Joe put down the phone and glanced at Skylar, who seemed to be more withdrawn than before. Her smile was still there, but her earlier energy had faded a bit. He could sense her unease, but he didn’t quite know how to address it.
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes still locked on her. The silence between them stretched out, thick with unspoken thoughts. The warmth of the hot spring seemed to only amplify the tension, and for a fleeting moment, Joe found himself unsure of how to proceed. He had always been confident around women, but Skylar was different. Something about her made him second-guess himself.
“Skylar…” he began softly, his voice breaking the silence. “Are you okay?”
Skylar blinked, her gaze snapping back to him. She gave him a small, somewhat forced smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired, I guess.”
Joe frowned slightly, sensing that there was more to it than that. “Tired?” he repeated, his tone more serious. “We’ve barely done anything today. Are you sure you’re alright?”
Skylar hesitated, then sighed, looking down at the water for a moment. “It’s just…” She trailed off, unsure if she should continue. She didn’t want to make things awkward, but she also didn’t want to lie.
Joe’s expression softened, and he leaned in slightly, his eyes full of concern. “What is it? You can talk to me, Skylar.”
She caught his gaze and, for a moment, she thought about opening up. But the thought of how he might react held her back. Joe wasn’t the type to show vulnerability, and she wasn’t sure if he would understand where she was coming from.
“It’s nothing,” she finally said, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Really, I’m fine.”
Joe seemed to accept her answer, but there was a lingering look in his eyes that told her he wasn’t convinced. He shifted slightly, closer to her, but still respected the distance. The air between them was filled with quiet tension, but neither of them knew exactly how to bridge the gap.
“I know we’re here for Grandma,” Skylar said after a moment, breaking the silence. “But maybe… maybe it’s also okay to have a little fun. You know, without thinking too much about everything else?”
Joe looked at her, his lips curling into a small smile. “You’re right,” he said quietly. “We’ve got time. We can relax for a bit.”
Skylar nodded, feeling a bit of relief. She was grateful that Joe wasn’t pushing her for answers, letting her take her time. The night felt a little less heavy now, the awkwardness fading just a bit.
The sounds of the water bubbling around them seemed to ease her nerves, and she let herself relax into the warmth once more. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad spending more time with Joe. After all, they had agreed to this arrangement for Gloria’s sake, but it wasn’t the end of the world.
As the two of them sat there, the moonlight casting a soft glow over the water, they both allowed themselves to be in the moment, letting go of the expectations that had been weighing them down. For the first time that night, Skylar truly felt at ease.
Maybe tomorrow would be different, but tonight, they could just enjoy the peaceful night together.
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