“Not an issue.”
Ginger turns to me, the amusement in her voice gone. “You’re going to leave him for the summer?”
In truth, I hadn’t thought about it. Of course I don’t want to leave my boyfriend. Or his parents…
I glance at my mother. “Maybe he can visit?”
Mom swipes the swimsuit out of Ginger’s hands and hangs it back on the rack. To the pile, she adds a one-piece my grandma would have been proud of. “He can stay at the lodge.”
***
“You smell good,” Hudson says between kisses.
Did I leave my curling iron on?
“What is it?” His lips stray to my neck. “Is it new?”
I think I did. Is that the one with an automatic shut-off? Maybe they all have them now—except that expensive one I bought last year.
“I don’t know,” I say. “Liv sprayed me with something while we were shopping.”
His kisses continue. “I like it. Let’s go back, and I’ll buy it for you.”
“Okay.” I pull away from him.
A wry expression crosses his face, and he tugs me back. “I didn’t mean right now.”
He strays to my ear and whispers, “Come on, babe. You look hot and you smell so good. You’re killing me.”
I definitely used that expensive curling iron. Dad’s gonna be ticked if I burn the house down.
“You know what?” I sit up. “I need to call Liv.”
Hudson gives me an exasperated look and runs his hand through his blond hair. Ignoring him, I pull my phone off the end table.
“You need to call her right now?”
“Yes.”
He groans and sits back on the couch. It’s a nice couch. I helped him pick it out for his new house, but apparently he and I had different expectations for it. I thought we’d sit on it. He thought we’d…do other things.
“Why are you calling me from your date?” Liv asks instead of greeting me.
“Are you home?”
“Unfortunately.”
So I don’t have to look at Hudson, I turn away, but I can still feel his eyes boring into the back of my head.
“Will you check to see if I left my curling iron on?”
“Doesn’t it have an automatic shut-off?”
“Will you just check?” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Let me guess—Hudson’s pressuring you again?”
“Liv!” I hiss and lower my voice.
She snorts. “Your curling iron is off. Schnitzel has plenty of food and water. You made your bed, and you didn’t accidentally leave any lights on.”
Well, that’s good. Such a relief.
“Thanks.”
“Tell him to back off.”
“Goodbye, Liv.” I end the call before she can grace me with any more words of wisdom.
I turn back just to find Hudson still staring at me, his brown eyes unflinching.
His arms are crossed, making his gym-earned muscles bulge nicely through his polo shirt. “What’s wrong, Kinsley?”
“I thought I left my—”
“No. What’s really wrong?” He motions to my empty spot on the couch.
“Nothing.” I sit next to him just to prove it. “I’m fine.”
He reaches for me, and I shift away. He huffs, frustrated, and waves to the room. “Babe—this is what we’ve been waiting for.” He moves closer as he says it—as if he’s trying to remind me why I don’t want to sit alone on my side of the couch. “Privacy.”
Is it stuffy in here? We should turn down the thermostat. Maybe the filters need to be replaced? I don’t think Hudson remembered to check them when he moved in.
“Good grief, Kinsley,” Hudson growls in my ear, his voice more aggravated than sultry. “Would you stop moving away?”
Somehow I’ve shifted all the way to the other arm of the couch.
“I’m leaving for the summer,” I blurt out.
I’ve taken Hudson enough by surprise that he backs off. “You’re leaving? For where?”
“My grandparents had this cabin. I’m staying there for a few months, cleaning it up so my parents can sell it.”
“Yeah?” He sounds intrigued, thoughts of romantic interludes shining in his eyes. “Where is it?”
“Near Silverton.”
He was inching closer, but now he sits back. “That’s over eight hours away—it’s clear on the other side of the state.”
It’s not surprising he has a problem with that considering he doesn’t like me on the other side of the couch.
“I’ll only be gone a few months,” I assure him. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal?” Hudson stands up. “Kinsley, I’ll start classes when you get back. I want to spend time with you.”
And I know what he wants to spend that time doing.
“I need to do this for my family. They ask very little of me.”
It’s true. Mom could take off a few weeks and go clean the cabin, but it would be hard on her, and right now I don’t have anything better to do. There’s no reason I can’t take care of this.
He shakes his head. “Is this place just off in the woods? Will you be near civilization?”
Sifting through my purse, I look for my phone. “If I remember right, there’s a lodge nearby with a general store and a campground.”
I type “Columbine Meadow Campground” into the search.
“Whoa,” Hudson breathes when the website comes up.
Whoa is right. The lodge either had a little face-lift or it’s seen a bulldozer. I’m leaning toward the latter. The first pictures are of the lobby. Huge, leather couches surround a massive stone fireplace. The walls are a muted tan. The floors are done in stone, as are the accents.
It’s resort classy. The pictures of the rooms are equally gorgeous, and the campground has definitely been updated. Stunning mountain photographs slide across the top of the page, luring people in.
Just for fun, I click on the “book now” link to check out the prices.
Hudson whistles. “Your cabin is tucked in there somewhere? Your parents are going to make a mint.”
I browse through more pictures. Maybe my summer isn’t going to be so bad after all.
“How about I come with you?” He nods to himself as if he likes the idea. “Dad won’t care if I take a few months off.”
I shake my head. “Mom already shot that idea down.”
He plays with the collar of my shirt. “It’s hours away. How are they going to know?” Thinking he’s going to convince me with his manly charms, he pulls the fabric aside and kisses my shoulder. “We’ll hike, bike, maybe try a little fishing. Then at night we’ll curl up by the fire and—”
“Stop,” I say when his lips stray to my collar.
Frustrated, he looks up. “We have the chance to be together,” he says, “and you’re acting like a skittish little girl.”
“I’m not going to have sex with you,” I snap.
Hudson says a word that makes me flinch and then shakes his head. “I can’t keep doing this.”
Something cold settles in my stomach, and I push my phone aside. “Doing what?”
“Exactly when do you think you’ll be ready?” He sits back, waiting for my answer. “Next month? Next year?” He narrows his eyes when I don’t answer. “Once you’re married?”
I shrug, not wanting to have this conversation. Why does he make me feel so ridiculous? It’s my body. If I want to wait, who is he to tell me I shouldn’t?
“You know—I’m not going to wait forever.”
My embarrassment turns to anger, and I meet his eyes. “Exactly what does that mean? Put out or get out?”
He flinches but doesn’t back down. “Not in those words—but yeah. Kinsley, we’re adults.”
Snatching my phone off the end table, I stand and grab my purse.
“Wait—baby.” He rises to his feet. “Don’t go, I didn’t mean—”
I whip back. “Yes, Hudson, you did.”
He has a point. Something tells me it should be harder to resist him. Is he right?
Am I cold?
I sigh. “I leave Friday. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t.”
My stomach lurches at his words. “What are you saying?”
He doesn’t quite meet my gaze. “I mean, maybe we should take a step back.”
Hurt and angry, I narrow my eyes. “Stop tiptoeing around it. If you’re going to break up with me—say it.”
Hudson’s eyes soften. “Kinsley, I think we should break up.”
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About the Author
Shari L. Tapscott writes young adult fantasy and humorous contemporary fiction. When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, making soap, and pretending she can sing. She loves white chocolate mochas, furry animals, spending time with her family, and characters who refuse to behave.
Tapscott lives in western Colorado with her husband, son, daughter, and two very spoiled Saint Bernards.
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