hedged.
“There’s no way that’s all that happened.” Grey studied my face. “She said something to you that has you running scared. Something about me.”
I expelled a breath in surprise. I didn’t want to share the details of my conversation with Kylie, but I knew my expression had already given me away.
