Page 47 of Stuck with the Grump

“Well, too bad. Somebody should enjoy it. I’m not there enough to really relax. After your gallery opens, you’re going to be free to take long weekends or work outside of the city and only visit when you have to.”

“Clarke.”

“Leigh.”

“You’re making it really hard to walk away.”

I shrugged and turned, eager for a cold shower and a few minutes alone. “I understand why it’s for the best. I never said I was going to make it easy.”

21

LEIGH

Ihuddleddeeperintothe blanket around my shoulders, sipping at the spiked hot apple cider as Clarke built a fire. The sun was starting to set over the lake and people were out in their boats, clutching to the last warmth of the season. My heart ached as I thought about heading home in the morning. If I could stay here forever, I would, but my future was calling me. I had worked hard to plan my business and Clarke had given me the final push I needed.

“I don’t know where I would have been without the time I’ve spent with you,” I said, cupping my glass in both hands and letting the warmth spread across my skin. “Thank you for everything.”

“You already had everything you needed. You would have been just fine if we hadn’t been stuck here together.” Clarke lit the newspaper and prodded at the pile of wood, igniting the kindling.

“You’re full of shit. I’ve spent days picking your brain. And thank you, for the loan on the gallery space.”

He shrugged and took a seat, grabbing his own glass of cider and staring out over the water. “You would have done the same for me if the roles were reversed.”

I nodded, taking a long sip of my drink. My heart was racing and my stomach twisting. It felt strange to leave what we had shared on this note, like there was more waiting around the corner for us. We were teetering on the edge of the cliff and trying desperately not to fall over.

“What happens now?” I asked as the scent of fire and autumn leaves wrapped around us. Birds were singing in the trees, calling each other to bed before the night set in.

“What do you mean?”

“You gave me a key to your house. You’ve seen my naked body from every unflattering angle possible. So, what happens next when we leave here?”

I had spent more time than I ever wanted to admit thinking about what would come next for us. My imagination had painted a future for myself that I wanted, but I wasn’t going to go after it. Clarke and I both had things we needed to do. There wouldn’t be time for a relationship.

“We say hello if we see each other at events but other than that, we move on with our lives.”

“I don’t think I could have had a better time here,” I said, pulling the blanket tighter around my body as the fire warmed my legs. “You would think that a storm would really ruin what was supposed to be a relaxing trip to the lake house, but it didn’t. I had a good time.”

Clarke smiled, still not looking at me as he finished his drink. “I had a good time too.”

The sky turned a bright orange, streaks of pink and yellow running through it. The sun reflected off the water, sending sunrays through the trees. Everything around us felt magical as the peace and quiet of the lake house settled around me.

Running away from the city was the best thing I had done for myself in a long time.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get to the hospital and see my mom.” I swallowed hard, trying to banish the lump rising in my throat. “She’s been sick for a while, but we thought it was just a stubborn cold or menopause. If one of us had made her go to the doctor sooner, she might have had a better chance of fighting this off.”

Clarke’s hand reached for mine, our fingers lacing together. “None of this happened because you didn’t make a grown woman go see the doctor. Your mom chose not to go. You can’t blame yourself for that.”

I chuckled, drifting my thumb across the back of his hand. “I wish that was true. We all saw the signs and we didn’t think much of it. Tyson’s been busy with you and your business, I was wrapped up in a relationship and university. My dad was working and trying to help pay for my university. Did you know he wouldn’t let Tyson pay for a penny of it even though Tyson offered?”

Clarke shifted in his seat, an uneasy smile on his face. “That scholarship you got the last year.”

“How do you know about that?”

“Tyson made it up. Told the dean to call it whatever she wanted but to make sure that most of your tuition was paid for.”

I finished my drink and exhaled slowly. “He never told me about that. Dad doesn’t know either.”

“Both of you would have argued with him about it.”

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