7. Grayson
CHAPTER 7
GRAYSON
M y heart rate is skyrocketing as I watch Skylar lead us toward the local diner—small-town date nights aren’t exactly my thing—I tend to stay away from town, not wanting to deal with the idle chit-chat.
I promised Skylar a date, and this is what she wanted. It's not exactly my scene, but I love watching Sky smile. It takes over her entire features and face and lights up everyone around her.
I watch Skylar chatting animatedly with Marge, the diner's no-nonsense waitress who's been serving up coffee and gossip in this town for longer than I've been alive. There's an ease to Skylar's interactions that I've always envied - the way she can make anyone feel like an old friend within minutes of meeting them.
"So honey, how'd you manage to drag our resident grumpy mountain man out for a real date?" Marge asks with a wink in my direction.
I feel my cheeks heat slightly, unused to being the subject of such open teasing. But Skylar just laughs, her eyes sparkling as she glances my way.
"Oh, you know, I just promised him we could talk about proper trail maintenance the whole time," she quips. "How could he resist?"
Marge cackles at that, slapping her order pad against her thigh. "Well, I'll be. Looks like you've finally met your match, Grayson Wells."
I grunt noncommittally, but can't quite hide the small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Skylar does have a way of drawing me out of my shell, whether I like it or not.
Once Marge bustles off to put in our order, Skylar turns her full attention to me. The soft lighting of the diner casts a warm glow on her face, making her eyes seem to sparkle even more than usual.
"So," she says, propping her chin on her hand. "Was this really such a terrible idea? Coming out into civilization for one night?"
I lean back in the booth, surveying the familiar surroundings of the diner. I've been here more times than I can count, usually to get take-out, but have never really seen it until tonight. "I suppose it's not entirely awful," I admit grudgingly.
Skylar grins triumphantly. "High praise indeed from the mountain man. I'll take it."
As we dig into our meals—the diner's famous meatloaf for me, a towering bacon cheeseburger for Skylar— conversation flows easily between us. We talk about the upcoming changes to Fire Mountain Expeditions, Skylar's ideas for new educational programs, my tentative plans for more specialized guided trips.
But we also talk about smaller things— our childhood memories, I know that Skylar is an only child. We talk about our favorite books and the constellations we can see from the mountain on clear nights. With each passing moment, I feel the last of my reservations melting away. This vibrant, brilliant woman across from me isn't just my employee or even just my lover—she's quickly becoming my best friend, my partner in every sense of the word.
As we're finishing up our slices of Marge's homemade apple pie, Skylar reaches across the table to take my hand. Her touch sends a familiar warmth through me, and I marvel at how natural it feels now.
"Thank you for coming out tonight," she says, softly. "I know crowds aren’t exactly your thing.”
I squeeze Skylar's hand gently, marveling at how such a simple touch can send sparks through my entire body. "Thank you for suggesting it," I say, my voice low and earnest. "You were right—it's good to step out of my comfort zone sometimes."
Skylar beams at me, her smile lighting up the entire diner. "Well, don't sound too shocked. I do have good ideas occasionally."
I chuckle, shaking my head. "More than occasionally. You're full of good ideas, Skylar. It's one of the many things I lo-" I catch myself, the word "love" hovering unspoken between us. We haven't said it out loud yet, not since that moment on the mountain.
Skylar's eyes widen slightly, and I can see a mix of hope and uncertainty in them. "One of the many things you do, Grayson?" she asks softly.
I take a deep breath, realizing that this is it - the moment I've been both anticipating and dreading. Here, in this small-town diner, surrounded by the low hum of conversation and the scent of coffee and pie, I'm about to lay my heart bare.
"One of the many things I love about you," I say, my voice rough with emotion. "I love your optimism, your determination, the way you see the best in everyone and everything. I love how you've brought light back into my life when I thought I'd be in darkness forever."
