CHAPTER THIRTEEN FALLON #3
I know, technically this gesture has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Sully, but still, by association, it makes me feel like I’m not the only one who truly cares about this place.
That I’m not carrying the burden of the cabins’ success all on my shoulders.
This is a stepping-stone, a break I needed toward the progress of reopening.
“I don’t know if you realize how in over my head I’ve been,” I say after a few moments of silence.
“We haven’t really been booking reservations because of the renovations, and it’s been hurting the business.
Trying to take care of Sully and fix the cabins, it’s. .. well... it’s been overwhelming.”
“It’s a large project to undertake, especially if you don’t have much experience.”
“I have none.”
He rocks on his heels. “Well, I have a bunch. I was a contractor before I started writing movie scripts. It’s what I did to pay the bills while I was trying to sell an astronaut martian romance.” I let out a dry laugh. “Let me help you, Fallon. I know what I’m doing.”
“That’s obvious, given what you’ve done with this space alone.
” I take it all in, how the room is bright with the white walls, but it has the little touch of pewter gray in the accent wall and moldings.
The red rug across the newly installed floors.
I can even see he’s installed the plumbing fixtures in the bathroom.
“It looks like a total dream in here, like an oasis in the trees. But I can’t ask you to help. ”
“You’re not asking—I’m telling you I want to.”
I shake my head. “Sawyer, you’ve already done so much.”
“I want to,” he says, a hint of desperation in his voice.
“Please don’t take this away from me, Fallon.
” His eyes connect with mine, and I feel a hitch in my breath as I try to hold it together.
“I need the escape. I need the companionship. The real conversations. This is just as much for me as it is for you.”
“Why do you keep saying ‘real conversations’?” I ask.
“I hate to say the cliché, but when you’re wrapped up in the world of filmmaking, you don’t always stumble across real people.
For over a year, I had to pretend like I wasn’t affected by my best friend’s choices, by his betrayal.
Every interaction I had felt artificial.
The only outside source I had was my brother, but even then, I didn’t see him in person.
So, talking to Sully, even talking to you and”—he chuckles—“Jaz, it feels real. It doesn’t feel fake. ”
“I can see that, especially with Jaz.” I twist my hands together. “Well, I feel guilty having you do all of this work with me. It’s a lot.”
It’s so much, and I know I would feel guilty, but in the back of my head, the words I’m saying are just a cover-up, because I want his help. I want to spend more time with him. I want to be that person he can count on for loyalty, for... friendship.
“Then, how about this—you’re in charge of dinner. I’ll work all day, and at night, you just provide a meal, and it can be as simple as a ham sandwich. You already have to feed Sully, right? So just attach me to that, and we can call it even.”
“That doesn’t seem very even,” I say, raising a brow.
“I know, I know, your cooking is probably worth way more, so I’ll be forever grateful.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” I chuckle.
He winks and then whispers, “I know.” He holds his hand out to me. “How about it? Deal?”
I look at his hand and then back up at him, doubt filling me. “You’re going to regret it.”
“Promise you, I won’t. I haven’t regretted one thing yet.”
“But I’m difficult, and so is Jaz.”
“I’ve worked with worse.” He sticks his hand out farther. “Come on, Fallon, take the deal.”
I’d be stupid to not take it. I could really use his help, especially since he has experience. And more than anything, I want to save the cabins for Sully. I would do just about anything—pride be damned.
Before I can stop myself, I grab his hand, and we shake. “Deal.”
“Good choice.” He releases my hand and then goes back to the sheet. “Think you can help me with this godforsaken sheet?”
“Making a bed is something I’m quite good at.”
“Maybe you can teach me a thing or two.”
“Easily.” I lift up the sheet. “First things first: you don’t have this positioned the right way. See this tag? It says ‘top bottom,’ meaning it can go at the head of the bed or the foot.”
“Mistake number one.” He laughs. “See, this is a working relationship that is beneficial to both parties. But don’t worry, I won’t get any crazy ideas about us becoming friends.”
There he goes with that charming smile.
“Good, because I could see how this new partnership could be construed as a budding friendship.”
“People from the outside, if not well informed, could possibly see the potential for friendship, but we’d never let them confirm, because before word could spread, we’d squash any rumors.”
I shift the sheets under the mattress. “I’m considering making T-shirts for us that specifically say we’re not friends.”
“I hate to put extra work on your plate, but I think that might be a very good idea.”
I glance up at him and smile. “Then it’s settled. Working together, but not friends.”
“It’s settled.” He winks and reaches for the flat sheet as I feel my pulse skyrocket all over again.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
And just like that... I find myself letting Sawyer into my life.