Page 94 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

Emma paused and cupped her hand over her ear. “Faint. It sounds like running water.” Emma pointed through a thick patch of brush. “Through there.”

“Should we explore?”

“Are you trying to stall?”

“A little,” I admitted, knowing Emma would know the truth anyway.

“We check it out, but then we talk.”

“Deal.”

We pushed through thick undergrowth and walked a short distance before discovering a small waterfall. It couldn’t be over eight feet tall.

“I can’t believe you heard it,” Emma said. “We’ve walked this path several times and never discovered it.”

“Normally, you’re flapping your jaws, so we wouldn’t hear anything,” I said as I approached the waterfall.

Emma scowled. “Or your senses are heightened with everything going on.”

I pointed to a large rock near the waterfall. “Can we sit here and talk?”

Emma’s eyes widened. “If you’re agreeing to talk, I’d do it standing on my head in the middle of the waterfall if that’s what it takes.”

I snapped my fingers. “Damn. I wish I knew that. Is it too late?”

“Yes. Now get your ass up there so you can help me.”

I shimmied onto the rock and reached my hand down to Emma. She grabbed it, and I pulled her up. Once she was on the rock, I sat, and the warmth from the rock warmed my backside.

Emma slid down beside me and scooted closer, so our shoulders touched. This was good. I wouldn’t have to look her in the eye. Instead, I could stare into the waterfall. Something that always brought me peace.

“So what’s going on with Robyn?” Emma asked.

“I have no idea.”

“Seriously? We came here for you to give me a shit answer like that?”

“Relax. I’m not trying to be elusive. I just have no fucking clue.”

“I do!”

“Care to enlighten me?”

“You two want each other. Bad. But you’re both control freaks, in your own ways.”

“She doesn’t want me.” I hadn’t had time to process my conversation with Robyn, let alone the one I’d overheard between her and Dana. I was struggling to merge the two competing messages.

“I’d like it noted you didn’t say you didn’t want her.” Emma put her hand on my leg.

“She’s so not my type.”

“Also not a denial.”

I was tired of skirting the issue. “Every woman I’ve ever dated started with a physical attraction and—”

“How’d that work out for you?”

I glanced at Emma. “As you know, not so good.”