Chapter 10
TEN
We won’t make it in time for sunrise. I mean, how could we? Hiking with two kids, their parents, Daniel and Grey, who frankly seems like he’d rather be anywhere else, requires way more prep than when it was just Amelia and me.
At least Oliver seems to be trying.
I know he isn’t an outdoorsy guy, but he was up and ready when I told him to be, with a smile on his face.
Worst of all, we have to endure the two-hour drive in Daniel’s Mercedes G-Class. Amelia sits shotgun, and the rest of us are squeezed into the back.
It’s fucking awkward.
We sit in silence. The radio hums softly in the background while Oliver naps with his head on my shoulder.
Grey is busy typing away on his phone, his mood souring by the minute.
I spend the ride staring out the window, reminiscing about the hikes with Amelia in Seattle while August and his family trail behind us in another Mercedes.
By the time we finally start our hike, the sun is long up, and the wind cuts sharply across the cliffs.
But damn, it’s beautiful here.
I can see why Amelia loves this hike. The view is stunning, and I can only imagine how much more impressive it would have been at sunrise.
I have to smile to myself, though.
No wonder she thought our hikes were tough and came back sore all over.
This is a walk in the park compared with the trails I took her on. The path is mostly flat and runs smoothly along the cliffs. We won’t even cover the entire trail today. This is nothing more than a scenic walk, but I bite my tongue, keeping that thought to myself.
About an hour in, Grey disrupts the silence between us, which was only filled once in a while with some laughter and screams from Amelia’s nieces. “What the fuck are birds so excited about at ten a.m.?”
“They’re seagulls,” Oliver murmurs, barely lifting his head.
“Even worse,” Grey shoots back.
I grin, my eyes darting to Amelia. She smirks, too, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her smile today. She looks exhausted. Without her now-usual layer of makeup, the dark circles under her eyes are just as pronounced as mine.
She’s obviously not sleeping much.
When our eyes meet, there’s a brief flash of something deeper, something raw, but she quickly averts her gaze, hiding behind a curtain of hair.
My body craves sleep, my mind seeks peace, and my heart—it yearns for her.
We need to fix this.
I need to fix this.
As we trek further along the path, I glance at Oliver, whose homebody self is trying its best to enjoy the hike.
Occasionally, he stumbles, his attention more on Amelia than where he’s stepping.
Behind us, August, Abigail, and the girls are managing to keep pace, albeit a little slower. Daniel, just like Grey, wears a scowl.
This whole situation is far from what I had in mind for today.
The grumpy heads start to lag behind, and I let myself fall back, too, sensing that I may have to step in soon, given the looks they’re casting each other.
“So, Donovan,” Daniel starts, the tension clear in his tone, and I already know this won’t end well. “When are you guys planning on dragging yourself back across the pond? I imagine they’re missing their star-spangled heroes by now.”
Grey shoots him a glare, unamused. “Probably not in a long while. We’re quite enjoying seeing how the rest of the world lives. Besides, I wouldn’t want to miss watching you fumble around nature like it’s your first day out of the city.”
“Grey,” I caution.
I don’t know Daniel, but Grey is about to kick his ass. With words. And honestly, a small part of me wants to see it happen.
“Touché,” Daniel responds dryly, a humorless smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Though I must say, I’m surprised you’re so willing to stick around when you’re clearly redundant.
She’s now under my purview.” His gaze drifts meaningfully toward Amelia, who is talking softly with Oliver a few feet before us, oblivious to the brewing storm behind her.
Daniel, you dickhead.
Grey’s jaw tightens, the muscle twitching visibly as he steps closer, his words coming out in a dangerous growl. “She’s none of your fucking business.”
Daniel chuckles, shaking his head as he reaches back to grab a water bottle, unscrewing it with deliberate slowness.
“Oh, she will be. And just some friendly advice, mate,” he says, his tone anything but friendly.
“Holidays end, but the mess you Americans leave behind? That tends to linger. So do her a favor and just fuck off already.”
Grey steps forward, his posture stiffening as he closes the distance between them.
“Listen here, you pompous ass,” he hisses, his words loaded with venom.
“Amelia is not some territory to be claimed or debated over. She makes her own choices… who she talks to, who she spends time with. You’d do well to remember that. ”
I brace myself, ready to physically intervene if needed. The air between them crackles with hostility, and I find myself hoping we can make it through this hike without any bloodshed, verbal or otherwise.
