Chapter 5 #2
“Yes,” he agrees, tracing lazy patterns on my chest. “It was. We should go down, though. Otherwise, they’ll send someone else up for us.” He makes no move to get up.
“Yeah,” I agree, equally motionless. “We should.”
A moment passes between us, heavy with all the things we haven’t said, all the questions we haven’t answered. What is this? What does it mean? Where do we go from here?
Slade reaches out, his hand cupping my jaw. “We’ll talk about this later,” he says, his thumb brushing across my lower lip.
I nod, already anticipating that conversation and wondering what else the weekend might bring. “Later,” I agree.
***
The transition from our private sanctuary to the outdoor buffet feels like stepping onto a stage, unprepared for a performance.
Every step across the lodge’s bamboo flooring makes me hyperaware of Slade’s presence beside me.
My body still hums with the ghost of his touch—a secret electricity that I’m certain must be visible to everyone we pass.
We emerge at the wooden deck where the buffet-style dinner is being served.
The setting sun casts everything in golden light, making the tables glow.
String lights woven through potted plants create the illusion of fireflies.
The effect would be romantic if I weren’t so busy trying to remember how to act normal.
“Owen! Slade!” Ava waves from a table near the railing where the rest of the group has already gathered. “Over here!”
I take a steadying breath and force my lips into what I hope passes for a casual smile.
“Feeling better?” Ava asks me as I approach. “You look a million times better than this morning.”
“Amazing what a good nap can do,” I reply, hyperconscious of my tone.
Bryce’s gaze slides from me to Slade, who has taken a seat beside him. There’s something assessing in his expression.
“Must have been some nap,” he says. “What about you, Slade? That work thing occupied you for a while, huh?”
“It took longer than expected.”
“Right,” Bryce nods.
I half-listen to their exchange, dropping into an empty chair across from Slade rather than beside him.
“You missed out on some serious artistic expression at the pottery class,” Zara says, turning to me. “I made you a mug, though. It’s hideous, but created with good intentions.”
I laugh, grateful for the distraction. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“Owen, Ava’s right—you do look better,” Maia chimes in, studying my face.
“Just needed some rest,” I say, avoiding Slade’s eyes.
“Well, I’m starving,” Ava announces, standing. “Let’s hit the buffet before they run out of those amazing-looking mushroom skewers.”
The group rises in a chorus of scraping chairs.
Even though I’m starving, too, I hang back, not wanting to get caught in the awkward dance of navigating the buffet line beside Slade.
He seems to have the same idea, engaging Bryce in what appears to be an intense medical discussion as they move toward the food.
I follow at a safe distance, ending up behind Naya and Zara.
The selection is impressive—a spread of vegetables, grains, and proteins, each with a small card detailing its origin.
In any other circumstance, the care taken to create such a conscientious meal would fascinate me.
Now, I’m just trying to load my plate without dropping it as my peripheral vision tracks Slade’s movements further down the line.
He reaches for a serving spoon, his surgeon’s fingers wrapping around it with the same precision they wrapped around parts of me earlier. I drop a roasted carrot, remembering the sensation of those fingers on my skin. When he glances up, I jerk my gaze away, focusing on the quinoa salad.
“The tempeh looks good,” Zara says, nudging me. “You should try some.”
“Thanks,” I manage, scooping some onto my plate.
When I reach the end of the buffet line, my plate is loaded with food I don’t remember selecting.
I head toward the drinks station, needing something stronger than water to get through this dinner.
The eco lodge’s bar offers a selection of organic wines and local craft beers.
I opt for a beer—something substantial enough to occupy my hands and give me an excuse to avoid conversation if needed.
“Owen.”
Maia’s voice makes me tense. I turn to find her standing close to me.
“Hey,” I respond, trying to sound casual.
She glances around before taking my elbow and guiding me to a quiet corner of the deck, away from the others. “I wanted to check on you. You sounded…off when I knocked on your door earlier.”
“Just the hangover,” I say quickly.
Maia shakes her head. “No, it’s more than that. I know what’s really going on.”
My blood turns to ice. She knows about Slade and me. My mind races, trying to figure out how much she could have heard.
“It must be hard watching me move on with Jace.” Maia lowers her voice to a sympathetic murmur.
Relief floods through me so suddenly, I have to suppress a burst of hysterical laughter.
“Seeing us happy…it’s bringing up a lot of feelings you thought you’d processed,” she continues, placing a hand on my arm.
