Chapter Sixteen
Skye
My career involved constant travel, multiple online posts a day. I was basically always working even if it didn’t look like it. That didn’t mean I couldn’t procrastinate and right now that was what I was doing.
The barrier between Aaron and I had been removed, yet still, I didn’t call him.
I thought about what our couple name could be, Skaaron was my top pick.
I talked to Kyle about how we would make room in the van so Aaron could travel with us on his days off.
What I didn’t do was pick up the god damned phone.
I couldn’t even say why exactly except that right now we had a potential relationship, if I called him and he didn’t want this the way I did, then whatever existed between us would disappear for good.
A week or so after I’d last talked to Cliff, my phone rang as I settled into my van for the evening. I picked it up expecting it to be him, but it was Aaron.
My eyes widened and I looked at Kyle for confirmation. He was busy licking his paw so I hit the answer button. “Hello?”
“Skye?”
“Well yeah, you called me. You shouldn’t be surprised who answered.”
He huffed out a breath. “Always a smart ass. Where are you?”
“Where?” It took me a second to remember. “I’m at a campground around Sebring Peak, why?”
“Hang on,” I heard rustling and clicking.
“What are you doing?”
“Just… fucking computer… looking at the fire map for the province.”
“Oh. Something I should know?”
He sighed. “Jasper’s girlfriend is a wildfire fighter working in Lillooet, sounds like things are ugly there. I know Sebring campground isn’t on evac order right now, but I think you should get out of there in case they close the 99.”
I licked my lips and considered his request. Of course, if a professional told me a place was dangerous I wouldn’t go there. But I had another question. “Why are you calling me and not my brother if this place is dangerous?”
He sighed. “Just do as I ask, please?” The please sounded more needy than authoritative.
“I will, just answer my question.”
He mumbled a few curses. “Look, I’m not a writer. I’m not all poetic or whatever like you. When I care about someone, I worry. That’s just how I’m built. And right now I’m worried about you.”
My breath caught. It was hard to tell if he was being romantic or just bossy but I suspected what he’d just said was the mountain man equivalent of asking me on a date.
“Do…do you want to keep worrying about me? Like maybe we could talk everyday?”
“I could make my worrying more specific if I knew where you were.” His voice had lightened.
“More specific worries make sense.”
He chuckled. “I’d rather be with you on some of your adventures, make sure you remember your sunscreen and help keep Kyle from running off.”
“Well, he is a menace.”
We were quiet for a moment and I bit my lip, letting hope bloom in my chest. “Skye?”
“Yeah?”
“I really am worried about this fire. I know you have your adventures and I would never ask you to change, but maybe you could find a safer detour for this part of your trip?”
A smile pulled at my lips. “I could detour through Springwood…if you want. I hear Strawberry Hill is nice this time of year.”
“It is,” he said softly. “I even know a guide who can show you around.”
“Well, maybe I’ll see you soon. For now, I’ve heard there is a wildfire nearby so I need to pack up camp.”
He exhaled hard. “Glad to hear it, take care of the menace.”
An hour later I was pulling my van out of the camp site and onto the dark highway. I didn’t bother with the radio, the sound of my heart beating in my chest was loud enough. I let the GPS guide me as I moved down the dark roads.
Every few minutes I checked the screen like Aaron’s cabin was somehow going to get up and wander deeper into the woods while I wasn’t looking.
My fingers drummed anxiously against the steering wheel. Which was ridiculous. I confidently marched to the top of mountains. I lived in a van most of the time. I didn’t get nervous.
Yet somehow driving toward one grumpy search and rescue officer had my stomach doing backflips.
Kyle lifted his head from the passenger seat long enough to give me a judgmental squint before settling back down.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I muttered. “You have as much riding on this as I do. I know you got attached.”
He settled back into the seat but my posture stayed rigid as I drove.
The drive took a few hours, but after what felt like only a few moments I was navigating the rutted dirt road to Aaron’s mountain cabin.
I pulled into his driveway, or what passed for one in the mountains, just before midnight.
I shut off the engine and sat for a moment listening to the tick as it cooled.
Kyle stretched in the seat beside me but didn’t get up. This was it. I should probably play it cool, but that had never been part of who I was. He knew me and he wanted me for it, so I pushed aside my nerves, grabbed my sleeping cat and stepped out of the van.
Before I ever had the door closed, Aaron’s swung open.
He stepped barefoot onto his little front porch and started towards me. A smile spread over my lips and I moved towards him too.
We met somewhere in the middle, just outside the circle of light that was cast from his porch fixture. I could barely see his face, but it didn’t matter.
I didn’t need to see it to know he was happy I was here. Mr. Cool had called me, worried about me and met me in his driveway in the middle of the night.
He brought his hands up to the sides of my face and held me for a moment just drinking me in.
Kyle gave an affronted meow as we pressed together with him between us. “Sorry, menace,” Aaron said. He took Kyle from my arms and the cat climbed onto Aaron’s shoulder like he had on our hike.
I laughed, but pressed closer. I’d love to have taken a picture but I had something more important in mind.
“So you were worried about me, huh?” I asked, smoothing my hands over his chest, feeling the coiled strength beneath my palms.
“That a problem?” There was a hint of vulnerability under his blunt question.
I shook my head. “But you don’t need to worry right now, since I’m here…what are you going to do with all that extra time?”
He just shook his head. “You two are trouble, you know that?” Before I could answer he grabbed me around the waist and put me over his shoulder. I hadn’t been carried like this since I was a kid and I let out an undignified squeal. I was eye to eye with Kyle now and he stared at me wide eyed.
Yeah, whatever he planned to do with me, I already knew I wasn’t leaving that cabin tonight.