Lake Opens Up

Lake

The fireplace crackled softly in the corner of the lodge’s library, a quiet crackling that filled the silence between Ivy and Lake like a slow-burning tension neither of them was brave enough to touch. Outside, the wind had picked up, rattling pine branches against the windows. Most of the retreat couples were off doing late-night pottery or stargazing. Ivy had snuck away for a few minutes of peace. Or so she’d hoped.

Lake had followed, carrying two steaming mugs of hot ...