Skylar's eyes fill with tears, but she's smiling so brightly it's like looking at the sun. "Oh, Grayson," she whispers, squeezing my hand tightly. "I love you too. So much."
The world seems to fade away around us as we gaze at each other, lost in the moment. But then a smattering of applause breaks out, and I realize that half the diner is watching us with fond smiles and misty eyes.
I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment, but Skylar just laughs, the happy sound ringing out clear and true. "Guess the cat's out of the bag now, huh?" she says, grinning at me.
I shake my head, unable to suppress my own smile. "Looks like it. You ready for the whole town to be talking about us?"
Skylar leans across the table, pressing a quick, sweet kiss to my lips. "Absolutely," she says. "Let them talk. I'm proud to be with you, Grayson Wells."
As we leave the diner hand in hand, nodding and smiling at our fellow diners, I'm struck by how different everything feels. The town I've lived in for years suddenly seems more like home than ever before.
We walk slowly back toward my cabin, enjoying the crisp air. It’s so comfortable to be around her. I feel at ease, and I know that I’m exactly where I want to be, where I’m supposed to be.
“This is what you want, right?” she asks softly once we reach my cabin. “Stepping back from the business, taking smaller groups... being here with me?”
My brows snap together. “Of course, I want to be here with you. That’s not a question.”
But Skylar presses gently, her voice steady. “I mean all of it. Are you really happy, Grayson? Or are you just... trying to make it work?”
The question cuts deeper than I had expected. I pause, turning to look out at the dark horizon. “I don’t know,” I finally admit. “I’ve been so focused on keeping things running for so long, I’m not sure I even know what happy looks like anymore. But this... being with you... it’s the closest I’ve felt to it in years.”
Skylar rests her head on my shoulder, and the silence between us feels heavy. “I just want you to feel like yourself again,” she says quietly.
I wrap my arm around her, pressing a kiss to her hair. “You’ve already done that more than you realize.”
Despite my words, a flicker of doubt lingers in my mind. Is stepping back from the company really the right move for me? Or am I letting go of something too important—something I've spent my entire life building?
I take a deep breath, knowing I need to be honest - with Skylar and with myself. "The truth is, I'm not entirely sure," I admit softly. "Stepping back from the day-to-day operations of the company... it's a big change. One I thought I was ready for, but now..."
Skylar pulls back slightly to look up at me, her eyes filled with understanding. "You're having second thoughts."
It's not a question, but I nod anyway. "Fire Mountain Expeditions has been my whole life for so long. The idea of letting go, even partially... it's harder than I expected."
She reaches up to cup my cheek, her touch gentle and grounding. "Grayson, you don't have to give it all up. We can find a balance. Something that lets you stay involved with the company but also gives you time to be happy and live your life."
I lean into her touch, marveling at how she seems to understand my struggles even when I can barely articulate them myself. "You'd be okay with that? Even if it means I'm not around as much as we talked about?"
Skylar smiles softly. "Of course. I fell in love with you, Grayson Wells, mountain man and all. I don't want you to change who you are for me. I want us to grow together."
Her words wash over me like a soothing balm, easing the tension I didn't even realize I was carrying. I pull her close, burying my face in her hair and breathing in her comforting scent.
"What did I do to deserve you?" I murmur.
She chuckles, the sound vibrating against my chest. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was all those charming scowls and grumpy orders when we first met."
I can't help but laugh at that, the last of my unease melting away. "Well, I'll have to keep those up then. Wouldn't want to lose my charm."
Skylar pulls back, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't worry, your rugged mountain man appeal is safe with me. Now, are you going to invite me inside, or are we going to stand out here all night?"
I raise an eyebrow, a slow smile spreading across my face. "Why, Miss Hayes, are you propositioning me?"
She grins, rising up on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to my lips. "Maybe. What are you going to do about it?"
In one swift motion, I scoop her up into my arms, delighting in her surprised squeal. "I think I have a few ideas," I growl playfully as I carry her towards the cabin door.