“No. It’s just time to get to work.”
He’s acting so cold, as if yesterday meant nothing. I don’t get it. Was it because of his dream? Because he thought he hurt me?
“If you’re worried about last night, your dream—”
“Lilly, I said let’s get started.”
“You didn’t hurt me, Keller, see?” I show him my arms. “Totally fine.”
“Sit down, Lilly.”
“Or if you’re embarrassed, don’t be. I get night terrors too, it’s totally—”
“I said, SIT DOWN,” he shouts at me, his body now coiled with aggravation. “We’re not talking about last night, we’re not talking about my dream, and we’re not talking about anything other than what I have planned. So, take a seat, shut your mouth, and just listen.”
Oh.
No.
He.
Didn’t.
“He’s avoiding me, Lara,” I say as we walk around the back of the castle.
“How’s he avoiding you? He spent all morning in training with you.”
“Yeah, in the stuffy room again, droning on like a boring lecturer. It’s as if he locked up his personality. He’s distant. I can feel it in his voice, in his body language. Not to mention he was a total asshole to me—I mean, cream of the crop, ripe for the picking, grade-A asshole.” I lean in close to her and say, “He told me to shut my mouth five times. FIVE! It’s a stark contrast from the man who told me about burning King Theo’s penis with soup.”
“He told you that?” Lara asks.
“Yes, and I swear to God, do not tell him I just told you that.” I kick a loose rock on the ground. “Lara, he’s pulling away, and I thought we’d made such great progress last night. Can one bad dream really change that?”
“Depends,” Lara says. “If he felt you were getting too close, then, yes, that could change everything. Keller doesn’t let a lot of people into his life. It’s me, Brimar, and the king and queen. That’s it. No one else. And even on that small list, there are things he doesn’t tell us.”
“So am I just supposed to sit back and let him retreat?”
“That also depends.”
“Depends on what?” I ask.
“Your intentions with being here. If you’re truly thinking about staying here, I believe there’s some validity in you not letting him pull away, but if you’re unsure, if there’s a part of you that believes you’ll be returning to Miami, then you need to let him pull away. You need to let him put distance there because he’s doing it on purpose. He’s guarding himself. So, if you’re leaving at the end of this, let him guard himself.”
“Ugh, Lara, you’re a very smart woman, and that’s annoying.”
She chuckles. “I’m sorry.”
I take a seat on the grass and bring my legs to my chest. “You know, when I said yes to all this training, I thought it was going to be different. Little less lecture-y and a little more fun. But it’s just been one giant onslaught of information.”
Ding.
“What was that?” Lara asks.
“My phone. It’s a text message.” I look at the screen and see that it’s from Keller. Confused, I open the text thread.
Keller: Forgot to send this to you this morning. Remember, this is confidential.
Keller: THE INFORMATIVE.
I gasp out loud.
“What?” Lara asks. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s from Keller. The Informative. I forgot about this. I’m sure you’ve read it already this morning.”
“I have,” Lara says.
“Well, excuse me while I delight myself in some gossip.”
Keller: THE INFORMATIVE. Known angler on the west was found philandering on another man’s boat. Word on the street, he wasn’t looking for extra bait, but rather the warmth of his opponent’s wife. As for what will happen between the two, we’re unsure at the moment, but fishing poles have been drawn and only time will tell whose bed the wife will choose. The harmony of the port rides on her decision.
I set my phone down and look up at Lara. “Oh my God, an affair? Do you know who it is? Not that I would know the person if you told me their name, but still, do you know?”
She shakes her head. “No idea, but it’s good to know if there’s a supply shortage on cod this week, we’ll know why.”
“I guess so.” I shake my head. “That’s wild. From what Keller, you, and Brimar have told me about Torskethorpe, everyone seems to be so . . . perfect. But you’re telling me there are people in this country jumping from boat to boat? Wow, just, wow.”