that would be awful. I don’t want him feeling sorry for me. This is my problem, not his. I don’t want things to change.”
Élise glanced across with exasperation. “Merde, of course you want things to change! And for once instead of putting your head in the snow—”
“Sand,” Kayla murmured and earned herself a glare.
“Snow, sand, mud—whatever you do when you don’t want to face something. You could tell him the truth. You want to have sex with him. You want him to go from clothed to naked faster than his sports car goes from zero to sixty. You want him to be as in love with you as you are with him.”
“But that isn’t what would happen. That isn’t what he wants. If he found out, it would be hideously awkward.”
“Unless you’re wrong about the way he feels about you.”
“I’m not wrong. I know him as well as he knows me, and I know I’m not his type.” There were things that they didn’t understand. Things she’d never shared with anyone. “I think he’ll be dating Christy by next week.”
“Christy?” Kayla looked astonished at the suggestion. “No way. For a start, Tyler is a true outdoorsman, and Christy is most definitely an indoor girl. She’s worse than I am! If she breaks a nail, she needs therapy. She’d drive Tyler mad in under sixty seconds. You have totally got that wrong.”
“She’s the sort of girl he hung out with all the time on the ski circuit.”
“Maybe. But that was after the skiing had finished, and none of those relationships lasted.”
“He flirts with her all the time.”
“Tyler flirts with everyone under the age of fifty. It is how he communicates.”
“Not with me.”
Élise selected a pair of hand weights. “That is interesting, no? That tells you something.”
“Yes, it tells me he doesn’t see me that way. I’m someone to ski and climb trees with, not flirt with.”
Élise pushed the weights up from her shoulders. “Kayla is right. You two are perfect together.” The way she rolled her rs made her sound like a contented cat. “You may need to do something drastic and take control of the situation.”
“I’m already in control of the situation. I’m working very hard to make sure he doesn’t know how I feel.”
“Je ne comprends pas. This I don’t get.” Élise looked bemused. “Why would you not want him to know?”
“Because it would damage our friendship.”
Kayla leaned against the wall. “Perhaps it’s time to turn what you have into something more than friendship.”
Élise lowered the hand weights. “You should ask him straight-out and then there can be no mistake. With Sean, I made it clear I was interested.”
“It’s different.” Brenna reached for her water bottle. “You and Sean have crazy chemistry. You’ve always shared something special. I already know how Tyler feels, and it isn’t the same way I do,” she said quietly. “I’ve learned to live with that. I learned to live with all those photos and rumors when he was on the ski circuit. I suppose that’s one of the reasons the past year has been really special for me. With Jess living with him, the whole thing’s been easier. And because of work we’ve been spending more time together, and it’s been great.”
Élise looked perplexed. “So if you are really happy with the situation, then carry on.”
“That’s just it. I’ve been pretending that we can, but we can’t. It’s inevitable he is going to meet someone. I’m not sure how easy it’s going to be to live with that. What woman is going to want him being friends with me?” She sat down on the machine. “I’m wondering if the whole thing would be easier if I moved away.”
“You did that before.” Élise put the weights down. “Did it work?”
“No.” Suddenly, it felt difficult to speak. “He’s in my heart so wherever I go, he comes with me.”
“Oh, Bren, don’t say things like that.” Kayla’s eyes filled, and she lifted her hand to her mouth. “You’re making me cry, and I never cry. You are not moving away. You can’t! Don’t even think of it. You’re an essential part of the team.”
“Yes, without you, Kayla would turn into a lazy sloth.” Élise’s eyes were a little brighter than usual. “She needs you to help her keep that tight butt of hers. Without you, she’d sit at a desk all day.”
“Crap.” Kayla brushed her cheeks with the palm of her hand and sniffed. “Promise me you won’t do anything rash. Somehow we’ll fix this.”
Knowing Kayla’s formidable abilities to make things happen, Brenna came close to a smile. “Thanks, but even you can’t fix this.”
“Tyler hasn’t started seeing anyone yet. It might not happen.”
“It’s going to happen. He’s been putting his own needs second because of Jess, but if she’s encouraging him, then it’s going to happen. He’s gorgeous. Women are all over him.” She’d had to watch it her whole life. The way they looked at him. The lengths they went to get his attention. “I’m being stupid and pathetic. Ignore me. I’m tired. In fact, I think I’m going to skip the rest of our workout this morning.” She stooped and picked up her bag as Kayla exchanged looks with Élise.
“But you never skip our workouts. Never. You always say there isn’t a single thing in life that exercise can’t help with.”
“It can’t help with this. I need to get going and organize today’s lessons. I’ll see you later.”
There was no solution; she knew that.
She could move away, she could take another job on the other side of the world, but how did she get Tyler out of her heart?
KAYLA WAITED UNTIL the door closed behind Brenna and then breathed out heavily. “Look at me! I’m a mess.”
Élise looked. “C’est vrai. You are a mess. I thought you were a cool Brit who never cried. Your eyes are the color of tomato salsa. Or maybe purée.”
“Why does everything in your life have to have a culinary reference?” Kayla selected the camera app on her phone and checked her reflection. “Crap, you’re right. I’m never wearing makeup to have a conversation with Brenna again.”
“I have never seen her this emotional. She is a very calm, controlled person. It is the first time she has ever admitted her feelings.”
Kayla slid her phone in her bag. “It must be hell being in love with a man who isn’t interested. And when she said that bit about him being in her heart—” Her eyes filled again, and Élise glared at her in frustration.
“Merde, j’en ai assez, enough! What use is all this howling and sobbing? We need a plan.” She muttered something in French and spread out a yoga mat. “And he’s interested.”
