Page 73 of Rogue's Path

Crying always seems pointless.

“Hello,” I answer. There’s more than a little tremble in my voice.

“Dylan.”

“Taylor.” Just minutes ago, I was determined to tell this man that we could only be friends. Now, I don’t know. In less than a day, I went from three men pining over me to one who’s so far away he could be on another planet. “You sound closer.”

“That’s because I’m in a city with phone service.” He yawns.

“But still on the other side of the world.”

“Yup. I should be stateside next weekend sometime. And free to fly anywhere the next Monday. Do you have any idea where that will be?”

Now would be the time to break it to him gently. “No. I’m planning on leaving Silent Valley soon.” Like tomorrow. “But I’m not sure where I’m going. Maybe to Alaska to learn how to build an igloo, or I could go white water rafting. It won’t be the first time I’ve gone, but I’ll focus a bit more on what it means to be a guide there. Have you done either?”

“Learning to build a survival shelter in any condition was something my father taught me before boot camp.”

I’ll take that as a yes, then.

“But white water rafting is just fun.”

Is there anything Taylor hasn’t done?

***

It feels final walking up to the Ivy Café. I’ve only been going there for a week, but this will be my last visit. Coming back to Silent Valley…one day, maybe when it doesn’t hurt so much anymore.

After a quick stop at the cutest little card shop that I’ve ever seen and an ATM, I have everything I need to say goodbye to all the staff.

Jane stops at my table almost immediately. “Hey there. Rogue was looking for you yesterday.”

“He found me.” Oh, did he find me. Before she asks a ton of questions, I say, “Today will be my last day visiting the Ivy Café. I wanted everyone to know how much I loved this place.” I pull out the stack of cards I wrote in and filled.

“Oh, that reminds me, we have something for you.” Jane grins wider than I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something since she always seems to be smiling.

Something for me? That’s odd.

“You’re going to love it. I’ll be right back with it.” She dashes off.

What could they possibly have for me? I’m going to miss this place. Maybe I’ll find a place like it in Alaska.

Really? That’s nuts. You’re going out in the boonies to build an igloo. Do you really think people are going to be walking to a coffee shop in the middle of winter just to hang out?

White water rafting won’t be any better. Although I will be with a group all the time. Maybe I’ll need a quiet break from all the interaction.

White water rafting won’t give me much time to think about the man whose name will no longer be part of my vocabulary. It’s the middle of winter. Do they actually go in when it’s freezing?

Australia is warm this time of year. My characters might want to trek through the outback. They could feed their victims to the crocodiles. Like that hasn’t been written nine million times.

Throwing them in a pack of kangaroos to let them be stomped on would be way more interesting.

Rogue would be able to fight his way out—Stop thinking about him, or you’ll end up crying.

“Here it is. Someone got you flowers. Someone really likes you.”

Jane’s voice makes me jump, and suddenly there are red roses in front of me.

Don’t scream.