I flinched with every “fuck,” thankful he didn’t see me because it would have confirmed his earlier accusations. Without another word, I escaped to the basement. He’d planted the seed, making me doubt my ability or even my sanity for going into the mountains alone. If I didn’t go, it would’ve looked like I’d succumbed to his fear tactics. If I did go and anything bad happened, he would have to tell Rory, making me look like the stubborn, immature, fake adult he pegged me for.

“Gah! Stupid naked fisherman!” I ripped off my dress and pulled on a pair of shorts and a fitted red T-shirt. Then I found a pair of socks to wear with my tennis shoes.

Sunscreen.

Bug spray.

Water bottle.

Energy bar.

Cell phone.

What more could a girl need? I wasn’t staying for a week, roughing it in the wilderness.

As I slung my backpack over my shoulder, my phone rang.

Rory.

“Hey.” I headed out the door and closed and locked it behind me.

“Hey, sweetie. I just called Fisher to check in. He mentioned you taking a trip into the mountains today. It’s not a good idea to go by yourself, given the fact you’ve never driven in the mountains.”

“Thanks for your concern, but I’ll be fine.” I gazed out at the mountains. They didn’t look so tough from where I stood.

“I’d feel better if Fisher went with you.”

“Well, that makes one of us.”

“Do you have a problem with Fisher?”

I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. “No. No problems with Fisher. It’s just that he’s my boss now, and maybe I don’t want to be under his watchful eye on the weekend too. And really, do you think he wants to deal with me on his day off? No. I don’t think so.”

“He said he’d love to take you today.”

Liar.

“He did, did he? Well, that’s not what he said to me.”

“Oh? What did he say to you?”

I couldn’t tell her. It involved using the F-word twice, and I wasn’t comfortable with saying it outside of my head.

“He basically said he didn’t want to go because it’s his day off. His day off from me.”

“Wait until I get home. We’ll go together.”

“You want me to wait half the summer to go up into the mountains? That’s not fair.”

“Reese …”

“I’ve got this. Really.”

“I’m going to call Fisher back.”