This was such bullshit. She suddenly felt angry. Why did she go through life pretending to be grateful for slivers and morsels? Telling herself she was blessed, fortunate, but honestly, there were times her slivers and morsels weren’t enough. Sometimes she longed to be greedy and want more. More adventure. More fun. More change. More new, fresh, interesting.
She would be a fool not to go to Yellowstone. She would be a fool to turn things down without even getting all the information first. For someone who loved facts, data, she hadn’t tried very hard to get the whole picture. No, she was like that timid English major, terrified of algebra, closing her mind to what one could do, certain that math and numbers were beyond her. But numbers weren’t terrifying. Math wasn’t the enemy. Fear and self-doubt were the enemy and she shouldn’t be afraid of asking questions and getting the details. A trip to Yellowstone could be really cool. A trip anywhere right now would be really cool. She hadn’t traveled over the summer. She’d worked hard, and made regular trips home to see Mom, but that was it.
Paige picked up her phone and texted Jack. When would you leave, and when would you come back?
She put her phone down and poured herself a glass of tea. She’d just added ice when her phone buzzed.
If we’re talking about Yellowstone, he replied, I would fly out Thursday night and be back Monday, in time for our afternoon class.
Our class.
Ours.
For some reason that sent a shiver of sensation through her. She told herself to knock it off and forced herself to think about practicalities. There would only be two classes she’d need to cancel or reschedule, just the classes on Friday. Her long teaching days were Tuesday and Thursday, and it didn’t sound like she’d miss any of those.
How are you getting there?she texted.How much is the airfare?
Flying into Bozeman from Orange County, with a connection in Salt Lake City.
She studied his reply. How much is it?
It’s covered by my stipend. And if you want to go, yours would be, too.
Her heart did a little jump, matching the hum of excitement inside of her. Jack made it seem so easy. Just jump on a plane, fly into Montana, where he’d probably be met and whisked into the park. If he was filling in as the speaker, everyone would be falling all over themselves to accommodate him.
The idea of just tagging along and not having to do anything was incredibly appealing. Paige had always been in charge of making the arrangements, finding the best deals, handling all the reservations. In the last two years her daughters had begun to take over some of the trip planning, all three having inherited her thrifty nature. They avoided checking bags, refused to pay for assigned seats, accepted that connecting flights would often be a better deal.
She’d taught them well.
Mustering up her courage, Paige typed. And accommodations? What would the sleeping arrangements be like?
He didn’t answer. She kept watching her phone, waiting to see those little blinking dots indicating that he was working on an answer, crafting a reply. But there were no blinking dots. Anxious, annoyed, she pushed off the counter and marched to her sink and reached for the damp sponge to wipe down the already pristine surface.
Her phone rang. Her insides lurched. She knew it was Jack. She returned to her phone, and saw she was right. “Hello?” she answered.
“Afraid you have to sleep with me?” he asked, laughter in his voice.
Her face heated. “Yes,” she said stiffly. “It’s crossed my mind.”
“Sleeping with me?”
Her cheeks burned. She was glad he wasn’t there to see her blush. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I owe you an orgasm.”
“Oh my God, Jack.”
“It’s true. I’ve felt bad all these years—”
“Obviously, this isn’t going to work. I don’t know why I even asked—”
“You would have your own room. It’s a small conference and there are extra cabins that aren’t being used.”
“I’d really have my own cabin?”
“If that’s what you wanted.”
She could feel him smiling over the phone. So annoying. “Tell me this, if I’d wanted to sleep with you, you would?”
“But of course.”
She laughed and hung up. Then followed with a text. RSVPing yes. But have not agreed to any hanky-panky.
What about rooting, or snogging? Jack replied.
No idea what that means.
No worries, mate. I’ll show you.
Paige bit her lip, unable to stop smiling.