Back To You - A Second Chance Romance

He reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet and fished out a card. “Here. This is my number. Feel free to call me anytime.” He gave me a smile as I put the card in my pocket.

“Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” I was going to try and set something up for the week I got back while the topic was still fresh in his mind. I didn’t want to wait too long and have him forget who I was.

“Oh, I’m sure you will.” He gave me a little wave and left the cabin.

I glanced over at Roxie, who looked away quickly. “Is everything okay, Roxie?”

She pushed away from the counter. “Yeah, just fine, Kate. Why? Is there anything wrong with you?”

The response caught me a bit off guard, and while I wasn’t sure, it seemed as if she was a little upset with me. “No. Just thought I’d ask.” She looked like something was bothering her, and I was beginning to wonder if Ally had said anything.

It wasn’t like I’d said or done anything. I had even made it a point to help the two ladies and did my best not to be too bossy while giving them instructions.

Maybe they didn’t like the way I had become close with the cast. Outside of the nightly poker games, which were mostly men from the stunt team, the cast and crew didn’t do much mingling.

Sure, Tess and I were roommates, but that had been all her doing. And then Jake and I were spending a little time together too, but never anything too obvious. I would only walk down to his cabin once we knew the others were playing cards, and the only reason I’d stayed all night was because I assumed Austin was sleeping with Tess in my cabin. He made a habit of staying out all night, and I knew the two had been involved a bit before we left the States.

Later that night, as I lay next to Jake, looking up at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but think that something was off about the interview. “I didn’t even get to tell him about the program.”

Jake turned over. “No offense, Kate, but guys like that, they only want the facts they are most interested in, and I’m pretty sure all he cared about was my near-death experience. That’s what’s going to sell his magazine.”

“You’re probably right. I’m just worried that Gilfoyle will be upset with me. He says the department is lacking in funds, and he wanted me to bring attention to it so our enrollment would go up. He said that he might even have to make a few cutbacks, which means I could lose my job.”

“You’d get another one,” he said. “You’re so smart and beautiful. Anyone would be crazy not to want to work with you.”

“If it were only that easy. Besides, you’re biased, and most of the anthropology departments are in the same boat.” I could feel my heart sinking.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t gotten to talk to Arthur but that I was going to let the department down. They had sent me on this trip to get us some attention, and just when I had the opportunity to talk to someone about us, I dropped the ball.

As Jake pulled me close, I felt a bit better, safer. “Don’t think about it. It’s not your fault anyway. You couldn’t make Arthur Scott listen to you. Besides, there are much more credible journalists to talk to about serious topics. Arthur Scott is a rag hag. He loves to print things that are shocking and exciting. Like the bite. He’ll blow it all out of proportion, and before you know it, they’ll have me sucking out the venom and tying my own tourniquet. All of the problems with your department will be there when you get back, and you can worry about it then. We don’t have many more nights like this.”

There was the real issue. Letting it all go was easier said than done. I tried to think good thoughts, but the department’s troubles weren’t the only thing on my mind.

In a few short days, we would be on a plane home. Back to Hollywood and back to the university. We’d be worlds apart. Or at least we might as well be. Jake would get lost in his fame, and I’d just be lost without him.

Sadness crept in, and Jake stroked my hair to soothe me, never seeing my tears. He must have just known that I needed it.

Thinking about how perfect he was only made it worse. I had fallen in love again, and my heartbreak was only days away. I had to make the most of it while I could, but every moment with him was just so bittersweet, I wasn’t sure if I could handle the impending goodbye.