Chapter Fourteen

Harper

I promised Jillian that I wouldn’t check my emails, but she went out to get some fresh air and I couldn’t help myself. For the most part, I’d been good at staying away from work. But I still snuck in a few emails every now and again. If I didn’t, I was only going to be bombarded with too much work when I got back. Although, looking through my emails now made me think about how good it was to take a break from it all. I loved my work, and I was very good at what I did, but taking a step away from it wasn’t a bad thing either. I needed to do this more often. Perhaps I’d come here once a year, just to get away for a few weeks. I knew this wasn’t the sort of lifestyle for me, but I was definitely enjoying it much more than I thought I would. I was just about to send one more email when Jillian came back into the room, and I noticed that she had been crying.

“Jill, what’s going on? Did something happen?”

Jillian lay down on the bed and looked at me. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were a little red. She wiped away some tears and sighed. “I just did the most embarrassing thing in the world and I want the earth to swallow me up whole.”

“Oh no. What happened? Did you call Thomas? Tell me you didn’t!” I wanted nothing more than for Thomas to be the one that came crawling back to her and not the other way around. Jillian deserved to have a man who wanted to be with her more than anything in the world. I had a feeling that Thomas might regret his decision of breaking up with her but I wanted him to realize that.

She shook her head. “No. Not Thomas. Although maybe that would’ve been better. So… I went outside to get some fresh air. And I saw Travis. He was walking around also getting some air. He walked from the house. He said it’s not too far. Anyway… I was feeling so down about Thomas and about being here that I went and flirted with him. But not subtly. I came on pretty strong. I don’t know what got into me. It’s not like me at all to be like that. I guess I just wanted some sort of recognition from him.”

My heart was beating fast in my chest at the thought of Jillian flirting with Travis. I was just glad not to have been there to see it. “What happened?”

“Well, he shot me down. That’s what happened. He was very polite about it, but he said I wasn’t his type. And then, to make matters oh so much worse, instead of me just leaving it at that, I went on to ask him if he was married, or if he had a girlfriend, or if he was gay.”

I chuckled. “You asked him if he was gay?”

She groaned. “Yes! I told you I made a fool of myself. It was like I was saying that he must surely be with someone else if he’s turning me down. I must’ve come across like such an idiot. Like who do I think I am? Must all guys just fall to my feet or something? I’m so embarrassed. Anyway, he said he’s not married and that he doesn’t have a girlfriend. And he’s not gay. He just… well, he isn’t into me. He said I’m not his type.”

“Oh no. I’m so sorry, Jillian. That bastard.” A big part of me was so happy that he had turned her down, but another part of me was angry. This was my best friend, and I didn’t want her to feel this way. I felt so conflicted. But I hardly knew Travis and Jillian was my best friend. She came first.

She shrugged. “Ah, he was actually very nice about it. I’m the one who went and put him in an awkward position. I can’t really be upset with him. And at least he didn’t lie to me. Good on him for being so honest. The whole thing is just super embarrassing, that’s all. And now I have to see the guy every day! He said it’s not going to be awkward, but I’m not so sure.”

“Are you okay? Did you really like him that much?”

She shook her head. “That’s just the thing, Harper. When he turned me down, I realized that I didn’t actually like him that much. I mean, he’s very good-looking and seems like a nice guy. But he’s absolutely right when he says that there is nothing going on with us. I can’t even begin to compare the way I feel when I look at him compared to the way I feel when I look at Thomas. It’s like night and day. Also, it would’ve been such a bad idea for me to hook up with a guy so soon after ending a long-term relationship. My heart is not in it, and I know it would’ve just been a rebound. So, I guess I’m glad he turned me down. I’m just embarrassed. That’s all.”

“Nah, you shouldn’t be. You probably did wonders for his ego. Everyone likes to be told that they are liked.”

She chuckled. “That’s exactly what he said. You don’t think this is going to be awkward now?”

“I don’t, actually. Maybe the next time you see him, but that will go away. Anyway, you’re both adults; it’s not like you’re teenagers or something. You’ll be fine. You gave him an ego boost, and you also realized that this is not what you wanted. So, in actual fact, it’s good that you took the plunge and asked him.”

She smiled. “I guess you’re right. Thanks, Harper. Hey, were you checking your emails when I got in?” she asked and narrowed her eyes at me.

