I woke up determined to do it. Whatever had happened last night, and whatever my friends had to say about it, I was going to talk to Owen. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least see. Maybe nothing had changed. Maybe they were right and his reasons hadn’t been as pure as he claimed.

Whatever the case, I needed to know.

We got up late after our long, boozy night and it was already afternoon by the time we’d all showered and dressed for the day. We ate lunch around the fire, and that’s when I announced what I’d decided.

“Before either of you say anything, just know that I’ve thought a lot about this,” I started. “I’m going to talk to him and see what the deal is. Who knows, he might even be seeing someone. After I talk to him, I will move on. I will get closure, and while it certainly won’t be with Aiden, I will get out and date and find someone. Or attempt to.”

Emma shoved a piece of bread into her mouth and spoke with garbled words. “Go for it.”

“Really?” I’d expected much lashing back and convincing against.

“You know, I agree,” Julie said. “If this is what it’ll take, then go for it. Talk to him. Find out what you need to find out. Then say goodbye to him forever.”

“And if you need to cry, we’ll be here,” Emma added, hugging her arm around my shoulders.

“Just remember that he didn’t come talk to you. You’re going to him. Again.”

“I know,” I said. “And I’ve considered that, too. I really have thought about this for days.”

“I believe it,” Emma mumbled.

“I’m not making a snap decision and rushing into this.”

Julie popped a chip into her mouth. “We never said you were, Addie.”

I huffed. “I just thought you’d be trying to talk me out of it. I had all these arguments planned and everything.”

Julie raised an eyebrow. “Do you want us to talk you out of it? Because that alone is a sign—”

“No, no,” I said. “This isn’t like that. I should have talked to him years ago. Seeing him again made me realize that I’m really not over him. And I need to be. You guys are right. And this will help.”

Emma smiled. “Then I vote 100% yes.”

“Me, too,” Julie added.

I let out a long breath. “So, now I just have to go do it. What do you want to do when I get back?”

“Whatever you want to do,” Emma said.

“We’ll go for a hike if you need to talk. Or we can go out and get you drunk if it goes badly,” Julie shrugged.

“And what if it doesn’t go badly?” I chewed on my lip. “There’s only one possible outcome, I know that. And I’m not getting my hopes up, but…”

“Then bring him back here for us to meet him,” Julie chirped.

“Okay.” I took several breaths, psyching myself up. “I’m going to talk to him.”

They both gave me quick hugs, and I hopped in the car, headed for the ranger station nearby. It was the same one we’d called when I found the ibis, so I hoped this was the one he worked out of. The park was so huge and there were so many ranger stations, he could be anywhere.

I parked and ascended the steps, then approached a woman sitting behind a desk. Her name tag said Rachel.

“Hi, Rachel,” I smiled. “I’m looking for a certain ranger, and I’m wondering if he’s here.”

“Sure. What is this in regards to?”

I had my excuse ready to go. “I found an injured bird a few days back. The ranger said to call or stop by to find out how it was doing.”

Part lie, part exaggeration, close enough.

Rachel nodded. “Who you looking for?”

“Owen Bailey?”

“And your name, ma’am?” she asked.

“Adeline Pearson.”

She scribbled something down, then looked up at me. “I’m afraid he’s not here today, Ms. Pearson.”

“Oh.” Disappointment washed over me. “Do you expect him in tomorrow?”

“He’s off for the rest of the week. But let me make a call. I can get you an update on the bird.”

“Oh, great; thanks.” I forced a smile. I couldn’t very well walk away and say I didn’t care anymore. Even if it was an excuse, I did wonder about the bird. Wouldn’t hurt to stick around to hear something about it.

Rachel disappeared into another room and came back after several minutes. “Ms. Pearson?”

“Yes.” I turned from the rack of brochures and walked back over to her desk.

“I spoke with Owen briefly. He says if you’d like, you can stop by his cabin to talk about the bird, or he can have the vet give you a call if you’d prefer that.”

“Oh.” His cabin? Hell yes! Yes! I tried to act indecisive. “I’m not really sure where his cabin is.”

“Well no, he wouldn’t expect you to. That’s why he had me write down directions for you.” She handed me a piece of paper. “It’s just off the park grounds, but it can be a little tricky to find.”

I took the paper and tucked it carefully into my pocket. “Thanks. We’re old friends, so he probably just thought we could catch up.” I tried to laugh it off.

She gave me a little smile that seemed to hint that she knew what I was up to. “If you get lost, his number is there on the bottom.”

“Oh. Great, thanks.”

I got back into the car and pulled out the paper. I have his address and phone number? This information could be dangerous. As long as I did what I planned to do and just talked to him, it’d be fine. As long as I didn’t save his number to my phone and text him the next time I was drunk, or drive by his house when I was bored or suspicious, it’d be fine.

I sucked in a few breaths to steady my nerves. Once I convinced myself that I wouldn’t do those sorts of things with this information, I read over the map and drove off.

I did miss one turn, but I found my way easily enough. I tended to have a good sense of direction just by taking a moment to orient myself if I became confused. When I saw the little cabin sitting there, unassuming, my heart jumped. His Jeep was there; the same red Jeep his parents had bought him for graduation. I’d ridden in it twice: once, the day he got it, and again the following day, when he took me to the park to break up with me.

Before I even got out of Emma’s car, he stepped out onto the front porch. Weird that even when he was off, Rachel—whatever her position was—called him. Maybe he loved his job that much. I couldn’t blame him. I would’ve loved to work in a national park, too.

He waved when he saw me and I raised my hand in return. Now that I was here and was about to talk to him, I wanted to leave. To turn around and keep things as they were. To not hear again that he didn’t want to be with me. But it was too late. I kept walking.