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A smile tugged at Jewel’s lips. “Well, then maybe an afternoon nap is in order.”

“I hope.” Lea grinned. “What’s for breakfast?”

“No idea. I stole coffee. I left.”

“I’m sure Eli’s got a whole meal plan going.”

“Probably does.” Jewel rolled her shoulders. “Want to go on a hike today?”

“Yes, let’s.”

Jewel grinned. “But first, breakfast, and more coffee.”

“Also yes.” Lea giggled as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.

“I’ll see you downstairs.” Jewel stood up and started for the door. As much as she might have wanted to stay and watch Lea’s routine, she knew it would be pure torture—not a good idea. Headed down the stairs, Jewel joined in the fray.

* * *

Jewel wasn’t sure how Lea had convinced her to go, but they were taking a thin trail away from the house as they walked toward the farm. There was a piece of paper left in the house that said it’d take them on a long walk through the property. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket as they went. The question of how to broach Lea’s sexuality hadn’t left her mind since the morning.

Lea looked exhausted still, no less relaxed now than she was before. Jewel tensed her shoulders tighter before relaxing them as she stepped up closer to walk next to Lea. She knew she had been unusually quiet during breakfast. Lea had made it a point to call her out on it several times already. Jewel had no idea how to respond.

They walked in silence for maybe five minutes, making it over the rise of a ridge before Lea broke the silence. “What’s going on, J?”

“I have no idea what you mean.” Every defense and warning sign in her body was going off. She was walking into a trap of some kind, perhaps not a nefarious trap, but one where she’d be forced to say something she wasn’t ready for.

Lea let out a huff. “What has gotten into you lately? Are you depressed?”

“What? No.” Jewel rubbed her lips together hard. “I’m not depressed.”

“Could have fooled me.” Lea continued to move, not really stopping to look at Jewel along the way. “You’ve been so quiet.”

“I know,” Jewel muttered.

Lea spun on her, arms flinging out at her sides. “Why?”

Shaking her head, Jewel tried to backtrack. She was definitely not ready for this all to come spilling out. But, would she ever be ready for that? Probably not.

“Jewel.” Lea’s tone was firm, decisive, intrusive.

“What?”

“Tell me what is going on. It worries me to see you like this.”

Jewel hedged. “It’s not worth it to know.”

“It is.” Lea gentled her tone, leaning in and gripping Jewel’s wrist lightly. “It really is. You look so hurt all the time.”

“Hurt?” Jewel’s eyes widened. “I’m not hurt.”

“Then what is it? Please, tell me.”

“No.”

“No?”

Lea looked lost, and Jewel knew why. She’d never deliberately withheld information from Lea this blatantly. She tried to backpedal but it was too early, and she didn’t have enough caffeine flowing through her veins yet. “I don’t want to tell you.”