Love Fast

I head back to Autumn from Blossom, part thrilled to have seen Byron and part terrified. Gossip around here spreads like wildfire. I knew Miranda from concierge had changed her hair color before I even laid eyes on her this morning. There’s no doubt the other waitresses in Blossom saw me embracing Byron’s friends. By the end of the day, everyone will know. I need to come up with an explanation that doesn’t include the words I’m banging the boss.

As I navigate the stairs to reception, I almost run into Patricia, who’s scurrying toward me at lightning pace.

“Rosey,” she says. “I heard you’re tight with the owners’ friends.”

Wow. Move over wildfire and make room for the speed of sound. That was quick.

“Oh, not at all. I ran into them last night at Grizzly’s—the bar in town. I gave them some change for the pool table.” Both these things are true.

“Grizzly’s?” she asks. “Do you go there a lot?”

“No, it’s just kinda the thing to do after a storm. Everyone was going, and I’ve become friendly with the girl from the vet’s office. She suggested it.” I’m talking too fast, giving her too much explanation.

“Alright,” she says, eyeing me suspiciously. “That’s cool.”

“Didn’t expect to see them up here,” I say. “Are you going to this all-staff town hall meeting?” I ask, trying to distract her.

“Of course I am,” she says, and nods back in the direction she came from. We both head off together, and I can’t help wondering if Patricia was just coming to find me to ask about my connection to Byron’s friends. “Wouldn’t miss it,” she says. “I hear they’re updating the move-in date for staff housing. The storm damage hasn’t set them back as much as expected. I bet you’re up here by the end of the week.”

I should be excited about getting a space of my own—a place that’s close to work that will provide an instant friend network. But there’s one thing the staff accommodation won’t have.

Byron.

I’ll miss him. Yeah, the sex is great. Scratch that—the sex is spectacular. But I’ve never felt so open with someone. So free. It feels like I can’t help but show him my entire soul, and he doesn’t want to look away. It’s a kind of intimacy I’ve never experienced before, and it’s going to be difficult to say goodbye. For me, at least.

I’ll get to see glimpses of him from time to time when I’m on shift. But I won’t be able to trail my fingers all over his body. I won’t be able to watch his ass as he cooks ragu.

The move will be the clean break I need. And what Byron needs too. It may not have been spoken between us, but we both know that whatever we have comes to an end when I move up the mountain.

“You okay?” Patricia asks.

“Sure,” I say. “Just nervous about this meeting. They don’t ask us questions, do they?”

Patricia laughs. “You’ve been quizzed by Hazel one too many times. No, this is a chance for us to ask them questions. I want to know if staff can expect our own gym facility soon. I figure it’s good to have a healthy work force. It will benefit them in the long run, right?”

“Right,” I say.

“Are you going to ask anything?”

I shake my head. I’m going to focus on not imagining Byron between my thighs, making me come. I’m going to try not to think about drinking hot chocolate with him, playing pool with him, the way he calmed me when we had to evacuate to the shelter. I’m going to try to imagine a time when we’re not sleeping together. When we don’t know each other anymore. And I’m going to do everything in my power to keep it together.

The ballroom has been set up with a raised platform and a row of chairs at the front, with folding chairs in arced rows for staff. Some managers are already on the stage, but I don’t see Byron. Maybe he doesn’t participate in these things, since he’s not part of the management team. Patricia explained the other day that the managers all report to Hart, and Hart reports to Byron.

Hart comes to the microphone at the front of the stage and thanks everyone for coming. I’m half relieved Byron’s not here and half disappointed I won’t see him.

“First, we want to give you an update on the storm damage and how that impacts our opening schedule.”

Various people come to the microphone and explain how things will go over the next few weeks. There’s furniture being stored in some of the conference rooms. This ballroom will be out of action for a period of time.

My mind wanders back to Marion, and how she’s so brave to be talking about breaking free from living under Mom’s strict rule. At her age, I wouldn’t have even dreamed it was possible.

I feel a shift in the room, like someone is watching me. I glance up and my gaze catches on Byron, standing by the door, looking right at me.

My heart hiccups in my chest. I’m going to miss him more than I should when I move. I have to remind myself that we—whatever we are—only worked because there was always a time limit. I didn’t feel he had power over me, because we weren’t anything serious. If we’d ended up dating, things would have changed. Byron would have had expectations, and I would have had to comply. He’s nothing like my mom or Frank, but it would have been inevitable. I was never going to be on equal footing with a man as rich and powerful as Byron—especially not while working for him.

Except as I look at him, I wonder if that’s true. My heart tells me Byron’s not that guy.

But even if controlling me and exerting his authority wasn’t his intention, that’s bound to be how it ends up. How could it be another way? He’s the owner of the place where I work. I’m dependent on him for my paycheck. I don’t want to be dependent on anyone.

Hart starts talking about staff housing, and I pull my gaze from Byron to focus on the stage. There’s been another setback on some of the units, but most staff will be able to move in on Saturday. A little cheer goes up at the back of the room. Hart reiterates that not all units will be available. They’re looking for volunteers to delay their move-in date, and will pay some compensation to incentivize people.noveldrama

More time at the cabin. Is that what I want?

I glance at Byron, whose steady gaze doesn’t seem to have wavered. My body heats at the thought of more nights with him. In so many ways, I want that. I love spending time with him. I enjoy our time together. It was so unexpected, not what I was looking for at all. But with Byron, I feel like I can be myself for the first time… ever. There’s no pressure. No expectations.

It’s because there’s a natural end date, I remind myself for the hundredth time. Things have been so good between us, I don’t want anything to sour my memories of him. Byron’s shown me what might be possible for me—what life could be like when I’m not simply there for everyone else’s needs and desires. He’s shown me I can be independent even while being with someone. I have to hold on to that idea, even though I can already feel my heart breaking at the thought of ending this.

I can’t be a volunteer. I can’t risk keeping Byron and me on simmer too long, and the pot burning. Better to walk away now, when I still have so much hope about what my future might hold.

Byron and I have hit our expiration date.