Page 10 of When Glitter Meets Gold

I get up quickly, pushing my shoulders back and smirking. “Oh no, I’m still going. Staying in a luxury hotel won’t make me a hiker, but it will make Walter think I’ve got the balls for the promotion.” I try to reason. “Besides, I see the way everyone looks at me like sad little Sara who can’t get over her ex. This trip can be the start of the new me. Who cares if it starts with a lie?” I catch Amber raising an eyebrow. “Don’t stand there and tell me this isn’t the kind ofdiabolical, unhingedshit the old Sara would pull.”

Amber gasps. “Lord, you’re right.” She steps toward me, pulling me into an apprehensive embrace. “Maybe you’re back from the dead after all.”

There’s a long pause of silence as everything we’ve discussed hangs in the air around us. “Okay, I guess let’s turn you into a fake hiker. Wait…” Her face drops. “But even just beingnextto the hiking trail, you know you’re going to encounter bugs. How the hell you gonna handle that?”

“Because I know that five-star luxury will be waiting for me when I get back.” I pout. “And for that, I can certainly put up with a couple of dumb creepy crawlies for five minutes or so.”

There is, of course, still time to call the whole thing off.

But I can’t.

Because even though I thrive on organization and knowing what comes next, a part of me knows that I’ve become stagnant. Stuck in the comfort of the mundane, where it’s safe from heartbreak.

Safe and Predictable.

And deeply, thoroughly boring.

Kandi gets what she wants because she takes risks. Amber has a new date every week because she’s not afraid to try new things, addicted to the thrill of new beginnings.

And now, I have a shot at a promotion because I took a gamble.

“Looks like you’re going to need sneakers after all.” Amber grins.

“God no, those things make my feet hurt.” I click my heels together. “I’ll stick to what I know.”

Amber’s eyes flare. “Just know that I’m with you every step of the way, but Sara, the fact your feet hurt less in five-inch heels than sneakers, kind of scares the crap out of me.”

Okay, sure. The trip has the potential to unleash chaos.

But for the first time in a long time, I’m not afraid to let it in.

4

‘J’

Northcreek Lookout Point – Maine.

J Vandenberg wraps his large hands around a pair of binoculars he pulled from the back pocket of his military-grade cargo shorts. He isn’t a soldier, but in areas of dense wilderness, army attire was sturdier than the clothing found in camping stores. The military stuff was apparently designed for bodies that carry more muscle, broader around the shoulders, chest, and thighs, which is perfect for J’s lean build.

He places a heavy boot on the lower frame of the lookout point while scanning the distance. He’s not a bird watcher, but on this particular day, birds are the very thing he hopes to capture through the lens of his fancy binoculars.

Over the years, he’d learned a thing or two about being on the trails, and that often started with observing the birds.If they sang and foraged, it usually meant he had nothing to worry about. If they became frantic and started hunkering down, it usually meant he should be doing the same. He could, of course, just look at the weather forecast, but that involved technology, and looking at his phone. A phone was a connection to his demanding life back in New York. He didn’t travel all the way to the wilderness to deal with whatever pressing issue demanded his attention back home. The whole point of these trips into the denseness of the forest was so he could escape and clear his head. The phone stayed out of his trips.

Even though the birds are singing and soaring through the trees, he’s not a hundred percent convinced the weather isn’t going to take a turn. He is sure, however, that he can cover a little more ground before he pitches up for the night. He lowers the binoculars, relaxing for the first time in what feels like forever.

He climbs down from the lookout tower and notes a couple women approaching from the other side. Their high-pitched voices and matching bright purple sweaters cause a muscle to twitch in his jaw. He rakes a hand through his dark brown hair, then tightens the straps on his backpack as he selects a different route. He didn’t travel all the way to Maine to be bothered by cackling, shrieking females.

He veers off the gravel and disappears into the trails less traveled.

He’ll hike another mile or so before setting up camp, because even though the weather appears fine for now, it could all change quickly, and a smart hiker is always prepared to expect the unexpected.

5

SARA

Whistling Acres is a three-story luxury lodge, complete with a twinkling rooftop bar, that’s set amidst sprawling manicured grounds that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Every corner is finished to perfection. From the tray of complimentary mocktails at reception to the golden-framed paintings that line the white-paneled walls leading up to my room on the second floor.

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