I made my way back to the campsite we’d made by the lake, to see Gabe and Dillon were finally up and had brewed some coffee.
“Morning, lovelies,” I said happily, chuckling when they both responded with a grunt. “Sleep okay?”
“I’m getting too old for this sleeping on the ground shit, I need my bed,” Gabe grumbled.
Dillon snorted. “You’ve never liked sleeping in sleeping bags, even as kids. I don’t know why you always suggest it.”
“Just feels like something a man should do, sleep on the ground while catching your food and eating it,” Gabe replied with a shrug. “Guess I’m more suited to the cabin life.”
Dillon nodded and told me, “You should come with us this summer when we go down to open Gabe’s camp. It’s a week of grilling, kayaking, enjoying the outdoors.”
“And cleaning,” Gabe added.
“Yeah, we’re there to clean up and get camp ready for the kids, but it’s still a good time.”
“Sounds like it,” I agreed.
I was interested in seeing what Camp Gabriel Lewis looked like in person. I’d heard a lot about it over the years, but it was usually just the family that went.
“So, what’s going on with you and Serena?” Gabe asked.
I chuckled and said, “I was wondering how long it would take for you to ask.”
“Yeah, what was the misunderstanding?” Dillon asked, stretching his legs out in front of him and sitting back.
I told them about what happened at the gallery, the stuff with Kylie, Serena’s reaction, and my overreaction. Then I told them about the phone call.
“She said we needed a break … so she could think things out and figure out what she wants.”
“Huh,” Gabe said, his brow furrowed, which worried me.
“What? Do you think she’s going to decide she doesn’t want to see me anymore?”
“As long as you don’t take a break to mean you’ve broken up and start messing around with other women, you should be good.”
I looked at him, confused. Why would he think I’d mess around with other women?
Gabe rolled his eyes and said, “You’ve been watching too much Friends.”
Dillon shrugged and said, “It’s what Laurel likes to watch before we go to bed.”
“What are you guys talking about?”
“In Friends, Rachel tells Ross they need a break, and that same night he goes out and sleeps with someone else. When Rachel goes to see him the next day to say she was wrong, she finds out he slept with someone else and says he cheated. He insists it doesn’t count because they were on a break, but their relationship doesn’t recover.”
Gabe smirked at Dillon when I said, “Well, I’ve never seen that show, but this Ross couldn’t have loved Rachel if he was able to sleep with someone else the same night they broke up.” I looked between the cousins and assured them, “I would never do that. I’m in love with Serena, and I don’t want anyone else. I’m hoping this time apart will convince her that we belong together and can get past what happened at the gallery.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Gabe said.
Dillon nodded and added, “Good, Rena needs a man like you. Someone who sees her for the treasure she is. And, I agree with you about Ross, he always struck me as the weakest Friend, especially after he cheated on a woman like Rachel. What an idiot.”
“You know it’s a show, right? Fiction?” Gabe asked with a chuckle.
“Shut it,” Dillon replied, then said, “I’ve seen some of the stuff you do for Zoey. Going to Comic Con, holding her purse while she’s on panel, so don’t try and act like I’m the one who’s whipped, when you’re just as bad, if not worse.”
“Shit, I’m whipped and happier for it. Zoey is without a doubt the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m not about to do anything to mess that up.”
“Heard,” Dillon said, raising his coffee mug in agreement.
“All right, are we going to do some fishing today, or sit around and gossip all day?” I asked, busting their balls with a grin.
“Fish for breakfast is one of my favorite things,” Gabe said as he rose.
“Bullshit,” Dillon said with a chuckle. “Eggs benedict, or some such fancy shit, is your idea of a good breakfast.”
“Says the man who wears suits every day and likes to eat at restaurants that cost two hundred dollars a plate,” Gabe countered.
I shook my head, thinking how crazy it would be to have the amount of money either of those guys had. Nah, I was good with catching my own meals and living the blue collar life.
I grabbed my gear and headed to the dock. Once my chair was set up, I settled back with my fishing pole in one hand and my coffee in the other, then looked out over the lake. With the early-morning sun reflecting off of it, the sight was amazing, and I wondered how Serena would react if I asked her to come fishing with me sometime.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jed
I was doing my best to give Serena the space she’d requested. I figured, since she’s the one who asked for it, she’d be the one to come to me when she was ready, except, she hadn’t contacted me yet.
I started a new construction job, and although it was a crew I’d worked with before, I was already missing my freedom a little bit.
It was a good build. We were working on the outskirts of town building the new community center, so although it wasn’t as exciting as working on my own stuff, it was a project that I knew would do good for the town as a whole and bring a lot of families joy.
Plus, the pay was really good, and I’d be able to sock some more cash away in my own business fund.
I worked long hours and came home tired, and although I caught myself looking at Serena’s place every few hours, for the most part the week was going by really fast and I wasn’t able to fixate on the fact that she hadn’t called, texted, or come by.