I laughed. “Guilty as charged. Just a little though. But don’t worry, I only sent out a few. I wasn’t actually on it for very long. The truth is I didn’t actually feel like being on my emails all that much. Which is definitely a new feeling for me. They need to learn to live without me. I’m a hard worker. Maybe too much of a hard worker at times.” I couldn’t believe only a few days away from city life had made me see this. I’d always thought that working hard was the way to a better life, but now I wasn’t so sure. My life went by so quickly because I was always in a rush to get from one place to a next, and I was constantly jumping between projects. I hadn’t been out here all that long, but it felt like I had been here for at least double the amount of time. Things just moved at a much slower pace here.

She chuckled. “You know, Harper, you really do surprise me. It’s good to know that I can still learn stuff about you after all this time of being friends with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are so much more relaxed here than I thought you would be. I’m the one freaking out over everything, and you just seem to be taking everything in your stride. I’m so impressed with you. I really am. I thought you’d be begging me to go back after the first day, but it’s been nothing like that at all. Do you think you could live like this?”

“No way! I couldn’t live like this. Not full time, anyway. I’m glad you think I fit in so well but it’s definitely a holiday for me and nothing else. I’m also surprised that I’m enjoying it though. It’s definitely not the sort of place I thought I would enjoy. I thought I’d want to go back after the first day too. Although, it’s also nice not to worry about my nails and my hair for a change. It’s sort of pointless thinking about it here, and to be honest, it’s not really that important. Who knows, I may even take a bit of this thinking into my life when we get back.”

Jillian smiled. “Well, that’s good then. I’m glad we came. Gives us a bit of perspective on things which is a good thing. You know, if I’m not going to go for Travis, then maybe you should. Yeah, you know, that’s not a bad idea. You should totally go for him, Harper. The two of you would look gorgeous together.”

That was the last thing I expected her to say. I looked up at her in surprise. “What?”

“Oh, come on, you know he’s gorgeous.”

“Well, yeah. I mean, obviously. Everyone can see that. He’s very fun to look at. But the whole thing is a bad idea. Like you said, it would just be a holiday romance, and I’m not sure I want to do that. You just said it’s not a good idea to do that.”

“For me! I just came out of a serious relationship. It would totally mess with my mind if I got together with another guy right now. I either need to make things work with Thomas, or I need to be by myself for a while. But you could totally be with him. Just have a bit of fun. God knows you deserve it. You’re always working so hard,” she said and gestured to the phone that was still in my hand.

I’d been trying so hard not to think of Travis in that way because of Jillian. It was weird to hear her pushing me towards him now, and I wasn’t quite sure what to think or say. Should I? No. No. What was I thinking? “It’s a bad idea. I mean, mutual compatibility is important, and the two of us are clearly very different from one another. He’s a relaxed country guy, and I’m this forever busy city girl. He’s… well, he’s country music and I’m rock and roll.”

Jillian giggled, and I was pleased to see that she was at least in a better mood. “Nothing wrong with going for someone different. Anyway, what’s that they say about opposites attracting. He’s not interested in me, so maybe he’s interested in you. I think you should go for it.”

“And I think you are crazy.”

“I think it’s great when opposites get together.”

“Yeah, but that only works for a casual fling and not for a long-term relationship. It’s all sparks and fireworks that eventually fade out.”

Jillian raised her eyebrows. “Oh yeah? So does that mean that you are interested in a long-term relationship with him?”

“I’m interested in a long-term relationship. Not with him. Anyway, I’m only here for a little while. How much longer are we even here for? A week? It’s a bit pointless to get involved with someone and then have to leave.”

“You’ve got to admit though, it would be fun…”

I laughed. “It would be fun, but I’m not sure if that’s what I want right now.”

Jillian rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, everyone wants a bit of fun. You should do it for me. Give me something to keep my mind off Thomas. I love playing matchmaker. I think the two of you would be great together. Would you at least think about it?”

I groaned. “You’re such a pain. I’m not interested. Let’s just have some girl time while we are here. We don’t need romance.” I hoped she couldn’t see how much I was blushing though. The more I thought about being with Travis, the more I realized I really was attracted to the guy. Even more so now that I knew Jillian wasn’t into him.