Chapter 5
My alarm startles me awake. For once I’ve had a dreamless sleep.
It wasn’t much, but it’s something. Maybe being surrounded by Jareth’s presence and scent earlier helped more than I thought.
Sitting up, I stretch my arms over my head to work out any kinks before grabbing my boots and putting them on.
I take my phone from the table and make sure I have the cabin key before I head out, locking up behind me.
Once I’m outside, I tilt my head to the sky, enjoying the feel of the sun on my face for a minute before heading down the nearby trail toward the lodge.
Thank god I looked at those pamphlets earlier and found one with a trail map, otherwise I’d have no idea where I’m going.
Turning to my left, I walk down the row of cabins toward the entrance of the trail that’ll get me to the main lodge the fastest. It only takes ten minutes to get there, but it feels like a year with the way my body aches.
I’d rather be in bed, even though I hardly sleep, than forcing myself to move, but I’m a man of my word, and I promised Jareth.
Though I feel half dead and know how torturous the coming days are going to be, I’m still going to put myself through it because Jareth’s worth it even if he isn’t going to be mine.
Knowing I’m probably not going to be able to make it through spearfishing without numbing the pain, I take a detour to the designated smoking area at the side of the lodge doors.
I still have a few minutes before I’m supposed to meet Jareth inside, so he shouldn’t come looking for me right away if he’s already here.
Opening the metal case that contains the cigarettes I got from Tiberius, I grab one with a green filter tip.
They have white willow bark and ginger in them with a pain relief spell, but they smell and taste like licorice. It’s a good thing I like licorice.
I’m taking a risk by smoking one, but I’d rather deal with slightly dulled senses than have it be extremely obvious I’m in pain and have Jareth question me about it.
I definitely don’t need him questioning things further than he already is after this morning’s fiasco.
The effects are almost immediate. The pain isn’t completely gone, but it’s significantly lessened to the point I hardly feel it, so I’m able to move more freely without every motion causing agony.
When I finish, I toss the butt into the provided ashtray, then enter the lodge.
Spotting the sign pointing toward the restaurant, I head that way.
Jareth is already seated at a table, so I wave off the hostess and stalk toward him.
Seeing me approach brings a radiant smile to his face that stabs me in the heart because I won’t get to see that after his wedding.
Stop thinking about it, dumbass. You’re just torturing yourself.
I must be a glutton for punishment or a masochist at this point because I’m still doing this despite knowing nothing is going to work out in my favor.
But it’s not like I can help myself. I’ll do anything to spend a little more time with him, even at my own expense.
Pasting a smile on my face, I take the seat across from Jareth and ask, “Have you ordered yet?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. I waited for you.”
Picking up the menu, I flip it open and try to decide what I should get that won’t be too heavy on an empty stomach.
I’d skip eating altogether, but I know that’ll just raise more questions, and Jareth would definitely refuse to let it go until I gave him some answers.
I’m not confident I could spin a story about meeting my mate and not being able to be with them without breaking down and telling him the whole truth.
A waitress appears at our sides, and we give her our drink orders: chamomile-ginger tea for me—to hopefully circumvent any nausea—and a sweet tea for him.
Both of us need more time with the menu, which surprises me because I thought Jareth would’ve at least glanced at the menu while he waited for me.
Apparently not. In the end, I settle on a salad topped with steak bites.
When our waitress returns, Jareth orders the shrimp and lobster tortellini, and I order my salad. As soon as the waitress leaves, Jareth asks, “A salad? Really, Rex? Since when do you order rabbit food, as you love to call it?” Damn it. I should’ve known he’d have something to say about this too.
With a forced chuckle, I tell him, “I, hypothetically, might’ve snuck a snack or three from the gift basket in the cabin, so I’m not all that hungry right now.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue, but it’s better than the alternative.
Jareth rolls his eyes and says with a laugh, “Of course you did. You’re a bottomless pit.”
This time, my laugh is real. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
Before Jareth can question me about any other truths, the waitress returns with our meals and asks, “Can I get you guys anything else?”
Jareth says, “No, thanks, I think we’re good.”
Nodding in agreement, I take my cup of ranch and drench my salad in it. Jareth eyes my salad and says, “You want some lettuce with that ranch, Rex?”
“Fuck off, it tastes better this way.”
“Yeah, because there’s nothing there to taste but ranch. Your steak bites are crying.”
“Yeah, crying in satisfaction. They’re masochists, you know. They enjoy a little drowning. It’s foreplay to them.” Fucking hell, Drexel, you didn’t need to bring sex into this conversation, like you aren’t already hard up enough. Way to make things worse, dumbass.
Jareth chokes on a bite of tortellini and says while coughing, “I didn’t know drowning was a kink for steak. Or that steak was sentient enough to have kinks.”
“You’re the one who said it was crying. So this turn of events is technically all your fault.” Yeah, let’s blame it all on him and not my own dirty mind.
Jareth shrugs his shoulder and says, “If you really wanna get technical, this all started when you ordered a salad instead of a twenty-four-ounce T-bone steak like the carnivore you are, so in actuality it’s all your fault.”
Taking a sip of my tea, I tell him primly, like I’m some aristocrat debutante and not a hardened detective, “We’re just going to have to agree to disagree on this one,” which has him barking out a laugh so loud everyone in the restaurant turns to look at us.
Seeing the attention on him makes his cheeks turn an adorable shade of red, and he shimmies down in his seat like that’ll somehow hide him.
Fuck, he’s so damn cute. I’d love to know if that blush goes farther down.
As soon as the thought forms, I shut it off.
That road leads to nowhere, and I once again have to remind myself of that fact.
He’s straight and marrying someone else. Get a grip, damn it.
After we finish eating lunch, Jareth grins like some comic book villain and rubs his hands together. “Ready to go spearfishing?”
Gods save me. “I don’t know. With that look on your face, I’m thinking I might be safer in my cabin with a serial killer than spearfishing with you.”
Jareth loops his arm through mine and drags me toward the exit while chiding, “Don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud, it’ll be fun.” Sure, so’s a lobotomy. I have a feeling I’m really going to regret this, but I follow him anyway. I’d follow him anywhere.