7.

 

She locked herself away in her hotel room and didn’t leave for another twenty-four hours. She had thought that her muse may have arrived, and she opened her laptop, drank soda from the mini-bar, and tapped away at the keys as she began to write a piece about eloping with a mountain man.

As she was writing, she knew it was pure fantasy and there was no way she would ever be able to publish it on her website. But at least it was exploring how she felt about her time in town, and it was also going to open a door to exploring a greater article about spontaneous or split-second weddings.

“Maybe my next stop should be Vegas.” She laughed to herself as she lifted her feet up onto the edge of the desk and yawned.

The day had dragged along slowly, even though she had been working away and keeping herself busy. But being alone and busy was very different to being surrounded by people and busy. She was starting to feel lonely and in need of a conversation.

When she thought back to the last one she had had with Reggie, it made her heart drop a little. He had really upset her, and even though she was trying to push it well out of her mind, it was still difficult.

She closed her computer and rose to her feet. She crossed the room and opened the big, double doors and wandered out into the crisp air as she stood on the balcony and looked out at the mountain.

It wouldn’t be long before the sun was going to disappear, and it would be night time again. She could already hear the sounds of fun and frolics coming from down near the bar and she was beginning to get to urge to go and hang out there again.

But she knew there was no way she could. The last thing she could risk was bumping into Evan or Jack. She was so embarrassed, and she still didn’t know what the hell had truly happened.

She had a husband, for fuck’s sake.

And she had no idea where he was or what he was thinking.

She felt herself groan again and she moved back into the main body of the room and crossed into the bathroom. She began to run the tub and as it was filling with steaming hot water she grabbed the room service menu from one of the side tables.

She felt like a total recluse, but there wasn’t a chance she was leaving the hotel just yet. All she wanted to do was hide away and let as much time pass as possible.

She ordered a Caesar Salad and a Diet Coke, and as she waited for it arrive, she sank down into the tub and washed away her sins.

Suddenly, she felt as if she had many of them.

She had been so reckless and now she was just going to have to deal with the consequences.

It had always been interesting being Monica… but this really did take the cake.

 

She spun the leaflet around in her hand and looked at the log cabin on the front of it, as she sat waiting for her morning coffee at the hotel restaurant.

She had successfully hidden away for a couple of days, and now her time at the hotel was up. It was time for her to find somewhere else to stay for the remainder of her time in town.

She tapped at her cellphone and saw yet another missed call from Reggie. Since they had spoken, he had done nothing but hound her with texts and demands, and she had done her best to ignore him, but he had been so persistent it was starting to creep her out. She didn’t want to leave Grey Mountain, but at the same time, she had really given herself a problem with the Evan issue, and now she didn’t dare go home either.

She sighed and opened a blank message before she started to send a text to the number on the front of the leaflet.

 

Hi there, I’m new in town and I’m looking to lease a cabin for a few weeks. Do you have any available at short notice? I would like to be in sometime today… 

 

She hit send and felt herself cringe a little. There was nothing like asking for too much. But she supposed whoever ran the lettings company would be used to people getting in touch at short notice.

She sipped her coffee and picked at her fruit, and she found herself thinking of Evan again. He had been on her mind pretty much constantly since she had met him, and she was hoping to bump into him again. She had hidden away to save herself any embarrassment, but as the days had passed, she was beginning to feel a bit better about it all and suddenly, the prospect of seeing him again was exciting, not frightening.

She finished her breakfast, and just as she was getting up to leave, her phone pinged and she had a reply from the cabin lettings place.

 

Hi there, sure, we have a cabin available for the next month up on Pine Avenue. Number 32. I can meet you there around noon if that’s any good for you?

 

Monica felt herself light up inside and a wave of relief washed over her. She began to type a hasty reply.

 

M: That would be perfect, thanks so much! See you there.

 

She gathered up her things and made her way back to her room to pack and get ready to check out. Maybe things were looking up after all and she didn’t need to be so worried all the time. Now, all she had to do was go to the bar and find Jack on her way and find out what the hell had truly happened and if they had been joking.

It was time to put on her big girl panties and face the music.

 

The bar was open from 9am serving breakfast and brunch, and although it was very, very quiet, there was still a small trickle of people coming in and out of the place.

Monica pushed the door open and headed straight for the counter. As she stepped inside, memories from the night that she had spent in there came crashing back to her, and when Jack came out of the swing doors at the side of the bar, he stopped, and his mouth gaped open.

“Holy shit,” he said with a smile. “We thought you may have skipped town.”

“Are you kidding?” she asked as she sat down on one of the high stools and acted as if nothing was the matter. “I’m not that weak.”

Jack smiled, and she laughed.

“Have you spoken to Evan?” he asked her quietly so that the other customers in the bar couldn’t hear their conversation.

“I’ve been on lockdown at my hotel for the past two days,” she said honestly. “I’ve been working, you know…”

Jack nodded his head as if he wasn’t sure he truly believed her, and she looked away.

“He’s been looking for you,” Jack said. “I think you guys need to talk, don’t you?”

Monica breathed in and sighed loudly.

“Yes, I guess we do,” she half laughed. “I was kind of hoping I would walk in here today and you’d tell me you were having me on… But it wasn’t a joke, was it?”

Jack shook his head.

“I’m afraid not,” he whispered.

Monica rolled her eyes and shrugged.

“So… I am married?” she had to laugh.

Jack nodded again.

“He’s been in here both nights since, looking for you,” Jack said. “I told him you were staying at one of the hotels, but he couldn’t find you.”

She felt her heart swell a little. It was nice to know that Evan hadn’t just brushed it under the rug. He had wanted to find her and speak with her, and she guessed that had to count for something.

“Well, I’m sure we’ll bump into each other at some point,” she said. “I’m not planning on leaving town any time soon.”

“You could come back later?” Jack offered. “I think he’ll be in again…” he trailed off and Monica shook her head. “You know,” Jack continued. “Evan has always kept himself to himself, and I’ve never seen him let his hair down like he did the other night. The fact that he’s been back twice since is like an absolute miracle.”

He paused, and Monica didn’t know what to say.

“He wants to see you,” Jack reiterated. “I don’t know what for, but, I mean, obviously, you two need to talk.”

She nodded and then she got to her feet.

“Thanks, Jack,” she smiled. “If you see him, let him know I’m still around, okay?”

Jack smiled and watched her as she wandered toward the door.

It was almost noon and she had places to be. It was time for her to head on up to Pine Avenue and hopefully find her new home for the next few weeks.