Chapter 2 #2
Now he felt even worse because it was his fault she was in this situation.
If he had stood up to his parents all those years ago, he would have married her and never let her suffer a day in her life.
No, if they had been allowed to have the relationship they wanted, Connor would have treated Lexi like a damn princess and given her everything she could ever want.
Her and their kids. But no, his parents had not only screwed up his life, but hers too.
“Con?” Axel asked. “You okay? Your expression turned a little fierce.”
“What? Oh, uh…yeah. Sorry. My mind just…this is a lot to take in.”
They continued walking up the path to the lodge.
“Lexi knows you’re going to be around, but it would be cool if you didn’t…you know…go out of your way to seek her out,” Walker told him.
Muttering a curse, he shook his head. “I really wish it weren’t happening like this.”
“Like I said, you’ve been a bit on edge lately and it made all of us a bit leery to spring this on you.
The good news is that you are swamped this week with interviews, so there is almost no chance of you doing more than maybe catching a glimpse of Lexi,” Walker went on. “She may eat with us, but…maybe not.”
Yeah, he couldn’t imagine her wanting to come up to the lodge for one of their family-style dinners when he was the one cooking for everyone.
“This so isn’t a situation I ever thought I’d be in,” he said quietly as they made their way up the back stairs of the lodge.
“Like…I’ve thought about running into Lexi like a million times over the years, but it was never in a work situation and certainly not one where she specifically requested not to see me. ”
Axel chuckled but immediately stopped when Connor turned and glared at him. “I can’t help it, dude. It’s kind of funny. Even after all these years, she’s determined not to talk to you. Remember the summer after the two of you broke up? That was just awkward.”
“Yeah, well…I knew we could never just be friends. There was too much emotional baggage. Just seeing her that summer hurt,” he admitted. “And honestly, I think it’s going to be the same when she gets here. Just knowing she’s struggling fills me with guilt.”
“Connor, come on,” Walker said as they walked through the doorway and through to the kitchen. “It’s ancient history. We were kids back then. You’re not responsible for what happened in her life since.”
“Aren’t I? If I stood up for us and we kept dating, we all know I wanted to marry her.
And if we got married, she certainly wouldn’t be having to live in a friend’s tiny cabin and working a job with the last person she wants to see.
” Shaking his head, he walked right over to the massive walk-in refrigerator and began pulling out ingredients for Eggs Benedict with crab meat.
When he stepped out and put everything down on the stainless-steel workstation, both Axel and Walker looked at him like he were crazy.
“What? You said you wanted the Eggs Benedict, so that’s what I’m making. Go and grab Slater, Harlow, and Maisie if they’re around. We might as well come up with a strategy so I don’t traumatize Lexi more than she already is.”
“Wow, that’s…thanks, Connor,” Walker said solemnly. “And not just for the breakfast, but for being so understanding.”
“Like I said, I feel responsible for the position she’s in. The least I can do is stay out of her way and make things a little easier for her. And I promise to do whatever you all think is best.”
His friends each pulled out their phones and started texting everyone while Connor got started on breakfast. He had a full schedule this week, but now he was going to have to figure out a way to keep himself from breaking the promise he just made.
“Welcome to the Lakeview Harbor Resort!” Kelsey announced as they drove through the resort gates. “Wait until you see all the work that’s been done. It’s so much better than it ever was, and yet it feels exactly the same. It’s incredible.”
Lexi let out a soft sigh as she nodded because she wasn’t sure what to say.
It was still a bit surreal that she was actually here and preparing to move onto the resort property.
It didn’t matter what excuse or argument she gave for why this wouldn’t work, Kelsey, Jayce, and Walker had found a solution.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, this was an amazing opportunity for her and Jonah. It was a chance for a fresh start.
And if it weren’t for the fact that Connor Winslowe was part of the team, it would almost be perfect.
She’d spent the last two weeks mentally preparing herself to see him, but she knew no matter how she thought she would react, there wasn’t a guarantee that that was how it would happen.
As long as I don’t act like I still have a schoolgirl crush on him, everything should be fine.