Now, it was time for the viewing party of our Fix it Up episode, and I was hopeful, and if I was honest, a bit nervous about seeing her there. I was nervous she wouldn’t come, and I was terrified that she would, and she’d tell me she’d decided I wasn’t worth the effort.
Just the thought made my heart hurt and I knew it would take me a long time to get over her if that happened, even though, in reality, we hadn’t been together that long.
I took care in the way I dressed, wanting to look my best when I saw her. I shaved the day’s stubble off and styled my hair, then worried that I looked like I put in too much effort. Feeling unsure of myself was unusual and I found it was a feeling that I did not like at all.
I walked into the banquet room that they’d reserved at the hotel, surprised to see the large-screen television they’d brought in, along with big comfortable chairs and couches, and tables overflowing with food.
They’d managed to make it look like someone’s living room, or a man cave, and I wondered how much money they’d dropped to make it happen.
“Jed, how’s it going, man? Good to see you again.”
I crossed the room to shake hands with Jose.
“Good, brother, how about you?”
“Can’t complain,” he replied. “We’ve been working on a house in Florida, with a little time to chill at the beach, so all in all, it’s been good.”
“Sounds like it. Have you seen this already?” I asked, nodding toward the TV.
“Nope, we wait to watch it with everyone else. Only the producers see it early.”
“Everyone, we’re about to get started. Feel free to grab a drink, fill up you plates, and get comfortable.”
“Get some chow, then come join us,” Jose said, and I agreed.
I looked around and saw Kylie, as well as Sadie, but no Serena. With a sigh, I went to the table to grab a beer and make a plate of nachos, then avoided Kylie like the plague as I took the long way around the room to get to where Jose was sitting.
As the lights turned down and the TV came on, I saw Serena slip in and take the seat next to Sad
ie.
I wanted to get up and go to her, but didn’t want to cause a scene, so I decided to wait until the viewing was over, then make my move. I wasn’t going to let her leave without talking to me.
I’d given her the time she’d requested, and now I needed her to listen.
The theme music for Fix it Up began and the room got silent as we all watched our episode. I cringed the first time I saw myself on camera, it was an awkward moment, but when Serena came on screen, she lit it up.
She looked beautiful as always, but even more so. She had a camera presence that made you stop and look.
I turned toward her to see her reaction. She was hiding behind her hands with a smile, while Sadie leaned in and whispered something to her. Serena shook her head, but when she lowered her hands, I could see she was pleased by whatever had been said.
It was cool to see how they cut it all together, and the final product was a good show packed with tips. Plus, it was fun to see the before and after play out on the screen.
When the credits began to roll and I saw the name for my business as well as the gallery, I grinned at Serena and was happy to see her smiling back at me. That was it, the big payoff for spending a week on the show, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next for both of us.
Hopefully, I’d have a front row seat.
I was about to stand and go to her, when Sadie stood up and went to the front of the room. I wasn’t sure if there was a sequence of events, so I figured it was best to stay seated and see what was happening next.
“Hey, guys,” Sadie began, and the way people started murmuring to each other had me thinking maybe this wasn’t a planned speech. “I had such a great time working on this project with all of you, but when one of my new friends told me some things, letting me know that it wasn’t as fun for some as it was for others, I got with our producer, Dale, and did a little research. Please bear with me while I show you a couple clips from the cutting room floor, that I think we all really need to see.”
A few seconds later, the screen flickered back on, but it was dark.
There was no picture, but the audio came through.
“Oh. My. God. If it isn’t little miss ‘too good for anyone else’ Serena, the teeny-tiny bean.”
It was definitely Kylie’s voice, and I saw Serena’s face pale as the heads in the room turned toward her.
I turned to find Kylie and saw her stand up like she was going to leave, then Dale stepped up, put his hand on her arm, and stopped her.
Her face reddened as the video came on the screen. This time, it was me she was talking to.
“Morning, hot stuff.”
And on it went … Kylie speaking rudely to Serena and flirting with me. Her making faces behind Serena’s back, and coming up behind me and licking her lips. All together like that, in succession, it looked really bad, and I felt Serena’s gaze on me when Kylie came up to her and mentioned the bet. I watched as Serena ignored her, never engaging or agreeing to anything, and I felt terrible.
It was obvious that Kylie had made Serena’s time on set miserable, and I hated to think how she’d treated her when they were younger.
The video ended and the lights came up.
“After talking to Serena, watching the tapes, and listening to audio, I knew that everyone affiliated with Fix it Up needed to see what was happening behind the scenes. No member of our team should ever be harassed, verbally or sexually. We are a family, and everyone deserves to feel safe when they come to work.”
I turned around to see Dale escorting Kylie out of the banquet room.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Serena
I was stunned.
Obviously, I knew the way Kylie treated me, and I had spoken to Sadie about it after the gallery opening. But, I had no idea that Kylie had acted that way toward Jed. Even Sadie’s comment about Kylie flirting with him during the taping hadn’t prepared me for the way she’d spoken to him. Leered at him.
