Page 65 of His North Star
I locked the door, then went to my own apartment. After changing into a tank and shorts, I flung myself onto my bed, checking my phone for any sign of communication from James. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
He was with family. Of course he’d be dedicating his time to them.
Me:Hey! Hope you’re having fun on your visit home! I’d love pics of the ranch if you have time. Talk to you when you get back. [blowing kiss emoji]
Another week had come and gone in the same monotonous cycle. I stood at the lodge’s sink, washing up the last piles of breakfast dishes. Once they were done, I was off until our s’mores and more bonfire tonight at eight. Thankfully, the afternoon would be spent with Ty. Working on his house projects kept my mind off everything else that I didn’t want to think about, like Mom, James, and Blake.
My phone chimed, but I ignored it. The dishes wouldn’t do themselves, as Mom always said. Oh, but what if that was Mom asking for something? She’d been cooped up and had cabin fever. Dad said if she was up to it, he’d help her down to the bonfire tonight.
I threw off my elbow-length rubber gloves. The screen shined in my eyes with a notification that wasn’t from Mom. My heart flipped in my chest.
James:Sorry I didn’t text you last night. I figured you’d be asleep by the time I got home. Are you busy tonight? I’d love to take you out.
I’d love to go on a date as well. We hadn’t seen one another in a month, a recurring theme with us. How had time crawled and sped by at the same time?Me:I’m in charge of s’mores and more [sad face emoji] [fire emoji] [chocolate emoji] Want to come? We could do something afterward?
James:How much time will I get with you alone? [wink face emoji]
Ifhe came? More than usual. Wasn’t that worth it?
Me:You mean a date with me and twenty other people isn’t appealing?[laugh face emoji]
James:You? Yes. The others? Not a chance.[thumbs down emoji]
I blurted out a laugh.
Me:You drive a hard bargain, Dr. Wilton, but I can sacrifice sleep to spend one-on-one time afterward. [kiss face emoji]
James:Deal.
I put my phone back in my pocket and sprayed down the plates.
A loud “Gotcha!” made me spray the wall above me as I jumped. My heart palpitated in my chest.
Ty’s laughter echoed throughout the kitchen.
I held the faucet nozzle toward him for a quick second. “Take that!”
He yelped, hopping away from me.
We smiled at one another, and I turned back to the sink to keep scrubbing away this morning’s syrup.
Rookie mistake.
Why did I turn my back on my opponent?
Ty sidled up on the opposite side of me, darting his hand over mine before yanking the hose toward me. Instead of a quick splash, he held it in place. My White Pines polo turned see-through. Droplets of water dripped off me onto the floor in a softplunk, plunk, plunk.
I screeched “Stop!” wrapping my gloved hands around the nozzle. “Ty. Stop!” I twisted and tugged to get it away from him, but it was like an ant fighting a hippo. “You’re dead,” I halfheartedly threatened through a bout of laughter.
I pinched the skin of his tricep. He loosened his grip, and I took over. My retaliation was as good as his attack. Once I stopped spraying him, he flipped his hair around like a wet dog.
“Gross.” I covered my face with an arm.
“Oh, come on, what’s a little more water?” His eyes glistened with mischief.
“A little water?” I sputtered, pointing to my shirt. “I can’t go outside like this. What if someone sees me?”
Ty glanced at my shirt, then immediately shifted his gaze to the ceiling.
