Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

6

RUBY

I shouldn't be here in the mountains.

The thought pounds through my head with each step up the snow-covered trail, as persistent as the memories of Garrett's second kiss the other night—from my panties missing when I went back down to the basement to collect them to him sending me more flowers but not returning to visit me himself. I contemplated going to his brewery, but I worried it made me seem desperate. So, here I am, about to scale a local mountain often used for treks.