I could understand better why he’d gotten so angry when he thought I was in cahoots with her, even though I still wished he’d believed me when I told him I hadn’t been.
Watching everything play out on screen that way had been eye-opening, and from the looks on everyone’s faces after the video ended, I knew Kylie wouldn’t be welcomed back to Fix it Up any time soon.
Sadie came back to the table and looked at me, her face showing her concern.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you we were going to show that.”
“No, yeah, I mean … Yes, I’m okay. I just can’t believe she did all that.”
“Neither could I. I swear, I was hearing it and watching it, and wondered who else she’s tortured over the years. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that, both you and Jed.”
“Thanks, and thanks for listening and investigating. I really appreciate it.”
I stood and we gave each other a hug, then I looked back to where Jed had been sitting, eager to finally talk to him.
I hadn’t reached out when I’d returned from the spa, needing more time to figure things out in my head. Instead, I’d thrown myself into work at the gallery and had opened up my studio and had finally started painting again.
I was disappointed to see Jed’s seat was empty, thinking he’d walked out again, but when I turned to let my gaze sweep the room, he was there behind me.
My heartrate sped up at the sight of him, right there in front of me, his expression a mixture of hope and nerves. Which, I guess was better than anger or contempt, but in that moment I realized, I shouldn’t have made him wait so long.
“Jed,” I began, taking a step toward him. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea,” I said, gesturing toward the TV. “I told Sadie about what had happened with Kylie at the gallery and during the taping, but I didn’t know she was going to show that stuff with you.”
“That’s okay,” he stated, tilting his head slightly as he looked me over. “It happened, and it was annoying at the time, but, I’m glad Kylie got what was coming to her. She never should have talked to you that way.”
His tone was quiet, so quiet that I stepped even closer as I strained to hear him.
I could feel the heat from his body and smell his scent, a mixture of wood and citrus, and I wanted so badly to step closer and wrap myself in his arms.
“How have you been?” I asked, unsure of where to start.
“Busy with work,” Jed said, then he looked around and asked, “Can we get out of here? Talk somewhere more private?”
I nodded, and when he turned and started walking toward the door, I followed.
My heart was beating rapidly, and I felt my body heat with nerves as I tried to formulate the words I wanted to express.
We walked out of the banquet room, then down the hall toward the back, where there was a small sitting area, which was totally secluded.
Jed gestured for me to sit, so I did, my eyes on him as he lowered himself to the couch next to me.
“Did you have enough time?” he began, jumping right into things. “To think about what you want for us?”
I took a deep breath, and held my hand clasped in my lap to keep from reaching for him.
“I did. I’m sorry I didn’t call you or anything after I came back, but I’ve spent some time in my studio and at work, needing a bit longer to work things out in my head.”
“And?” he asked, persistently. “What have you come up with?”
I gave myself a quick mental pep talk … You can do this, Serena. Be honest, and don’t let him get away.
“First, I want to tell you that Kylie has been the Evil Queen in my life since I met her, and when I ran into her on set that first day, I was completely taken aback. I should have told you then who she was, and how we were with each other, but when I was with you, I only wanted to be with you. We were getting to know each other, and I knew Kylie would only be in town for a short while, so I hoped she’d disappear and I’d never have to deal with her again. I didn�
��t want her negativity interrupting what we had going.”
Jed reached out tentatively, like he wanted to take my hand, then pulled back. So, I met him halfway and took his hand in mine.
“I was upset with the way you reacted to her, and for the fact that you didn’t believe me when I said I hadn’t made that bet with her … and, I have to tell you, that does still hurt. But, I was just as guilty of letting her influence my feelings and behavior as you were, so, essentially, I was mad at you for doing the exact thing I did, which was play right into Kylie’s hand.”
He caressed my hand, and I had to take a moment to catch my breath and the feelings his touch evoked.
“I’m sorry that I froze and shut myself off, and I apologize for taking the breath and cutting you out.”
“Rena, it’s okay, really. I’m not mad at you for needing time, or for any of it. I’m sorry that I blew off the handle and the way I handled our first obstacle. I’ll work on my temper and always give you the benefit of the doubt. And, I won’t walk away when I’m frustrated or pissed off, I’ll try to work better on my communication.”
“Me too,” I said eagerly, his response filling me with hope. “I’ll work on communication and try not to freeze up whenever something makes me mad, or doesn’t go my way.”
“So, we’re good? You don’t want to end this?” Jed asked, his gaze intent on my face as he watched and waited for my answer.
“No, I don’t want to end it. I’m falling in love with you, Jed, and I want to see where this will lead.”
A large, stunning grin broke out on Jed’s face and he pulled me in for the hug I’d been needing.
“I love you,” he said, his arms squeezing me tightly as I started to cry happy tears.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jed
Too Enchanting Page 13