But in all her planning, she did a little online sleuthing and found recent pictures of him and…well…it was going to take every ounce of strength not to have an adult woman crush on him. Connor had always been handsome, but the grown-up version of him was damn near drool worthy.
It wasn’t fair. Why couldn’t he have aged poorly? Why wasn’t he bald? Or put on weight? Why did he still have to look so good?
Kelsey parked the SUV and turned to smile at her. Jayce had followed in the moving van—not that they were bringing much—while she, Kelsey, and Jonah drove in her SUV.
“Are you ready for this?”
“No,” she replied with a nervous laugh. But when she looked around, she knew they couldn’t stay in the car forever.
Reaching over, Kelsey gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “This is going to be a good thing. I promise.”
“If you say so.”
“Come on. Let’s get out and stretch. I know I’m ready to,” Kelsey stated as she climbed from the vehicle.
Lexi looked in the backseat and saw that Jonah was sound asleep.
She hated to wake him, but if she couldn’t hide out in the car, neither could he.
But as she opened the passenger door and breathed in the fresh air, it felt like…
like some of the tension she’d been carrying around for years was finally starting to ebb.
Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad.
You know, except for the whole Connor thing.
Slowly, she made her way around the car and stared at the row of cabins in front of her. “Are these the ones you’re all using?” she asked.
“Sort of. Walker, Axel, Connor, Milo, and Slater each have a cabin here, and there are three that are reserved for Walker’s family. That covers this cluster right here. When you follow that path around the bend, that’s where ours is.”
“Oh.”
“I originally thought about asking for the cabin my family always rented when I was growing up, but Jayce and I talked about it and we wanted one to make new memories in. Plus, this is kind of the owners’ section. No guests stay in these. At least, that’s what I was told.”
“I really hate that you’re not going to get your cabin for your honeymoon. Maybe I’ll find a cheap apartment in town and…”
“Would you stop?” Kelsey said with a small laugh. “We’re fine with it. Maisie—she’s the decorator and Axel’s girlfriend—made a honeymoon suite and we’re going to use that. So really, we’re not missing out on anything. And we know you’re not going to live in that cabin forever.”
“At least you hope I’m not…”
“Lexi, come on. You know you’re going to be back on your feet in a few months. This job is going to be good for you, and before you know it, you’ll feel like your old self. This is all temporary.”
“Maybe.”
They both turned as Jayce pulled in behind them, and within a matter of minutes, a group of people were heading toward them.
Here we go…
It had been years since she’d seen these people—these faces—and yet it suddenly felt like yesterday.
Walker, Slater, and Axel all welcomed and embraced her.
It was overwhelming and familiar and wonderful, and tears stung her eyes because there was a time when this group was her entire life.
It didn’t matter that they only spent their summers together; they were her best friends.
“Lexi, this is my fiancée, Harlow,” Walker said. “She’s the best real estate agent in the area, so whenever you’re ready to explore the town or look for a place of your own, she’s got you covered.”
Harlow stepped forward and hugged her. “Welcome to the family.” And when she pulled back, smiling, she added, “But there is absolutely no rush. You take your time and get settled. The town’s not going anywhere, and there are a lot of great little places to rent when the time’s right.”
“Thank you.”
Axel had his arm around a dark-haired woman who was smiling at her too. “Hi! I’m Maisie Quinn. I did all the decorating around the resort.”
“And she’s also my girlfriend,” Axel interjected.
Laughing softly, Maisie nodded. “Yes, I am Axel’s girlfriend, and we live here on the property too. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”
“Thank you,” she replied shyly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jayce stop and look in the window of her SUV before walking over and joining them. “Wow, Jonah’s out cold, huh?”
Nodding, Lexi explained. “When he was born, we were living in a tiny apartment, and I knew he would never sleep unless he got used to there being noise. So we just lived like normal and he turned into a great sleeper. But the car?” She smiled.
“That is the secret sauce to getting him to nap. But I should go and get him. He was very excited to see the playground.”
Kelsey nodded. “We were telling him all about it on the drive.”
“I’ll be right back,” Lexi said before making her way around their group and heading toward her car.
“Why don’t we all start unloading the truck?” Jayce asked, and it seemed like everyone agreed.