An hour later and the game was finished, and so was my friend. Susie packed away the last of the meat and Scott poured me the last bit of the late-harvest wine. Our wonderful food had been punctuated with lively conversation about the Gardens, Susie and my boring lives, and future career plans for all of us.
Scott set down the empty bottle beside his plate and his eyes flickered to me. "You've spoken a great deal about your jobs, but I wondered what your plans were for your life."
Susie snorted and nodded at me. "Her job is her life," she informed him.
"Is it? That's a pity," he mused.
I raised an eyebrow and narrowed my eyes at him. "You seem pretty engrossed in your business, too," I pointed out.
He leaned back and smiled. "In this case the business is a family one, and it's impossible to disentangle the two," he defended himself.
"Well, the same is kind of true for me, it's just that I don't own the business," I argued. Young chuckled, and I scowled at him. "What's so funny? Can't a girl work for a living and like it?"
"By all means, but you shouldn't let it consume you," he scolded.
"Maybe I'm not 'consumed' by anything. Maybe I just like to have a future somewhere," I argued.
"But at a company? That doesn't sound like a very fulfilling future, and definitely not a fulfilling life," he countered.
"But it's my life," I insisted.
"Have you ever wondered if maybe you're taking the wrong path in life?" he challenged me.
My pride was pricked, and I wouldn't take it sitting down. I stood and flung my napkin on the table. "So you're saying women shouldn't put work first?"
His smile slipped off his lips. "Not at all, but there's more to life than a career."
Susie made slashing motions across her neck at me. "Abby!" she hissed.
I ignored her and scowled at Young. "Well, maybe other people don't think the same way you do. Maybe they don't have the luxury of owning a large resort that practically runs itself and only has to deal with a couple of complains every few months. Maybe other peoples' lives are a little tougher than being a rich playboy."
That hit the wrong button on Young because his lips pursed together. "If that's what you think of the situation then you're gravely mistaken. There are more responsibilities here than you can imagine."
"Scott," Nelson warned him.
I snorted. "Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it. Thanks for the meal." I stomped from the balcony and down the inside stairs.
Footsteps hurried after me and Susie caught up to me in the lobby. "What the hell was that?" she questioned me.
"A disagreement," I growled.
"More like a tongue-lashing. He didn't do that much to deserve that," she insisted.
By this time we were halfway down the row of cabins, and I spun around and glared at her. "If you think he's right then go back and stay with him," I snarled. I knew I'd gone too far when Susie shrank from me. I clutched my head in one hand and ground my teeth together. I felt like I'd just emerged from a bad dream or a terrible hangover. "What the hell did I just do?" I murmured.
"Probably get us kicked out because there's no fighting allowed," she told me.
I sighed and dropped my hand to my side. My shoulders drooped and I shook my head. "I'm so sorry, Susie. I. . .I just don't know what came over me."
She patted me on the shoulder, and when I looked up there was a smile on her face. "Well, at least we-um, we-" She pursed her lips and tapped her chin. "Actually, I can't think of any good reason to leave here early."
I snorted. "Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better."
"What a friends for? Anyway, let's get a good night's sleep in case the eviction notice comes early tomorrow morning. They wouldn't dare throw a couple of beautiful girls like us on the streets at this hour." She turned me toward our cabin a few buildings down, but I paused and glanced at the dark night sky.
I was still restless from my argument with the owner, and sleeping didn't sound like what I wanted. "You know, I think I'll break one more rule before we leave."
Susie raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
"I think I'll take a walk to the lake," I told her.
A devilish smile slipped onto Susie's lips and her eyes took on a faraway look. "Maybe I'll go try out those golf carts," she mused.
"No. We're not adding homicide and property damage to our list of broken rules. You stay here," I commanded her.
Susie's shoulders slumped and she sighed. "I guess. Want me to come with you?" she offered.
I shook my head. "No, I've got a lot of thinking to do."
"Ooh," she replied. She patted me on the shoulder and smiled at me. "Well, don't go beating yourself, or any trees, up too bad about us leaving early. I'll forgive you someday."
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, and I'll see you in a bit." I strode between the cabins and toward the trails into the shadowed trees.
"Have fun," Susie called to me.