Chapter 73: Pre-Retreat Tension 2
Chapter 73: Pre-Retreat Tension 2
The compliment hit Laura harder than any criticism Leonard had ever delivered. She looked down at her sandwich, unable to meet his eyes.
"Mike also said something else," Leonard continued. "He said that he'd been watching both of us from a distance over the years, and he thinks we're both still carrying damage from what he did to us."
"Of course we are," Laura said quietly. "You don't just recover from betrayal like that."
"Maybe not. But Mike thinks… and I'm starting to agree with him… that we've been so focused on the betrayal that we forgot about everything that came before it. All the good things we had together before that one terrible night."
Laura finally looked up at Leonard, seeing vulnerability in his expression that matched her own confusion and fear.
"What's the point of remembering the good things?" Laura asked. "They just make the bad things hurt worse."
"Or maybe they remind us that what we had was real and worth grieving," Leonard replied. "Laura, I've spent four years being angry with you. But anger is easier than admitting how much losing you actually hurt."
A waitress appeared to refill their coffee, breaking the intensity of the moment. By the time she left, Leonard had pulled back behind his professional walls, and Laura felt the opportunity for honest conversation slipping away again.
They finished lunch in near silence and returned to the car for the final two hours of driving. The mountains grew larger as they approached Pine Summit, the scenery becoming more dramatic with each passing mile.
Laura's phone buzzed with texts from Jane: "Have you arrived yet? How's the sexual tension? On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to jump him before the week is over?"
Laura deleted the messages without responding, but she couldn't help the small smile that crossed her face.
"Jane checking in?" Leonard asked, noticing her expression.
"She's... enthusiastic about this retreat," Laura said diplomatically.
"I bet she is," Leonard replied with what might have been amusement. "Jane's been trying to get us together since the day you started at the company."
"You noticed that?"
"Everyone noticed that. Jane has all the subtlety of a freight train when it comes to matchmaking."
They fell into easier conversation for the last hour, discussing work topics and industry news, carefully avoiding anything too personal. But as Pine Summit Resort came into view, a sprawling luxury complex nestled in the mountains, Laura felt her anxiety return full force.
The resort was even more beautiful than the photos Nathan had shown. Stone and timber buildings spread across acres of pristine landscape, with mountain peaks rising dramatically in the background. Staff members in crisp uniforms greeted arriving employees, directing them to check-in.
Nathan stood near the main entrance, coordinating arrivals with his usual efficiency. When he saw Leonard and Laura arriving together, his expression showed relief mixed with something that looked almost like hope.
"Perfect timing," Nathan said. "Your suite is ready. It's in the west wing… beautiful views of the mountains."
He handed Leonard two key cards, and Laura noticed other employees watching the interaction with obvious interest. Jane caught her eye from across the lobby and gave an enthusiastic thumbs up that made Laura want to disappear.
"The welcome dinner is at seven," Nathan continued. "Casual dress. Tomorrow we start with team-building activities at nine."
Leonard thanked Nathan and gestured for Laura to follow him toward the west wing. They walked through beautifully appointed corridors, passing other employees who were already exploring the resort's amenities.
When Leonard opened the door to Suite 7B, Laura's heart sank. The space was smaller than she'd imagined, or maybe it just felt that way knowing she'd be sharing it with Leonard. Two bedroom doors opened off a central living area that featured a couch, small dining table, and kitchenette. A single bathroom connected the two bedrooms.
"It's... cozy," Leonard said, setting down their luggage.
"It's fine," Laura replied, though her voice lacked conviction.
Leonard walked to the window, looking out at the mountain view. "We should establish some ground rules. About space and privacy and…"
"I'll take morning shower time from six to seven," Laura interrupted, needing to control something about this situation. "You can have seven to eight."
"That works," Leonard agreed. "And we'll split the living space evenly. I'll stay in my room when you need the common area, and vice versa."
They spent the next ten minutes establishing boundaries that felt necessary but artificial, times for using the kitchenette, rules about knocking before entering shared spaces, agreements about keeping bedroom doors closed.
But as Laura unpacked in her bedroom, she couldn't shake the feeling that all their carefully constructed rules wouldn't matter. Being in such close quarters with Leonard would break down their professional distance whether they wanted it to or not.
Through the connecting bathroom, she could hear Leonard moving around in his own room. The intimacy of sharing walls with him, knowing he was just feet away, made her chest feel tight with anxiety and something else she didn't want to name.
Her phone buzzed again. This time it was a message from Leonard: "This is going to be the longest week of my life."
Laura stared at the text, unsure how to interpret it. Was he dreading spending time with her, or was he acknowledging the same tension she felt?
She typed and deleted several responses before finally settling on: "Mine too.”