Page 28 of Stuck Together

“Do you remember what you said to me when you drop me off at my house that night.”

He closed his eyes and dropped his head. “Yes.”

“How do you think I felt when I showed up and you were gone? Your grandmother told me you packed up your stuff and you left before the sun rose. I was crushed, heartbroken. I gave you all of me and you left.”

“Madison. I'm sorry, I can't go back in time and change what I did, if I could. Believe me, I would. I was young, and I was stupid, and I was scared. I acted poorly. All I can do is ask for your forgiveness. I can't change what I did in the past. All I can do is change what I do moving forward.”

I nodded, unable able to find anything else to say. What could I say to that because he was right. He can't change what happened. It's done, it's over with.

“Fine. But moving forward there can't be anything between us. I can't go through that kind of hurt again.”

“Okay. I'll respect you in that regard. We’re just friends and colleagues.”

“Thank you.”

Logan’s breakfast arrived and we ate in silence. It was awkward, but not as awkward as things were before. As long as he respected me, I could do this. I just had to keep saying that to myself over and over again until I believed it. All I had to do was focus on the reason for this trip and forget our past. Easy, right?

“Is there anything else you can tell me about this client before we meet with him?” I asked. We were meeting with the CEO of this resort and if we won this account, I’d play a huge role in the campaign development for several resorts. If I played my cards right, I might even get to take over managing this account. It was the type of opportunity I’d long for with my previous firm.

“Yeah, about that. I found out right before I got here that our meeting is canceled. Apparently, Mr. Bennington didn't make it in because of the weather.”

“So this trip was for nothing?”

“Pretty much. His flight was canceled. He's still in Chicago, apparently, and all the airports between here and there are closed until this storm clears up.”

“Awesome.” Even I heard the sarcasm in my tone. “Any idea when we’ll be able to leave?”

“It’s supposed to snow more today, so it will depend on how much more we get. Based on what the hotel manager told me this morning, it probably won’t be safe to head home until Saturday or Sunday.”

“Well, I guess we're just going to have to find a way to entertain ourselves, aren't we?” We held each other's gaze for a few moments, neither of us really knowing how to behave or how to act. In another time and under different circumstances, I would’ve loved being trapped with Logan at a romantic ski resort in the middle of a blizzard. But this was dangerous and despite what I asked of him, I wasn’t convinced I’d be able to keep our relationship strictly business.

But I didn’t have a choice. If I failed, I feared my heart wouldn’t survive.

Chapter 10

Logan