16. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
GRAY
E lle had tried to reassure me she was alright, but I still worried about a concussion. My original plan to relax on my bunk, phone in hand, just in case, quickly dissolved. Restlessness took over, and I rose, propelled by a need to check on her again.
With each step towards her room, my heart battled between concern and calm. I tapped on her door. There was no response. I waited a full minute and knocked again.
“Yeah, you can come in,” her voice, tinged with weariness yet unmistakably positive, seeped through the door.
Crossing the threshold, I was enveloped by the dim ambiance of her room, a stark contrast to the bright chaos of the day. “Just checking on you,” I found myself saying, the words clumsy, inadequately carrying the weight of my concern.
“I’m really okay,” she insisted, her smile everything warm. My own smile was automatic, more reflex than anything, especially when I noticed, or at least thought I saw, my hoodie draped around her shoulders.
“Alright, just make sure to rest,” I said, feeling the knot in my chest loosen slightly.
I pulled the door shut with a soft click, intending to return to my own room. But as I turned, a deep-seated urge to protect her rooted me to the spot. It was an impulse that didn’t fully register in my rational mind, yet there I was, sliding down the wall to sit, my back against its cool, reassuring firmness. Positioned just outside her door, I resolved to be her silent guardian, if only for a little while.
Time blurred, with the shadows stretching and morphing into late afternoon. I reassured myself that any immediate danger of a concussion would have manifested by now. Eventually, I stood, resolving to check on her again in an hour, just to be sure.
Thirty minutes later, I was standing by the campfire having a cup of coffee with Rick, the warm glow flickering against the dusky sky, when Elle appeared. She walked toward us.
“There’s our star volleyball player,” Rick said good-naturedly. His words were meant to lighten the mood, but my heart was anything but light.
I set my cup aside, a part of me longing to hug her. Yet, as she neared, a tangle of nerves and desire held me back. The thought of wrapping my arms around her was tempting, but Rick’s presence made me second-guess the impulse.
As she stopped in front of us, our eyes locked. The chatter around us fading into a distant hum, as the space between us crackled with tension. Not trusting my voice, I mouthed, “I’m so sorry.”
Her smile, gentle and forgiving, sparked a flicker of peace. “It’s okay, really. I’m feeling much better now,” she assured, her voice a soothing melody. I leaned toward her, the space between us shrinking as if pulled by some invisible force. Even being an inch closer made my heart beat a little faster, a little louder. Could she feel it too? I found myself wishing I could delve into her thoughts, to understand what lay behind those emerald eyes.
Before I could dwell on it further, Jenny rushed up to Elle and grasped her hand. “Elle, you scared us. It’s so good to see you up and looking normal,” she cooed.
As I watched Elle follow Jenny into the kitchen, I realized I’d better chat to Weston. He’d been giving me funny looks since volleyball, so chances were he already knew, but she certainly meant more to me than an acquaintance. I still couldn’t date her, but I might as well stop fooling myself and admit my feelings. To Weston. I wouldn’t breathe a word to Elle. I knew nothing could come of my feelings, but I could stop torturing myself by trying to avoid her.
I found Weston packing up the volleyball equipment and helped him carry and load it into the face brick storeroom near the kitchen.
“Dude, wanna tell me what that was about earlier?” Weston asked, cutting to the chase in true Weston fashion. Anxiety knotted in my stomach as I looked into his eyes. He obviously thought I was insane.
“I’m not crazy, Wes. It’s just... I have feelings for Elle that I can’t control. And it scares me. ”
Weston’s face clouded with concern. “You’ve known her for one week,” he said and then fired off a series of questions about her. I could only answer half of them.
“In the end, we’ll just have to agree to disagree,” I said, with a sigh. “I can’t explain it, but I know I need to be in her life, even if it’s only as a friend.”
The corners of Weston’s mouth turned down as he considered my words. He looked at me, his eyes searching for something, anything, that might help him understand. “Gray, I get that you’re drawn to her, but you know you need someone who wants to settle down, someone local. Elle isn’t either of those things.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “I know, I know. But I can’t help how I feel about her.”
I could see the worry etched across Weston’s face. “You’re setting yourself up for heartache, dude.”
I clenched my fists. “I’d rather spend the next two weeks with Elle and risk a broken heart than avoid her altogether. Wes, believe me, I tried to stay away from her these last three days, and it just about killed me. I need to be near her.”
Weston sighed and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Alright, Gray. If that’s what you want, I’ll support you. But please, just be careful with your heart. I’m not sure your mental health can take another hit like that. Remember how long it took to pull yourself out of the abyss after Kayley? It was months of darkness, and I hated seeing you like that.”
I nodded. Equally unwilling to relive that. But Elle was different. I knew Weston didn’t fully understand, but his support meant everything. I could only hope that in time, I could settle with the storm of emotions that Elle had stirred.
By dinner time everything was back to normal. Elle was her bubbly self again, and we all chatted around the fire to close off the day. I even brought the guitar out and strummed a few songs.
“Elle, are you still paddling towards Baynard Cove tomorrow?” Jenny asked, when there was a lull in the conversation.
“Of course. I don’t want to chance the wind in the afternoon, so I’m going at dawn. Why? Wanna come?”
I didn’t even give Jenny a chance to reply. “I’ll go with you,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. Weston didn’t hide his scowl at my eager response, but I wasn’t about to spend my Saturday morning worrying about Elle out there on her own.