I nod in agreement. “I promise.”
Austin sighs loudly, “Fuck, I need a drink.”
I point at the bar. “Looks like you just left that and a woman in there. I’m going up to the room. I’m leaving early in the morning. With or without you, fucker.”
He smiles, already forgetting our disagreement, but that’s the way Austin is. “I’ll be back before dawn.”
I turn on my heel and head to the elevators, punching in the button.
The whole ride to the second floor, I’m thinking about what Austin said. I no sooner get to the room and sit on the bed before I’m pulling my phone out and texting Isabella.
Hey. Did you go to the Whistler?
I don’t know why, but it hits me that I didn’t ask her who she was meeting. Hell, I didn’t even ask her if she’s seeing anyone. She could have had a date, for all I know.
I wait for the response, and when I see the tiny dots letting me know she’s typing something, I hold my breath. No, I stayed in. You gave me a lot to think about.
I didn’t mean to ruin your night, I tell her, but as soon as I hit send, I know I’m lying. I don’t like the idea of her dating, but I blame it on the fact that she may be my wife soon. Of course we won’t be able to pull it off if she’s seeing someone.
You didn’t ruin it.
A small smile forms on my lips. I won’t be there in the morning. I’m in Jasper with Austin. I told Granny so she won’t miss me.
The bubbles appear but then disappear. I wait, but when nothing comes through I start typing again. I’ll see you tomorrow.
She’s slow to text back, but when she finally does, it’s short and to the point. Yeah. Have a good night.
I don’t know why, but ten minutes later, I’m still staring at the phone. I want more from her, and it’s probably more than I have a right to ask for. I want her answer to my proposal, and I want it to be yes. Everything inside me says to text her and pressure her for that yes, but I know that’s not the right thing to do. I can blame this urgency I’m feeling on borrowed time, but I know it’s more than that.
Finally, I text her back. You too, Bella. Have a good night.
Isabella
It’s late afternoon, and I’m still thinking about Lucas and his proposal. His text last night surprised me when he told me that he wouldn’t be here this morning. I know he didn’t have to check in with me, and it’s really none of my business, but I appreciated knowing so I didn’t have to try and cover for him this morning with Lottie.
But even with all that, I can’t help but wonder what he is doing in Jasper and who he is spending his time with. I almost typed the question out but thankfully caught myself in time. I have a feeling he wouldn’t appreciate my nosiness, and right now, I’m his granny’s nurse. I have no right to ask who he spends his time with. But the question remains: If I do marry him, would I have the right then?
I’ve thought of nothing else since last night, and I know I need to talk to him and ask him my questions. It’s late afternoon when I hear him bounding up the steps. I keep my eyes averted as I pull out the medication that G needs to take. I concentrate, wanting to make sure I don’t make a mistake. With the heart medication she’s on, I double- and triple-check everything.
When I have it together, I turn just as Lucas is bending over to give Lottie a hug. “How you feeling, Granny?”
She smiles at him, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She’s deteriorating more and more every day. I see it, and I watch Lucas to see if he’s noticing or not. By the downturn of his lips, he does. “We may have to skip the dancing for a while. What do you think?”
She looks between me and Lucas. “Maybe, but I could always watch you and Isabella dance.”
He laughs, and I take my cue to walk over and hand her the cup of water with her medication. “Time for your meds, G.”
She takes them without argument, and after she drinks half the glass of water, I set it on the table next to her.
I’m standing next to Lucas when I feel his hand snake around my waist. I suck in a breath at the unexpected contact, but Lucas doesn’t act as if he notices. If anything, he pulls me in closer, and I can feel the heat of his body at my back. He’s so close I can feel his breath on my cheek when he asks his granny, “Can I kidnap Bella? I want to take her for dinner.”