Page 6 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
“What? On whom?” Daryl asks with feigned innocence, his dark ocher skin turning a richer red brown on his cheeks and the tips of his ears.
“On the new pool guy. The one who just walked past. You have a thing for him.”
“I do not.”
I flap a hand. “I’ve seen that man in his swimsuit. And so have you.”
Daryl tugs at his collar. “It’s a total stereotype to have a crush on the pool guy.”
“That doesn’t mean youdon’thave one.” I cough. “Heisvery hot, with that swimmer’s build, and he seems kind, helping the senior citizens with their aqua aerobics. I see why you’re interested. If I hadn’t sworn off men, I’d be interested, too.”
He scoffs. “You haven’t sworn off men.”
“I have,” I insist. “I keep dating selfish assholes or creeps who steal my stuff. It’s better to stay far away. I don’t trust anyone, and I don’t need a partner.”
Daryl’s looking at me and shaking his head.
“What?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“You sound defensive.”
“Iamdefensive.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being single, in the abstract. I just think you’re lonely sometimes. I wish you could find a great guy who’d treat you like the most important thing in his life.”
I tear open a package of napkins and start refilling the first dispenser. “I think breathing is the most important thing in anyone’s life.”
“Fair enough: Drowning or asphyxiating sounds terrifying. Second most important, then. You come before food.”
“I’m tending to think that’s not healthy, either. We all need to eat.”
Daryl gives me side-eye.
I snap the dispenser closed and hold up my hands. “What? It’s true. We all have these wild ideas of romance, that it will sweep us off our feet and we’ll be seduced by some prince or something. But in reality, we all have to take care of certain very basic things first. Cooking, cleaning …”
“Not if you married an actual prince. Wouldn’t he have someone around who would cook for him or whatever?”
I shrug and refill the next dispenser. “I like cooking.”
“You like watching cooking shows.”
“There’s nothing wrong withBake Off. It’s soothing.”
“You like being argumentative.”
“That I do.” I pause. “But can you blame me for being hesitant to try again?”
Daryl gives me a sympathetic look. “No, I don’t blame you.”
I jam napkins into the last dispenser, then gather the dispensers up and reset them on the tables. “Are we done for the day?” I ask, noticing the next shift walking in.
He nods. “I’m heading out to study. You gonna go hiking?”
“Yep.” I hang up my apron and clock out. I’m already in jeans and hiking boots, and it’s a warm June day, so I’m ready to go. “See you tomorrow.”
Man, there are weird things in the Oregon woods.
Today’s exploration has taken me along a path bordered by bright green deciduous trees and white trillium in bloom. I’m headed for Tassiya Meadows, but apparently I’ve ended up in a different realm instead.
