Chapter 17 Sierra
SIERRA
The bear studies us for a breath, two. It’s not even ten feet away, its dark fur shiny.
Then it lets out a roar.
I jump. There’s no avoiding the reaction, because if there’s a way to respond to a wild animal with claws and teeth surprising you, I don’t know what it is.
“Aren’t they supposed to be hibernating?” Ryan murmurs.
“Tell that to the bear,” I whisper.
That’s when I realize the bear isn’t as big as others I’ve seen from a distance, or on TV. It’s probably young—a year or two old.
Our crew inches closer together, either by design or instinct.
“What kind is it?” Atlas asks.
Clay leans in. “Black bear.”
“Obviously,” Jay weighs in.
After a moment, it drops down to all fours and watches us.
It’s come here for food, and it isn’t ready to leave, but maybe it’s decided that it’s overmatched by this cluster of mostly-oversized humans.
“We should make a lot of noise. Scare it off,” Brooke whispers.
We all look at Atlas, who lifts his arms in the air and growls.
The bear sniffs but doesn’t move away. I’d say its expression is more expectant than aggressive.
“Does it think…?” Ryan starts.
“What?” Jay asks.
“Does it know we’re bears too?” he finishes.
A scuffling and snorting creature behind us cuts through the crowd toward the parking lot.
“Waffles, no!” Brooke calls too late.
The Frenchie rushes to the front of our group, pulling up almost comically fast. He tips his face up and yips.
The bear lowers its face.
“Waffles…” Brooke lunges for the dog, and Jay grabs her.
Another sound comes from the woods.
The bear turns and ambles away.
“Its mom?” I ask.
“It was too old for that. Too young for a mate.”
“So, who was it looking out for? Bears don’t travel in packs,” Jay insists.
Miles cuts him a look. “Whatever you say, Nat Geo.”
We all slump against one another. Brooke runs forward to collect Waffles, scooping him into her arms and telling him they need to have a talk.
I’m leaning on Ryan, his heart thudding under my ear.
A black car roof appears between the pine trees lining the drive, then a second one.
“There’s our ride. Everyone, finish packing,” Chloe directs. “Team will go in the two black cars. We can drive ourselves.”
“Too dangerous,” Clay says.
“It’s fine,” Chloe says. “I’ve got snow tires on my car and—"
“You want to risk your neck, that’s your business. But my wife isn’t driving back herself. Ladies, take the other SUV.”
“It’s going to be a clown car with the five of you,” Nova warns.
“Worth it.”
The other guys nod in agreement, except Atlas, who knows better than to say anything.
Chloe relents, and we all disperse to collect our things. I load my stuff into the back of one SUV.
The adrenaline is still pounding in my veins from the bear when my phone rings.
“Dad. Hi,” I answer as I squish my duffel atop Brooke’s designer luggage.
“Sierra, honey. Got your message. Everything okay?”
I readjust the angle so the hatchback can close. “There’s been a ton of snow up here. We’re trying to get home.”
“If you won’t be back in time to open, I’ll go in.”
“No, I think I’ll be back.” I step back, admiring my handiwork as Ryan emerges and loads his bag into the other car. “It’s just… I have somewhere else I want to be tonight.”
I watch Ryan’s fluid movements, admiring. I can’t wait to watch him from the Kodiaks’ box, and after… we can do everything we did last night and more.
“Mile High can’t close tonight.” Dad’s voice brings me back to earth. “We’ve been open every Christmas for twenty years.”
I rip my gaze from Ryan, blinking as I pace the treeline. “It’s Christmas, Dad. Can’t they live without their Miller Lites for one night?”
He sighs. “Honey, I know you have friends on that team, but we’re not like them. We don’t get nights off. We keep the lights on.”
* * *
Ryan
“That’s the last of it?”
“Thank fuck. There’s no way we’re all going to fit,” Jay says under his breath.
“Get cozy. It is the season.”
“Was that the best pre-Christmas getaway or what?” I say proudly.
“Stranded at a cabin, weird gift exchange, almost got eaten by a bear,” Atlas lists off deadpan.
“I wouldn’t say we almost got eaten,” Miles weighs in.
I wait them out. “So?”
“It was good, Rookie,” Clay decides.
The other guys grudgingly agree.
“But you’re still doing media for a month.”
I throw up my hands, but honestly, I can live with that.
It’s Christmas.
We’re going to be home in time for the game.
The girl I’ve been into for forever finally admitted she’s going to give it a try.
Things are looking up.
Sierra taps me on the shoulder as I’m about to shift into the car. “Hey. Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Sure.”
The guys are locked in a conversation about how to arrange their legs, so I step outside and shut the door behind me.
“I’ll make sure you get a killer seat tonight.” I grin. “VIP treatment for my lucky charm.”
She doesn’t smile. Instead, she looks a little sick.
I’m instantly concerned. “What’s up?”
“I can’t come to the game tonight.”
As fast as my mood had risen, it crashes. “Why not?”
She shoves her hands in her back pockets. “I have to work.”
“You can take one night off. It’s not that hard.”
“Maybe for you. You have a huge contract. The world isn’t the same for you as it is for me.” She looks around, past me. “This was a bad idea.”
My stomach drops like a chunk of wet snow falling out of a tree branch and splatting on the ground.
I’ve wanted this girl for as long as I can remember. Always watched her out the corner of my eye. Wanted to make her smile.
Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I don’t know what I want.
The back door of the SUV cracks open. “Hey, Ryan!” Jay hollers. “We’ve got a game to get to.”
I’m still staring at Sierra.
I shut the door again and turn back to the woman who’s completely thrown me. She looks as though she’d rather be anywhere but facing me right now.
“Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”
She wraps her arms around her, her mouth falling open as if the idea of me trying is ludicrous. “No. Have a good Christmas, Ryan.”
It takes everything in me to reach for the door of the SUV and pretend nothing happened.