fifteen

This was not how he wanted this weekend to go. Why did either of them need to dredge up the past, or in her case, the present? He waited patiently for Alexa’s reply, knowing that her reaction would determine the rest of their time together. Then again, maybe he shouldn’t have asked the question. Tension knotted his shoulders.

“And you believe that I have a boyfriend in New York?” Alexa ran the tip of her finger around the top of her glass.

“No.” Graeme slugged the last of his tea, feeling un-comfortable with the direction of their conversation.

Barry had simply been trying to stir things up. Graeme had known that, but the thought of her in another man’s arms did crazy things to his head. The thought that she would kiss him, when she cared for someone else, disturbed him. In response, he refused to succumb to the unwarranted jealousy that image aroused. Maybe Barry had told him that because he was envious. Maybe Barry lost his chance with Alexa, and never had one with Sela. Who knew?

But what Graeme did know was that he didn’t want to go into details about what happened to Summer. He rose from the chair. “Can I get you something more to drink?”

“Sure, if you’re going.” She held up her glass and he took it. Their fingers brushed, making him wish they had time alone.

But that probably wasn’t a good idea, and he should be thankful for the people around them. He headed for the end of the buffet table where he found an offering of tea, lemonade, and coffee.

Sela brushed up against him. “You seem like a really nice guy, Graeme.”

Pouring himself and Alexa another glass of tea, he smiled and watched Sela empty the last of the coffee into a mug. Sela and Alexa were so much alike, and yet very different. He barely knew either of them; still, he could tell they were both special. Any man would be blessed to be in their company for a day, let alone a lifetime.

What was he thinking? He wasn’t in a situation to even entertain such thoughts. Lord in heaven, help me. . . .

He lifted his now-filled glass of unsweetened tea to his lips. “Why do I get the feeling I have a lecture coming?”

She held up the steaming mug and paused. “See what I mean? You’re a nice guy, and you already know what I’m going to say, so I won’t need to lecture.”

He huffed a laugh. “Not really, no. But I can guess. It has something to do with you not wanting to see your sister get hurt.”

Pressing her lips together, she smiled then sipped the hot coffee. “You sell yourself short. You knew exactly what I was going to say.”

Graeme studied his glass again. At this rate he’d know every nuance of the Asian image etched on the side before their evening ended.

“Alexa is more fragile than you think. I just want you to know that. She suffered terrible heartache as a child, and I’m not sure she’s ever gotten over it. Be careful with her.” With that, she smiled then left him to mull over her words.

He watched her float over to Alexa and hold out her arms. “Come on, sis. We’ve got so much catching up to do. Let’s make an early night of it and have some girl talk.”

Alexa glanced his way—a question in her eyes. Did he want her to go? Graeme simply drank from his glass, remaining noncommittal. Hurt flashed across her features before she turned a smile to Sela.

“Sure. I’d love that.” Alexa gracefully untangled herself from the comfortable lounge chair and rose. “Good night, everyone. See you in the morning.”

Graeme took a step forward, hoping to interject his plans. “And since tomorrow is Sunday, I’m hoping we can leave early enough to attend the Church in the Redwoods. Everyone okay with that?”

Sela smiled first. “I’d love that. I’ve always wanted to visit there. Alexa?”

Alexa nodded. Barry frowned before finally agreeing. What choice did he have?

As Graeme watched her stroll next to Sela, heading along the walkway to their room in the house, he wondered what he’d been thinking to invite her here, to extend his torment. He’d forgotten how complicated a relationship could be.

He was playing with fire, and in his world in the trees, a fire could destroy everything.

But it could also birth something new. . . .

❧

Once inside the small room decorated in a seaside theme, Alexa plopped on one of the two double beds, arranged similar to a motel room. Sela had excused herself to run an errand, and promised to return in five minutes.

The time alone was agonizing, considering Alexa couldn’t pull her thoughts from Graeme. Shouldn’t she be with him out there right now? Why hadn’t he given her a sign that he wanted her to stay? What was with men these days? Or had he simply wanted her to decide for herself, and she had hurt him by leaving?

It was too much, these games that men and women played, and the game she played with him would soon be ending, with or without a winner. But neither one of them would win; they both knew that.

The door creaked open. “Okay,” Sela said, entering the room. She shut the door behind her. “Sorry about that. But I had to grab some snacks. Karen had all sorts of goodies for us, including sodas and chips.”

Sela giggled and spilled the contents of one of the sacks she carried out onto the bed next to Alexa. “I really like that woman. Think I’ve found myself a new friend.”

Alexa rose up on her elbows and examined the items. “Do you seriously expect me to eat all that candy and fit into my clothes tomorrow?”

“Not candy. Chocolate.”

“Chocolate candy. Hello?” Alexa laughed, almost grateful her sister had dragged her away from the growing tension between her and Graeme. She took one of the chocolates and unwrapped it then popped it into her mouth.

“Glad to see you smiling. I thought you were going to die from sorrow and dissolve into the grass when I dragged you away from him.”

Searching the other sack for the sodas Sela had mentioned, Alexa found one and popped the top, washing down the chocolate.

The carbonation burned, and Alexa squeezed her eyes. “Why’d you do that anyway?”

“I think you know why.” Sela frowned. “I’m really worried about you, sis.”

“Nothing to worry about. I’m leaving in two days.”

“Then why do this to yourself? Why do this to him?”

“What exactly, pray tell, am I doing?”

“Do you have to ask?” Sela leaned forward. “You’re carrying on with him as though you have a future together.”

Alexa placed the soda on a coaster and lay on the bed, tucking the pillow behind her head. “How do you figure?”

“Quit playing dumb with me. He cares deeply for you. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt. If you’re so bent on this career that keeps you anchored in New York, why string him along?”

“Those are fighting words, Sela. I am not stringing him along. I didn’t mean for this to happen, and you don’t know all of it.” Alexa slurped on the soda, hating that Sela was vocalizing all the misgivings she herself had worked to ignore. “And what if. . .”

Sela sank into her own bed, resting her head against her arm.

“What if I decide to stay?”

“If that’s even a remote consideration, you need to share that with him. For all you know, he’s not ready to commit and is counting on you leaving.”

“Boy, I love the way you put a positive spin on things,” Alexa said, certain her sarcasm wasn’t lost on Sela. “The truth is, we hardly know anything about each other.”

“If you don’t know him, then how can you really care for him?”

“Not everyone follows the same rules as you, Sela.”

“What is it, then, that’s between you? How would you define it?”

“I don’t know, but you picked up on it the first time you met him, didn’t you? What do you think?” Alexa turned her head to look at Sela, apprehensive about her answer and yet hopeful at the same time.

Sela picked at something on the pillowcase. “The first time I saw you two together, that night at my house, it was like you were each considering a dance with the other. By the end of the evening, clearly, you had engaged. But by tonight. . .”

Alexa swung her feet off the bed and sat on the edge. “What?”

“Alexa, you love him.” Sela’s eyes glistened with tears. “I’m sure he feels the same.”

Covering her mouth, Alexa smiled. She closed her eyes then dropped back across the bed. I knew it. . . .

“But Alexa, people who love each other hurt each other all the time. Loving him doesn’t give you an easy answer.”

“Why do you always have to be the older, wiser sister?” Alexa grinned, feeling moisture at the corners of her eyes.