I returned to Kenny with a shrug. “He was here, but he probably stepped out for something real quick. He’ll be back soon, though. If he thought he’d be longer than a couple of minutes, he would’ve told me where he was going, and he didn’t, so I’m not worried about leaving the desk until he comes back.”
“Didn’t you say he was always here? That this was basically where he did all his work and you took care of everything else?” Her coy grin widened when I nodded. “Then how come I’ve never seen him?”
“I don’t know, Kenny…how many times have you come to the office?”
“A few. He wasn’t here when I first arrived and checked in, unless your dad is slightly older than you. And I’ve come with you a couple of times, neither of which he was here.” She tapped her chin with one finger and narrowed her stare. “Be honest with me, Drew, has anyone seen him?”
A laugh ripped through my chest and blew past my lips before I even had a chance to prepare for it. I only hoped she hadn’t noticed—or cared—about the spittle that flew out before I could cover my mouth.
“Yes, Kenny. I haven’t made him up.”
“I didn’t think that. I mean, he obviously had to exist at some point, right? But it’s not out of the realm of possibility that something happened to him, but your mind refuses to accept it, so you’ve convinced yourself that he’s still here when, really, you’re the one doing all the work.”
“You have quite an imagination.”
She raised her attention to the ceiling and pursed her lips, batting her lashes as if that had been a compliment. Technically, it wasn’t an insult, so I guess she could’ve taken it however she wanted. “I watch a lot of documentaries, and I love to read crime novels—both fiction and nonfiction.”
I laughed to myself as I grabbed her check-out packet from the printer. “Well, I can assure you that my dad is very much alive. Although, that would actually make for a really good book or movie, especially with this place being so isolated in the middle of the woods.”
It was a good thing this conversation hadn’t come up earlier. It could’ve very well changed the outcome of our time together. It wasn’t like there was any truth to the idea, but the idea alone was enough to create the level of fear that would cause most people to run in the opposite direction.
I took the key from the countertop where she’d set it down and replaced it with a piece of paper and a pen. “This is just to say that you have turned in the key, and that if any damage is found upon cleaning your cabin, you will be notified prior to your card being charged.”
Once Kenny signed on the line at the bottom, I took the pen and scribbled my signature below hers. This was the last step before taking her to her car. I wanted to keep her longer, but like I’d learned this entire week, I couldn’t do that. Not to mention, she had a long drive ahead of her, and if she got as little sleep as she said, then she would need all the time and focus she could get. Staying here to make me feel better wouldn’t help her in any way.
All I had left to do was make her a copy of the exit agreement and add it to the packet that was given to every guest when they left. It was arguably the biggest waste of money, but my dad refused to do away with it. He assumed if they left with brochures about the place they had just stayed at and all the things to do in the area—and for some reason, local coupons—it would increase our chances of return customers.
He refused to spend more money on advertising, yet somehow, he thought a bon voyage package made sense. This would be one of the things I’d bring up when I sat him down to discuss Kenny’s suggestion of rebranding the place.
“I guess this is it…” She unhurriedly walked backward toward the door, never taking her eyes off me.
“Yeah, I guess it is.” I moved around the desk, though not as slowly as I wanted.
I felt like an idiot taking so long to get her suitcase and duffel bag loaded onto the golf cart, but I knew we were only minutes from her driving away. There was also the conversation I’d wanted to have with her, which would give us a bit more time, but not much. And the closer we came to discussing what we both wanted from this, the more nervous I got. It made no sense, though, because if she told me it had all been in my head, I never had to see her again. So I didn’t understand where my nerves came from.
I pulled up behind the car she pointed to and turned to face her, keeping her from getting out of the cart. “So, I have a proposal to make.”
She blinked dramatically, mouth hanging open as if unhinged. “Don’t you think we should at least meet each other’s parents first? I mean, we haven’t even said the L word. Doesn’t this seem a little fast?”
As soon as her smile curled her lips, I realized that it was only a joke. And within a couple of seconds, our laughter echoed around us. It was honestly the happiest sound I’d ever heard. Not simply the most beautiful or the most comforting…it was the epitome of true happiness.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Kenny. You have to give me a chance to at least chase you down the road after you leave and beg you to stay, all while coincidentally having a flawless diamond ring in my pocket that fits your finger perfectly. All before the credits start to roll, of course.” I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “But really, I was thinking all night and this morning about the things you’ve suggested we do to the resort. So how do you feel about coming back to help me with the marketing?”
“I don’t know shit about marketing, Drew. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
At least it wasn’t a no. “Can’t we figure it out together?”
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes darkening with whatever war she battled in her head. Finally, she shook her head and said, “As fun as that sounds, I don’t have a clue as to when I’d be able to get back here. I have school starting next month, and my mom needs me at home. Maybe we can brainstorm over the phone?”
I’d told myself going into this morning that I would take what I could get. And if phone calls were all she could offer, then I would happily accept them. “Yeah, we could do that. But just so we’re clear…coming back is still on the table, you’re just not sure when. Right?”
Her smile calmed my soul in ways I never thought possible. “Never say never, Drew.”
Short of asking about her exact feelings for me, I assumed that was the closest I’d get to understanding what lay ahead of us after this. And while I could’ve been mistaken, I didn’t think I was. Based on her actions—and reactions—and the things she’d said since last night, I assumed that I, alone, had hoped for more. That was okay, though. I knew going into today that this was how it might end.
I got out and moved around to the back of the cart to grab her luggage. Without either of us uttering a word, I pulled her bags from the cart and helped her put them in the trunk of her car. A suffocating cloud of awkwardness swarmed us. For all the odd times we’d shared, not once had it felt this uncomfortable. Part of me just wanted to say bye to escape it, but the larger part wanted to send her off on a good note.
“Well, I wrote my number on the back of your check-out agreement, and the number for the resort is printed on the front. So if you want to get ahold of me, you have every way imaginable.”