SOL - She's back

It’s like nothing’s happened.

You return to the Lodge after lunch to find Riley and Lara, along with some others, on the sofas. There’s a movie on, but no one’s watching it. They’re chatting about FUTA. Lara has her arm around Riley, and Riley’s body language is… very content. She’s all but cuddling with Lara, almost protectively, as though afraid she’ll leave again.

This is not a surprise. You knew this was a possibility, and you tried to prepare for it on the ride back.

You are not prepared. You hurry upstairs and close your door. After several deep breaths, you conclude that you can’t stay. Getting out of the Lodge will help. You can handle this. This is not the end of the world. You’re an adult, not a hopeless kid in love. It’s just hardest to deal with when it’s in your face this way. You need space.

You put your shopping down and head out again, almost running headfirst into Tiff, who grabs your arm.

“Watch it,” she says, but she’s not angry. She’s worried. “What’s the matter with you, Adella? You’re so tense.”

You scowl at her. “I just need to get out.”

“You just got back. I literally just saw you get out of a car,” she says.

You take another deep breath. “God,” she says, looking startled. “You really want to punch me. That would be a mistake. I’m better at punching than you are. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s personal.”

“Not anymore. Now it’s a team problem. Lara just came back. Our team is whole again. That’s a good thing, and I’m not going to have you fall apart and mess it up,” she says, letting you go. “You need to relax. Come on. Let’s hit the spa.”

“No, thank you,” you say.

“It’s that or you’re doing some yoga with Amelie. One or the other, Adella. I’m not asking. I’m not having this angst on my team,” she says firmly.

Great. This is the last thing you need. You have a feeling that no matter which you do… you’re going to end up with some kind of lecture or advice coming your way about separating business from personal stuff.

“Make a choice, Adella,” Tiff orders.

Go to the spa with Tiff?

Or do yoga with Amelie?