“The weather is supposed to clear up,” she replied with an affirmative nod. “This is my last chance to do it. I’m not about to miss out because of a little rain.”
“She’s a trooper,” Jim said, meeting Gage’s gaze.
“I try to be,” Aurora said with a laugh.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t get you out sooner,” Gage said.
“You had guests that were already booked to go out,” Aurora replied. “I’m just glad to have the opportunity to give it a try before I go back to Seattle.” Conversation stopped as her cell phone went off across the room. “I should get that,” she said. “I sent a batch of photos out to Eugene late last night. He might have had issues receiving them, since internet service here isn’t quite the same as on the mainland.”
Reed, who had already stood to leave, hurried over to grab Aurora’s jacket from the back of the sofa, since she was on the opposite side of the table. By the time he returned and handed it to her across the table, the ringing had ceased. “Sorry,” he apologized.
“You tried,” she told him. Retrieving her phone from her pocket, she pulled up her missed call screen. Her brows knitted together as she read the caller’s name.
“Mr. Watkins?” Gage asked.
“No,” she answered.
“Emmy, making sure you’re actually coming home tomorrow?” he teased with a grin.
Aurora shook her head. “No. It’s—” The cell phone rang again, this time in her hand. She hadn’t spoken to her ex for months, but then they were both busy with their careers. Answering the call, she brought the phone to her ear. “Hello, Ben.”
“Hey, Aurora,” her ex-fiancé said. “I was hoping we might be able to get together for dinner soon. I have something pretty important I want to talk to you about.”
“I’m not in Seattle right now,” she told him, wondering what it was he needed to meet up with her to discuss. “I’m in Alaska on an assignment. I have a few things going on when I get back. Can I call you then, and we’ll set something up that fits both our schedules?”
“Alaska?” he replied.
“It’s whereWorld Adventures Magazineneeded me to go.”
“I see. Hope you’re doing okay.”
She looked at Gage. “I’m doing better than expected.”
“I’m glad. Same here.”
She glanced over to find Gage watching her, his expression unreadable. Why did she feel so guilty sitting there talking to her ex about a proposed dinner date?
“Talk to you when I get back.” Disconnecting the call, she smiled sheepishly at Gage’s family. “Ben and I have been friends since we were children.”
“Friends?” Julia repeated with a studying glance.
Aurora looked back up at Gage to find his gaze no longer fixed on her but on the eggs he was shoveling around on his plate.
“I guess you’ll be able to catch yourfriendup on everything you’ve been doing here during your stay,” Reed said with an intentional glance in Gage’s direction.
She knew Reed was thinking about the kiss he’d interrupted on the porch the afternoon they had arrived in the rainstorm. “I’m not sure he’ll bring it up when I see him again. Ben and I were engaged,” she admitted, feeling the need to be honest with Gage’s family, “until I called off our wedding.”
“Oh,” Constance said, surprise in her eyes.
Oh, great.Now Gage’s mother thought she was like Gage’s ex. “We both agreed that we were not each other’s person and deserved something more than friendship in a marriage. Even if friendship is an important basis to build something more on, I knew in my heart that was all there would ever be between us. I’m just thankful Ben and I were able to remain friends.”
“You don’t owe us any explanations,” Gage told her. “Your personal life isn’t our business.”
Why did he suddenly sound so businesslike?
“Gage is right,” his father said.
“Unless your friend is having second thoughts about the breakup,” Julia said with a pout.
