Page 6 of Made for the Mountain Man

Naomi's logic cuts through my deep breathing, and I clench my teeth, trying to find my rhythm again.

"Naomi, this was a terrible idea." Rachel sounds horrified, but she was part of this ridiculous scheme, so I'm blocking her out too.

In two, three, four. Out, two, three, four.

"Violet, people are staring. Please stop and talk to us," Jess whispers.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I yell. I don't care if people are staring,Jessica Taylor. You three crossed the line. How dare you!"

All three women across the table rear back like I’ve slapped them. I hardly recognize myself right now.

"Violet, I'm so sorry. We shouldn't have contacted him without your permission." Rachel is crying now.

I glare at her, even though I'm convinced she's not the mastermind of this debacle. Naomi's unhealthy obsession withThe Parent Trapis written all over this. But Rachel still lied to me the entire drive up the mountain. The guilt in her eyes tells me she knew enough to give me a heads-up well in advance, so I'm furious with all of them right now.

"No. You shouldn't have," I say icily.

When my friends surprised me with an all-expenses paid weekend in the mountains to help me get over my heartbreak and lack of job prospects, I thought I’d hit the jackpot of besties. Instead, the conniving harpies contacted Brooks behind my back, pretending to be me.MyBrooks. He’s booked a reservation at the Italian restaurant we’re currently in, and my "friends" decided to spring the news on me the second we sat down.

I want to run.

Naomi narrows her eyes at me, unswayed by my anger. "Vi, we're trying immersion therapy tonight. You’re a little broken, yes. But you can't ignore someone like Brooks and cry yourself to sleep every night, wishing you could take a chance." Her eyes soften as tears well in mine. "We're going to be here to help you explain yourself. If all four of us have dinner with him, maybe you'll be able to break past the frozen thing and be your incredible self."

"I amnotbringing a harem of women to Brooks on our first date," I hiss.

Naomi looks at Jess and Rachel like she didn't consider how ridiculous this plan was.

"Vi—"

I raise my hand to stall Jess. "You three are leaving immediately." I stare at the plate in front of me. "You’re going back to the hotel and letting me handle this with Brooks by myself." I finally glance up, looking each of them in the eyes before shouting, "Immediately!"

Rachel jumps up, grabbing her purse and pulling a reluctant Naomi from her chair. "We'll see you back at the hotel, Vi."

"No, you will not. I'm getting my own room tonight." I glare at Rachel.

"Violet, you are not spending the little money you have left on your own room," Naomi protests.

I refuse to look at her. "Get out. Now!" I whisper-yell.

Jess grabs Naomi’s arm as Rachel shoves her from behind.

Once they’re gone, my anger turns to panic. Brooks is on his way here right now. I don't know what to do. I can't have him waiting for a date with me and not contact him. But I also CANNOT DO THIS.

Gulping short breaths, I decide to text him and explain what's going on. I'll apologize for getting his hopes up and beg him to give me more time to figure out how to talk to him in person.

Jumping up from the table, I grab my purse. The strap catches on the ornate curve of the chair and breaks, spilling the contents all over the floor. I drop to my hands and knees, shoving everything into my bag as I search frantically for my missing phone.

Where the fuck did it go?

"Violet?" A deep voice rumbles my name.

I close my eyes, realizing I've run out of time.

"Looking for this?"

Opening my eyes, I see my phone in a large male hand, the other poised to help me up. Even in my present state, I manage to place my hand in his and jump to a standing position.

Brooks must think I'm insane for not looking at him, but I know the second I lock eyes with him, it's over. I'm statue-Violet.

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