Page 34 of First Chance

Jo

Irefuse to leave the guesthouse until 8 am on Monday.

When I do, I’m wearing my favorite tan pencil skirt, white blouse, and my strappy nude heels. My blonde hair is perfectly blown out and curled, my makeup is impeccably done. I even broke out more of my jewelry to dress myself up.

The best cure to having my spirit crushed into a million pieces is to look like it never happened at all.

I walk into Lochlan’s empty kitchen by 8:01 and start packing up all of the textbooks I had left piled on the table. When I hear the backdoor open, I scramble, shoving them into my backpack.

“I wasn’t expecting you so early,” Lochlan says from the doorway. I don’t look up, avoiding eye contact while I struggle to zip my bag.

“I’m only grabbing my stuff, I’m on my way out.”

“Jo, I need to apologize,” he starts, but I cut him off.

“No, you don’t. I wanted to be friends with you, but you drew a line. You’re my boss, and I will respect that.”

“I shouldn’t have said what I said.”

“But you did.” I throw my bag over my shoulder and step toward the front door.

“You’re leaving?” He exhales roughly.

“I have to go return these books to campus and get my new ones for the summer semester. I’ll be back this afternoon to get some work done.” I give him my fakest, cheeriest smile. “Enjoy your day.”

Each step of my heels across the hardwood floors is echoed by his boots behind me, following me to the front porch.

He watches me get in my car, and I watch his form disappear in my dust cloud as I leave.

* * *

Two weeks go by, and I’m still firm in my decision to keep my distance from Lochlan. Aside from a few words every day to communicate what needs to be done for the sanctuary, I haven’t spoken to him or any of the guys.

When I’m not at school or in Lochlan’s kitchen, I’m studying or working on my Master’s thesis.

I’ve organized every single piece of paper in his filing cabinet, I’ve set up auto-pay on every bill that I can, and I’ve written out the checks that need to be signed for the things still being paid the old-fashioned way.

I shouldn’t have to converse with Lochlan about anything for at least six months at this rate.

“Are you done for the day?” He asks from behind me as soon as I shut my laptop.

“Yeah, I have to take my car in for an oil change.”

“I can do it.”

“No, it’s okay. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”Wouldn’t ask.

I walk out onto the porch, but he follows me.

“Let me change your oil.”

I don’t know why he wants to, but I’ve been dreading hanging out in some greasy auto shop. I’m almost two thousand miles overdue.

My fingers fidget with my key fob until he holds his hand out for them.

“Okay,” I concede. “Thanks.” I hand him my keys as he saddles past me.

“I’ll take it down to the garage if you want to ride down with me,” he announces when he notices me standing in the same spot.

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