8
Julie rushed down the hall, not caring where she went as long as she got away. She’d vacillated over the last hour between believing she could push through the discomfort of being around Gunnar again to trying to convince Mason that there was a better option. Racking her brain for someone, anyone, who could take the Reeves’s place besides Gunnar had left her with a headache. She had a solid list of qualified mushers and outdoor enthusiasts, but getting them here and ready to go in the next two days would be borderline impossible. Plus, from what Mason had said in the meeting, the Rebels had been training the entire winter from their place in Chicken.
Julie stopped and leaned against the wall. Her cheeks heated. The blush had nothing to do with the anger and embarrassment of the confrontation in the hangar and everything to do with the memory of her and Gunnar’s last time spent at the old cabin in Chicken. Many of the overnight mushing trips in high school took them to that cabin. Nothing had ever happened beyond kissing. Until that last trip seven years ago when they’d run into each other while he was home on leave and had decided to go on a mushing trip for old time’s sake to catch up.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Saylor’s angry words ripped Julie back from the past.
“Shh, you don’t have to shout.” Julie pushed off the wall and continued to the front door. Maybe if she left, got some fresh air and checked on her dogs, she’d come back with a calmer mind.
“Oh, I most certainly do.”
That’s her cousin, always taking charge.
“I can handle this, Saylor. You don’t have to raise a fuss.” Julie turned around and held up her hands for Saylor to calm down. The last thing Julie needed was for Saylor to make it worse. “You didn’t have to be so rude back there, you know.”
“Oh, he hasn’t seen rude yet. I’m about to go napalm on this expedition.” Saylor cracked her knuckles and glanced toward the office that Mason had parked his stuff in.
“Saylor, no. Just stay out of it, please.” Julie grabbed her cousin’s arm and pulled her away from the offices.
“I’m not about to let that caribou snot anywhere near you, let alone depend on him for your safety.” Saylor was in rare form today.
Julie’s eyes darted past her cousin to the offices, her heart pounding in her chest so hard her throat hurt. Julie hated confrontation. Hated disappointing others and causing problems. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself, especially in such a pathetic way. She didn’t want to come across as the scorned ex-girlfriend, so she had to get Saylor under control before she made this entire situation worse.
“Please, would you calm down? I can’t think with you radiating anger and spewing hate.” Julie rubbed Saylor’s arm, willing her to let the negativity go.
Julie’s battle with cancer had changed Saylor. Sure, she’d always been brash and assertive, but when Julie got sick, Saylor’s need to challenge life kicked into overdrive. She also wasn’t one to let an offense go, even if the affront wasn’t directed at her. Gunnar not contacting Julie all those years ago was something Saylor saw as unforgivable, even though Julie explained over and over that his silence was what they’d agreed to.
Saylor said his silence was weakness, cowardice. She once told Julie she never wanted to be seen as weak, and no one would ever consider calling her that. Well, and expect to come away with all their fingers intact. Normally, Julie loved how passionate Saylor was about everything she put her mind to. Now, though, she wished her cousin would take on passivity for a moment so Julie could escape here without a scene.
“I’m going to talk to Mason—”
“Please, you’ll back down the minute he looks at you.” Saylor’s comment, while true, pinched. “If he doesn’t take Gunnar off the expedition, Ascent Inc. will pull their portion of the funding.”
“Don’t you dare.” Julie yanked on Saylor’s arm as she stepped toward the offices. “Don’t even suggest such a thing. It’s petty and would make Ascent look bad. You don’t want that.”
Saylor crossed her arms over her chest with a huff.
Julie dropped her voice. “It also makes me look like I haven’t moved past high school. That I’m not only pathetic, but weak. Don’t ruin this for me.”
“What’s going on?” Mason stepped out of his office, his gray eyes darting between the two women.
“Nothing.” Julie quickly forced the word out.
Saylor lifted her eyebrow and hissed a whisper. “Tell him or I will.”
A tightness tingled in Julie’s chest and rushed up her face, making her lightheaded. She didn’t want to say anything, didn’t want the conflict, but if she didn’t, Saylor would go all Mount Vesuvius on them and bury them all in volcanic demands.
“Saylor, I need to run and grab some medical supplies that just got in. Care to join me?” Clark motioned toward the door, his head tipping to Mason.
Julie liked Clark. His easy manner and helpfulness was so opposite of Mason’s enthusiastic rush through life. Mason came up with the adventure, and Clark helped him conquer it. At the moment, Julie considered him the bravest man alive, with his willingness to distract Saylor in her agitated state.
“Fine.” Saylor adjusted her coat she hadn’t taken off yet and stomped to the door. “But we’re going to the Cookie Jar while we’re out. I need carbs and sugar.”
“I’d love to go out to lunch with you, Saylor. I haven’t had a date in a long, long time.” Clark snatched his coat from the rack as Saylor froze while opening the door.
“This isn’t a date.” She stared him down, but his lip just lifted on one side.
“If you say so.” Was he really interested in Saylor or just diffusing the tension?