Page 95 of Wilds of the Heart

And they were nice enough. We all had a common interest, which was a love for poetry, but trying to be on at all times was extremely tiring. And I depended on other people to give me a ride, for the most part.

But I was grateful every single morning that I woke up in this beautiful place.

“Okay, we’ve arrived at your destination,” Ethan said, glancing over at me.

I stared at the cabin, wondering how we’d already gotten from the café where we all workshopped for three hours to my cabin. I was definitely in a fog of exhaustion.

“So, should I pick you up tonight for dinner and drinks with the gang?” he asked.

My heart twisted into a tight knot at the thought of going out again.

Did I mention that everyone seemed to be ten years younger than me and not have a tired bone in their body?

Ethan included.

“I don’t know, Ethan. I probably should carve out some time to work on my project.”

“Oh, come on. I promise I’ll get you home early.”

My phone rang, and I absent-mindedly picked up. “Hello?”

“Did you get the flowers?”

“Flowers?” I asked, relishing the fact that I could hear a familiar voice.

“Yeah. I thought you said you’d be back at the cabin by now.”

“Oh, we just pulled up,” I said, feeling my heart hammer in my chest.

I can’t believe he sent flowers.

“Oh, I see them,” Ethan told me, pointing at the porch.

“Who’s that?” Lucas asked as I craned my neck to see a beautiful and natural looking bouquet.

“It’s Ethan. He gave me a ride home. We just pulled into the driveway.”

“Home.”

“Well, you know what I mean…” I said, laughing.

I mouthed thanks for the ride to Ethan as I started out the door.

“Then should I count on picking you up for dinner?” Ethan asked.

I froze as the other end of the phone went silent.

“Are you going to answer him?” Lucas finally asked.

I sighed into the phone and looked at Ethan. “Yeah. That’s fine. Just text me when.”

“Will do, poet in residence.”

I smiled and shut the door as I trudged to the porch of the cabin with Lucas not making a sound on the other end.

My stomach clenched with each step forward.

I knew how it looked, and the fact that I was here, and Lucas was there, and we had all this in between wasn’t good.