Page 5 of His North Star
I refocused on texting my matchmaker.
Me:How did you think he would be a good fit for me? Was it his greasy hair? Or the incessant chatter about himself? Or maybe it was the way he chewed with his mouth open? [angry face emoji] Or maybe it was the way he SMELLED? [skunk emoji]
I shuddered. The entire night was a nightmare. I should’ve gone shopping or to a movie so Ty wouldn’t have found me and begged that I go on that wretched date.
T-Rex-Ler:He was a client. He didn’t look unshowered when we were house hunting.
Yeah, well, maybe Ty should go back over to his house and show him how to use the tub.
I pounded on my phone.Me:You owe me. BIG.
T-Rex-Ler:I know. I screwed this one up. I’m sorry. Sooooo so sorry. What can I do to make it up to you? [praying hands emoji]
WhatdidI want as payback? Dinner at a fancy restaurant? A spa day? Being a successful real estate agent, he could afford it. I looked around my room for inspiration. In the opposite corner from my bed was a smaller telescope. Ty didn’t understand my fascination with outer space. He barely tolerated being outside with me while I explored the night sky. Glacier National Park had opened an observatory at Lake Mary, and I’d been dying to go since they announced it. And now, I would.
Me:You. Me. Lake Mary.
A satisfied grin lifted my cheeks.
T-Rex-Ler:That doesn’t sound so bad.
Me:We’re camping.
I cackled as I pictured Ty’s grimace. He hiked, fished, did every water sport imaginable, hunted, even camped—just not with me. Not anymore, anyway. It may have been because I’d kept him up till dawn every time we’d camped as kids. Or it could be because of the time he tricked me into going backpacking, and I vowed the next time we camped together, I’d pay him back. Whatever his reason, we were going to Lake Mary.
T-Rex-Ler:Anything else. Please.[watery eyes emoji]
Me:Nope. Lucky for you, I don’t want to go until the weather warms up. You have a few months to cash in. You can check if there are any openings at the lodge. Otherwise, I hope your sleeping bag is comfy.
My spoon scraped against the bottom of the ceramic bowl. I’d devoured the pie and ice cream as if I were in a Fourth of July eating contest.
T-Rex-Ler:You have no idea how much I’m dreading this.
Me:Oh, I do. And you deserve it.
I grabbed my running shoes and a jacket. Once outside, I started off on a brisk walk, working myself up to a run. Because of the pie, a stitch formed in my stomach. I held my side and took in long, deep breaths. What was I even doing out here? Blake no longer had any claim on my life or what I did with it. Why did I keep trying to appease a man who’d left me?
Immediately, I spun on my heel back toward my apartment. I had to find a way to get Blake out of my head.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Mom said, walking into the industrial kitchen. Even though she was the owner, she wore the same clothes as the rest of us—a White Pines polo and black pants. She’d pulled her short, dark brown hair into a low ponytail. At fifty-four, she was stunning. With barely a wrinkle in sight and only a few gray hairs, she somehow had found the fountain of youth. I better have inherited those genes.
My arms were elbow deep in warm, soapy water. “I’m almost done with the dishes.”
“No rush.” She leaned her slim hip against the stainless-steel counter. “How was your date Friday night?”
I shot her a dry look. “It’s time you and Ty stop trying to set me up.”
Her lips turned down. “Maybe with the tourist season starting soon, you’ll have more opportunities.”
I shut the faucet off and turned to face her. “I don’t want to get caught up with a visitor,” I shot out. “Or a one-week fling.”
I learned that lesson the hard way when I was fourteen. Robbie Mendoza’s dark brown eyes flashed in my mind. When we met on the beach, I became infatuated at first sight. We were inseparable for two glorious weeks while he was here on vacation with his family. The night before he left, he gifted me with my first kiss, under a canopy of starlight. It was the best night of my fourteenth year. The next day, as he drove away, was the worst.
Mom stepped closer to me, then squeezed my arm. “Maybe a short fling is what you need. Have some fun, burn off steam.” That argument seemed to be the only reason Mom and Ty had for why I needed to date.
No, thank you.
Besides, Blake’s presence in my thoughts overwhelmed me. Anytime it rained, the wet pine needles were just like his soap. Or when couples checked into our bed-and-breakfast, it ripped open the Mississippi-River-sized tear in my heart. I had to flee to the restroom to swipe at my eyes and nose all too often.
