Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MOLLY

The fact that Blake is here under false pretenses really ticks me off, and I didn't even come to the lodge with hopes of meeting anyone. I'm here to work. So after going back to my room and changing into some dry and non-bloodied clothes, I head down to the gift shop.

Lorelai takes one look at me and gasps, "Have you been in an accident?"

I knew it was only a matter of time before I started to bruise. I should have put an extra layer of foundation on. "I walked into a door," I tell her.

Concerned, she asks, "How is that even possible?"

I'm not trying to protect Blake as much as myself when I tell her, "I tripped."

"Do you need to see a doctor?" She doesn't appear convinced that I'm okay.

Shaking my head, I say, "I don't think I broke anything." Then I hurry to change the subject. "Have you had any requests for things you don't already carry?"

Reaching under the counter, she pulls out a small notepad. " I've been keeping track. So far, I've had three people ask for protein bars, two for holiday-themed press-on nails, and one for inexpensive festive earrings." She smiles before telling me that twin seven-year-old girls wanted the press-on nails so they could get fancy for supper in the dining room, and a teenage girl asked for the earrings.

I smile as I write this down. Being that the lodge caters to families, I like the idea of them carrying things like nails and cheap earrings. Big girls and little girls alike love that stuff. And being that Trista and her fiancé don't care if they make money from the shop, these two items would be a great addition.

"Why don't you already sell protein bars?" I ask. I assume it has to do with wanting people to eat in the dining room, but with so many outdoor activities it would make sense that people get hungry at non-mealtimes.

"We have granola bars and cookies," she says, "but I think people want more if they're doing sports."

"Okay, Lorelai, thanks." Then I tell her, "I think I'll spend the day talking to guests and try to get some other ideas."

As luck would have it, as I turn to leave the gift shop, I walk right into Kyle.

"Molly." By the look on his face, he's obviously wondering what happened to me. I'm relieved when he doesn't comment.

I talked to Kyle for a little bit last night. He asked to have breakfast with me, but I declined. In retrospect, I might have been better off had I eaten with him. Chances are my nose wouldn't be so sore.

That's when I realize I still haven't had my breakfast. I spilled Blake's juice on the french toast and beat it out of his room before I could eat the omelet. "Hi, Kyle. Have you eaten?"

He looks surprised. "No."

"Would you like to join me?"

"But you said no when I asked you last night." He hurriedly adds, "I'd love to eat with you." As we walk toward the banquet hall, he asks, "How did you hurt yourself? "

"I tripped. But it looks worse than it is." As we cross the lobby, he tells me, "I'm really glad you've decided to spend some time with me. I've felt just awful about everything ever since I saw you here."

I shoot him a look that has him rushing to add, "I've obviously felt awful for longer than that."

Thinking about my situation with Blake somehow makes me feel compassion for Kyle. "You can't choose who you love."

"But you can choose how you proceed."

"That's the truth, Kyle." That's when I realize I need to quit telling myself to stay away from Blake and just do it. What was I thinking, having breakfast in his room today? And now that I know he's here under false pretenses, I really need to keep my distance.

As we near the room that's been set up for our group's breakfast, Kyle asks, "What do you say we skip the circus and eat in the dining room? You know, away from curious eyes."

"That sounds like a great idea," I tell him. Also, that way, there will be no chance of running into Blake if he decides to come down.

Once we're seated and we've ordered, Kyle asks, "So, have you thought more about giving us another go?"

I shake my head. "I'm sorry, but I can't forgive being cheated on. Distrust is no way to start over again." Truthfully, I'm surprised I even agreed to have a meal with him. I blame Blake for throwing me off my game so badly.

"I don't blame you," Kyle says. "I was horrible to you."

I don't know what comes over me, but I tell my ex, "It's done. You can't keep beating yourself up about it. You just need to move on and do better the next time."

"I thought I'd done better with Amelia," he says. "Not that you want to hear about that …"

I'm so over Kyle that I find I don't mind listening to him. "You can talk about her if you want. I know how you must be feeling. "

"Because of me." Even though I'm glad he's experiencing remorse, I also feel sorry for him.

"You know that old saying." His blank stare prompts me to tell him the same thing I told Blake at the beginning of this. "All's fair in love and war." With a shrug I add, "There's truth to that. No one should settle for someone they don't wholeheartedly adore. Life is too uncertain not to be totally committed to the one you're with. And you should do everything you can to be with that person."

Kyle picks up the glass of ice water in front of him and takes a slow sip. "Yeah, but what if you're sure the one you're meant to be with doesn't feel the same way about you?"

I know he's not talking about me. "Then you find something to distract yourself with until your heart doesn't hurt so badly."

He looks at me sheepishly. "Is that what you did?"

It's time to stop being sympathetic and regain some self-respect. "I was sad when you left, Kyle, but I wasn't devastated. I took time to reevaluate my life, and then I started going out again." I don't mention that was with my girlfriends, not with potential love interests.

Looking mildly hurt, he decides, "I didn't mean that much to you, then."

This conversation is exactly what I've needed. I don't want Kyle to remember me as the loser he dumped. And while there's some truth to that, there's also the knowledge that he and I would have never been happy together. "Our feelings for each other were similar," I tell him.

He surprises me by saying, "I'm glad for that. I've been worried I was the reason you're still single."

Oh, he is. But not in the way he thinks. Even though Kyle and I wouldn't have been good together, he is responsible for making me afraid to trust other men. I have to force myself to remember that not all men are liars and cheats. I just need to figure out how not to be attracted to the bad boys who are destined to break my heart .

The waiter brings our coffees and Kyle's orange juice—note to self: stay away from the juice. Leaning out of harm's way, I ask Kyle, "Have you met anyone you might be interested in dating here?"

He shakes his head. "Honestly, I think it's too soon." Then he sheepishly adds, "When I saw you, I thought the universe was trying to help me fix a past mistake, but now I see it for what it really is."

"Which is?"

"A warning that you can't blow through life only looking out for yourself."

"You know what I think?" I ask him. He shakes his head. "I think it's a good thing that we saw each other here. It's closure we both needed to carry on."

"It's going to be awhile before I carry on," he says, "but I really am glad that you're here." After a beat, he asks, "How are Ellen and Henry doing?"

"They broke up," I tell him.

He's as surprised as I was hearing this, and he only knew them at the very beginning of their relationship. "But they were perfect together!"

"I thought so too, but Ellen feels like she plays second fiddle to Henry's kids. As such, she was less than receptive when he proposed."

The waiter arrives and places our meals in front of us. The french toast I ruined up in Blake's room looked so good that I got it again. Picking up my knife and fork, I change the subject and ask Kyle, "Is there anything that you think the gift shop should carry that they don't have?"

He smiles. "Watch out, Molly; all work and no play isn't good for you."

"Don't worry about that," I tell him. "Researching for the resort has been about ninety percent play." Once again, I wonder why I was booked for two full weeks. My normal jobs are only for three days .

He takes a bite of his pancakes before asking, "What about Blake?"

"What about him?"

"You seem to enjoy each other's company." After a beat, he adds, "He seems like a really nice guy."

For a fraud. But I don't say that. Full of humility, I tell him, "He likes me as a friend." Truthfully, he probably doesn't even like me for that. He just needed someone to glom onto so that it wasn't obvious he was here to deceive.

"I think he likes you for more than that," Kyle says.

Now's my big chance to out Blake for the liar that he is, but for some reason I can't bring myself to do that.

Not yet, anyway.