Her touch, which once would have sent warmth through me, now feels like nothing compared to the fire Slade ignited.
“I just want you to know that it’s okay to feel that way. Healing isn’t linear.”
The absurdity of the situation—standing here with my ex-girlfriend who thinks I’m pining for her while my body still tingles from another man’s touch—is too much to bear. If she only knew what I was doing when she knocked on that door…
“I appreciate your concern,” I say, maintaining a neutral expression. “But really, I’m fine.”
She tilts her head, giving me that look I remember well—the one that says she thinks she understands me better than I understand myself. “You don’t have to put on a brave face, Owen. Not with me.”
“I’m not. Honestly, Maia, seeing you happy with Jace is a good thing. I’m happy for you.”
She studies me for a moment, clearly not believing me. “Well, if you ever want to talk about it…”
“Thanks,” I say, seizing the opportunity to end this conversation. “We should get back before our food gets cold.”
As we return to the group, I notice the seating has shifted. Jace now sits in my previous spot, and the only empty chair is at the opposite end of the table from Slade. I slide into it, setting my plate and beer down.
The conversation flows around me—talk of the pottery class, plans for tomorrow, Ava and Bryce’s wedding.
But my attention keeps straying to Slade.
Unlike earlier in the day when his gaze sought mine, now he makes an effort not to look in my direction.
When I speak, his eyes stay fixed on his plate or on whoever else is talking.
The contrast to his intense focus in our room is jarring.
Did I do something wrong? Was this just a one-time thing for him—an experiment, a curiosity satisfied? The questions burn in my throat. I take a long pull of my beer, wishing it would drown the confusion roiling in my chest.
“So,” Ava says, clapping her hands together as the meal winds down. “I’ve got a fun surprise for tonight.”
“Please tell me it involves more alcohol,” Zara jokes, finishing her wine.
“It absolutely can,” Ava laughs. “The lodge has set up a scavenger hunt for us—an eco-themed one, of course. We’ll be searching for hidden objects on the property, solving clues about local ecology.”
“Sounds like good clean fun,” Jace says, his arm draped around Maia’s shoulders.
“There’s a twist,” Ava continues. “We need to pair up, and each pair competes against the others. Winning team gets a special prize tomorrow—a private hot springs experience.”
Zara perks up. “I am extremely competitive and great at puzzles,” she announces. “So whoever teams up with me better be prepared to win.”
My eyes seek out Slade, hoping for…something. Some acknowledgment. Some sign that we should pair up. His gaze meets mine, then shifts away as he turns to continue his conversation with Bryce.
The dismissal stings more than it should. Just an hour ago, he had me spread out beneath him, coming apart at his command. Now he won’t even look at me. The whiplash of his behavior ignites something rebellious in my chest.
“I’ll team up with you, Zara,” I hear myself say, my voice louder than necessary. “I’m not half bad at puzzles myself.”
Zara’s face lights up. “Perfect! Team Unstoppable is officially formed.”
I chance a glance at Slade. His expression hasn’t changed, but I notice a tension in his jaw, the way his fingers tighten around his water glass. Good. Let him see that I’m not just waiting around for him to acknowledge me.
“Awesome!” Ava beams. “Bryce and I are obviously together. Maia and Jace. Naya, you’re with Slade. Any objections?”
Slade offers Naya a polite smile. “None from me.”
“This is going to be so fun,” Naya gushes. “I have great intuition.”
As the group buzzes with competitive energy, I slide my chair closer to Zara, leaning in as she outlines her strategy for victory.
From the corner of my eye, I see Slade watching us, his gaze dark and unreadable.
A small, petty part of me feels satisfied by his attention, even as confusion and hurt churn beneath the surface.
“Each team needs to grab a lantern and a clue packet,” Ava explains, pointing to a table where a staff member is setting up. “First clue takes you to your starting point, and from there, it’s a race to the finish.”
Zara stands, tugging on my arm. “Come on, partner. Let’s grab our stuff.”
I follow her to the table, positioning myself so Slade can see us—our heads bent together, Zara’s hand touching my arm as she points to the clue sheet. When she laughs at something I say, I make sure it looks more intimate than it is, leaning into her space.
The teams form around us, everyone collecting their materials. Slade and Naya stand a few feet away, and though he appears focused on their clue sheet, I catch him glancing our way.
“Ready to kick some eco-friendly ass?” Zara asks.
“Absolutely,” I reply, my eyes still on Slade. “Let’s win this thing.”