Page 99 of Rewrite the Rules

I roll my eyes and ignore Joel. It’s been a week of his casual text messages asking me how I am. If I arrived at the lodge safely. He says he wants to see me whenever I’m ready. I answered all his messages…as shortly as possible. They all felt so cheap after our interaction in his office where I put myself out there and he pretty clearly explained where he stood—with a condom metaphor.

“Now that you’re here, are you planning on taking Noa home early?” I continue conversation with Chase to distract myself from my phone.

Chase shakes his head. “No. I’m taking off this afternoon. I want you guys to have your time. I know how important this trip is. I wouldn’t have barged in to begin with, I just couldn’t wait any longer to—”

“Hey.” I grin at Chase reassuringly. “Seeing Noa’s smile when you surprised her last night is the highlight of this trip. It’s good you came.”

“Thank you, Adler. I think out of all of Noa’s friends, you’re the easiest to talk to.” He relaxes into his chair, letting out a whistle as he takes in the mountain forest view. My phone buzzes again, this time from my blanket-covered lap.

Joel:Please say something.

Me:Why are you up so early?

“Who are you texting?” Chase mirrors the strain that must be on my face. He will fit right into our friend group seeing as he is more than willing to get right up in our business without any boundaries drawn.Welcome, Mr. Ford. Welcome to the cult.

“I’m group texting all the girls of course, to tell them I’m officially your favorite,” I say absentmindedly as I skim Joel’s latest message.

Joel:Because I’m thinking about you. I’m worried. Am I allowed to miss my

friend?

Friend.That damn word. The cause of so many issues right now.

“Hey, Chase?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you a question from a guy’s perspective? Since you’re in the club and all.”

“Sure can.”

“Do you think you could ever be just friends with Noa? If you guys didn’t figure it out, could you just be her friend?”

He lets out a long breath as he considers his response.Hmm, he actually thinks before he speaks.He may not fit in with us as well as I thought.“I doubt it. It was hard enough when we broke up and I was states away. It’d be torture having her in my life, but not reallyhavingher. You know?”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” A sigh of disappointment slips between my lips.

Chase sucks a breath in between his teeth and tongue, making a squeaking sound that interrupts my painful realization. “I’d tell him you don’t want to just be friends.”

“Hm? Who?”

“The guy you’re texting.”

Perceptive, this one. I burrow deeper into my blanket, fixing my eyes on the beautiful mountain scenery surrounding me. I soak up all the things I love about this place. The crunch of the snow under my boots. The way the iced-over trees sparkle as the sun causes the branches to drip. Even the way the deer out here aren’t afraid of people. They strut around with confidence knowing they own these woods.

“Adler, most men don’t read between the lines very well when it comes to this stuff. Whatever you need to say—spell it out for him.”

My phone buzzes again, right on cue.

Joel:Still there?

Chase pats the arm of my chair as he stands. “I’m going to make Noa some coffee…maybe. I have no clue how to work the espresso machine.”

“There’s a Keurig in the cabinet beneath the espresso machine. And K-cups in the pantry. Noa likes her coffee pretty much black.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Hey, Chase?” He pauses at the door when I call out to him.

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