Page 19 of The Inn Dilemma

“I’m gonna go,” I say, my voice coming out in barely a whisper.

Heaviness infiltrates my chest the moment I turn. I step outside, inhaling the crisp mountain air, and head for my cabin. Before I even set foot on the sidewalk, a large hand wraps around my arm.

“Where are you going?” Holt asks.

Motioning with my head toward my cabin, I say, “Home.”

Holt shakes his head. “No. You’re hanging out with me, your brother, and Roxy.”

A feeling of defeat invades me. Not wanting my brother to hear me, I speak in a low voice. “Chris doesn’t want anything to do with me. He’s never going to forgive me for leaving. And I don’t blame him.”

Holt searches my eyes for a minute, and unspoken understanding passes between us. He nods, then bends down to pick up the load of logs. “Come inside. We’re going to work through this.”

I shake my head. “Not tonight.”

He looks more determined than ever.

“Please?” I beg. “I can’t.” Hanging my head, I mumble, “I can’t do this right now.”

I can hear the moment his determination cracks in his sigh. He releases my arm, and I go home.

* * *

I wipe my sweaty palms down my pants before raising my fist to knock. It only takes a moment before a teenage boy greets me at the door.

His eyes narrow as he takes me in. “Yeah?” he asks.

“Hi.” I lift my hand in an awkward wave. “I’m Nova; you must be Axel.”

He looks over his shoulder. “Rox? There’s a girl with a space name at the door.”

“I’m Christian’s sister,” I explain, and he turns back to face me.

“Are you the one who abandoned everyone to move to Paris with a guy you barely knew?”

My face heats so hard I’m sure Axel can feel its warmth. “Unfortunately, yes, that’s me.”

Roxy comes to the door before any more awkwardness can pass between me and the teenage boy.

“Hey,” she greets me kindly.

“Hi, Roxy.” I wrap my arms around myself and pull my cardigan tighter. “Is Christian home?”

She looks at me sadly. “No, sorry. He went into the office.”

“Like father, like son,” I mutter under my breath.

“Hey,” she says with a sigh. “Look, I don’t know what your relationship with Christian is like, but I can tell you with absolute certainty he is nothing like your father.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that Dad was always at work. I want Chris to enjoy his life.” I do my best to make myself clear so she doesn’t assume I think the worst of my brother.

She crosses her arms and leans against the doorframe. Axel’s gaze bounces between us. “He’s learning how to,” she says.

I look into my new sister-in-law’s eyes. “Good. I’m glad.” And I mean that. I want Christian to have a life outside of work and for him to be happy even if business isn’t booming. I change the subject to the matter at hand. “I just came over to eat crow. Try and beg for my brother’s forgiveness.”

Roxy’s expression softens. “He’s already forgiven you.”

“Really?” I ask.