Zoey

The moment I stepped into the large suite, the lights automatically turned on. I wheeled my suitcase behind me as I looked around. It was beautiful with beige painted walls, wood beam ceilings, and décor that was casual but sophisticated at the same time. The living area had a beehive fireplace that sat quaintly in the corner, a wall-mounted TV, an oversized couch and chair that were in a deep brown rich leather, and a beautiful wood coffee table to match. There was a kitchen area with a large oak table, oak cabinets, and black speckled granite counter tops. The best part of the room was the sliding glass door that led out to a large wooden deck, which housed a gas grill, a small round wood table, and matching chairs. The view that sat in front of me was breathtaking. Even though it was dark outside, the lights from all over the resort lit up the beautiful scenic box canyon.

“Wow, this is beautiful,” Carter spoke as he stood beside me.

I hadn’t forgotten what he said and I hadn’t forgiven him either. I was tired and speaking to him was the last thing I wanted to do. I walked away, grabbed my suitcase, and wheeled it into the bedroom that had two double beds.

“You can have the room with the king-size bed,” Carter spoke from the doorway.

“No. This is fine. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed.” I walked over and shut the door in his face.

After changing into my nightshirt and washing my face, I turned off the light in the bathroom. As I stepped into the bedroom, a cold sensation tore through me. I looked around but didn’t see anyone, which was strange.

“I don’t know what else to do,” I quietly spoke as I climbed into bed.

The moment my head hit the pillow, I was out.

****

I opened my eyes as the sun poured through the large window. Looking around the room, I had forgotten for a moment where I was. Letting out a long yawn, I picked up my phone from the nightstand and saw that it was nine a.m. I hadn’t a clue what time Carter planned on leaving for the Grand Canyon, so I took a shower, got dressed, and ventured into the kitchen area for some coffee. I wasn’t sure if he was up yet, and to be honest, I really wasn’t ready to see him after last night.

I popped a k-cup into the Keurig machine that was sitting in the corner on the granite countertop. Looking around the suite, I didn’t see or hear any sign of him. I was sure he was still asleep. I took my coffee out to the wooden deck and sat down in one of the chairs that faced the canyon. There was something about this place that filled me with peace.

I had just finished my coffee when I heard the sliding door open. I turned around and saw a very sweaty Carter Grayson standing on the deck.

“Morning,” he spoke as he wiped his face with a small white towel.

“I thought you were still asleep.”

“Nah. I was up at the crack of dawn, so I decided to go for a run.”

“How was it?” I asked as my eyes stared straight ahead.

He took the seat beside me and chugged a bottle of water he was holding.

“Good. It’s beautiful here. I would have asked you to come, but—”

“I wouldn’t have gone anyway,” I interrupted him. “You couldn’t have gotten much sleep.”

“I didn’t. The bed was a little too comfortable.” He smirked. “Go figure. Anyway, I brought you something back. It’s inside on the counter. Maybe you should go take a look.”

I narrowed my eye at him for a moment before getting up from my seat and stepping back inside. Over on the counter sat a white square medium-sized box.

“What’s in here?” I asked him.

“Open the lid and find out.”

I slowly lifted the cardboard lid with my fingers and inside the box sat a huge, probably the biggest I’d ever seen, round donut with white icing and the words “I’m sorry” written in pink on it.

“I don’t think I’d ever seen a donut this big before. Where did you get this?” I looked at him with a smile on my lips.

“The bakery in the hotel had them. I remember you telling Nora that your favorite donuts were the ones with the white frosting.”

“And you had them put this writing on it?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m sorry for what I said to you yesterday, Zoey. I was out of line. There are just some things you don’t understand.”

“I know you don’t believe me, Carter, but I do understand. In fact, I’m probably the only person in the world who does.”

“There’s no way you could,” he spoke. “We have a long trip ahead of us still and I don’t want there to be any tension. So, I’m extending an olive branch, or donut.” He smiled.

I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Okay. I accept your apology. How about we cut this donut in half and eat it?”

“Sounds good to me.”

He walked over to the drawer, opened it and pulled out a knife.

“Shall I do the honor?” He held the knife up.

“Be my guest.” I nodded with a smile.

He cut the donut in half and it was still too big, so he cut it into fours.