“Grey, come on,” I murmur.
This is not like him. I’ve never seen him with such a bold, verbal outburst like that. But to be fair, it usually only takes a simple glare to have people backing away.
Grey shoots a quick glance my way, a brief flicker of acknowledgment crossing his face before he turns back to Daniel. Reluctantly, he takes a step back, his body language shifting as he attempts to shake off the anger.
Catching up with the rest of the group, the atmosphere remains charged, and the earlier words still echo in my mind.
Daniel, the dickhead, can’t seem to resist getting in one last jab, his smirk all too telling. “Just remember, this isn’t Hollywood, Donovan. Not every story has a happy ending.”
His words are meant to provoke, but this time, Grey’s response is a cool, collected look that belies the irritation I know he feels. Leaning in, Grey replies with a hint of a smirk, “Oh, don’t worry, the endings Amelia and I have are always more than happy.”
That’s my boy.
Daniel’s eyes narrow sharply, a flicker of surprise and annoyance crossing his features before he can mask it with an indifferent facade, but he keeps his mouth shut after that.
Finally, we arrive at the most spectacular spot of the hike—the vast cliffside that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the coastline.
This is where I’d hoped to have a moment alone with her.
I catch Oliver’s eye and give him a subtle nod.
Bless him. He understands immediately. With a gentle nudge that would make a secret agent proud, he signals Grey, who tears his eyes away from Amelia.
They slow their pace with all the subtlety of a pair of elephants trying to tiptoe, allowing Abigail, August, and their daughters to catch up.
“You guys are both lawyers, right?” Grey asks, his expression carrying a hint of mischief as he directs his question at August and Daniel.
“Yes,” August replies, his curiosity clearly piqued. “Why?”
Daniel simply raises an eyebrow, waiting.
Dickhead indeed.
“How are the laws for stalking here? How much time can one get?” Grey continues, his gaze flitting to Oliver in a clear challenge.
Oh my God, what an idiot.
“Depends.” August’s response is measured, cautious, his eyes narrowing in a way that broadcasts how done he is with our shit. “What are you getting at? That’s not something you can estimate without knowing all the facts.”
Oliver chimes in with a mischievous grin, “Oh, and how about hacking into company servers?”
“What company? Wait, no, don’t tell me.” August groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to know shit that can be used against me. Plausible deniability and all that.”
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Stanley,” Daniel drawls, a hint of amusement coloring his voice. “Where did you hack yourself into? Hypothetically speaking, of course.”
Seizing the distraction, I reach out and grasp Amelia’s hand, pulling her aside to stay back with me as the others walk on. Amelia looks at me, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity, but she doesn’t pull away.
She lets me hold her hand, and though the gesture is small, I will savor whatever she offers.
The cliffs provide a dramatic backdrop, and the ocean waves crash below us, filling the air with the salty tang of sea spray.
It’s the perfect setting.
“I’ve got something for you.”
Sliding my backpack off my shoulders, I reveal the small pack of Twizzlers I’d brought along, and her eyes light up with excitement.
She snatches them greedily, tearing into the pack with a grin I haven’t seen in ages.
Her face alone was worth sacrificing half the space in my suitcase for this stuff.
She bites into one, and her eyes flutter closed as a moan escapes her lips. The sound goes straight to my groin, my cock twitching in response. Stepping closer, my heart pounds in my chest as I reach out to brush a stray hair from her face.
She opens her eyes, and the gratefulness in them is unmistakable. She leans into my touch, her breath hitching as I trace my fingers down her neck.
So damn beautiful.
“There’s more where that came from,” I whisper, and her smile tells me I’ve scored a point.
“Thank you. I didn’t think I’d ever taste this goodness again,” she murmurs, looking down at her feet.
Something in me tightens. Reaching up with my thumb, I guide her chin so she has to look at me again. Her eyes are wide, a little flustered, as they meet mine.
“I get why you needed space, Bug, but you didn’t plan to come back to me at all?” My words are low, heavy with hurt and hope, demanding an honesty we’ve both avoided. “Talk to me.” Grabbing the pack of Twizzlers from her free hand, I put it in my pocket.
Her lips part, but she hesitates. Then her words come out in a whisper. “I-I already told you guys you hurt me. I don’t know what to… you know I’m not good with this.” The plea in her eyes almost breaks me, but I need answers.