Chapter 10
Riley is awake and bouncing through the hotel room before I even open my eyes.
Apparently, she already got ready and went to pick us up breakfast bagels and coffee.
I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated my best friend more, because this shit is delicious.
My head is throbbing as if I had thirteen beers instead of two.
We have the whole day free today. Riley already insisted we have a picnic in a meadow, and Reid wants to hike.
It sounds like the perfect day.
Staring at myself in the smudged mirror, I try my best to make my hair presentable, but the added humidity here isn’t agreeing with me.
It resembles cotton candy, while Riley’s falls in perfect shiny ringlets.
I can tame it down in Colorado, but as soon as it gets a taste of moisture, it has a tendency to puff up.
It must have rained overnight, because it’s especially unruly today.
I realize that I left my vans in Reid’s van and my Uggs in mine. The only shoes I have to wear are these cheesy boots. They looked cute last night in the dim neon, but now they look a little ridiculous. They don’t exactly go with my baggy hiking pants either.
Apparently, Reid is meeting us here for the hike. I text him to see if he can bring me some other shoes. He has an extra key to Willa and I have one to his van, for logistical purposes of course.
He shows up half an hour later holding my dirty hiking boots in one hand and a coffee in the other. The coffee says ‘Reid’ on it, but it looks like the type of drink I’d order.
I eagerly grab it out of his hands.
“Good morning to you too, Adelaide.” He motions to me as I gulp down the perfect latte. “You’re welcome by the way,” he adds.
I come up for air and thank him, “I appreciate it. And I appreciate you bringing my shoes.”
He’s unloading a backpack from his shoulders. “Here, I brought your vans too.”
The combined gestures are making my vision cloudy. Who is this thoughtful man and what did he do with Reid?
I mutter, “Thank you.”
Reid holds his hand up to his head. “What was that I couldn’t hear you.”
My voice is louder this time, “I said thank you!”
Looking down at my feet nervously, I realize I never took off the cowboy boots. Reid notices too.
He stifles a laugh. “I love the look. But I’m not sure those have the best tread for this hike.”
I rush to get them off, but they’re stuck on the bottom of my pants. Reid reaches out and grips onto my thigh as he tugs off one of my shoes. He motions for me to hold onto his shoulders as he drags the other boot down my calf.
My cheeks are already hot, and he’s only been here for a few minutes.
It’s pitiful how clumsy I am considering I’m quite literally a professional athlete.
Riley is sitting on her bed toying with the end of her braid.
She’s wearing tiny khaki shorts and a tight green tank top.
She looks hot, and I look like a park ranger.
These pants are legitimate hiking pants, so they zip off and become shorts.
They’re practical, but not very cute. I zip off the legs and look in the mirror—it’s better, but not by much.
Riley catches a glimpse of the coffee she got me slowly becoming watered down as it melts on the counter. I make eye contact with her and silently mouth, “Sorry.”
I hope she’s not offended, but I am not giving up this latte. It’s the perfect shade. The one she got me was good but this one is perfect.
She drives us all to the trail head in her rental car, and I’m beaming. Relishing in the feeling of being taken care of for once, I sit in the back like I’m a little kid. It’s a relief to have a day where I’m not studying trails, driving across the country, or training on the treadmill.
I’m still me, so naturally I have bear spray and three types of self defense objects. But now I’m not being choked with worry. I’m not sure how long it’ll last, so I do my best to enjoy every second of it.
Reid is way faster and keeps pausing a quarter mile ahead to wait for us. I’m embarrassed—my cardio should be better than this. It usually is too. Typically I beat Reid on the uphills when we bike, but something about my miniature hangover and the sweltering humidity is making this challenging.
The hike is beautiful, a revelation on a random Friday. It’s not crawling with tourists, and the sun hasn’t quite started to bake down on the granite peaks that make up the Tetons. Riley packed us a bunch of sandwiches and stuff, so we’re going to set up for a picnic when we reach the alpine lake.
At the last minute, I packed my bathing suit, so I hope we can swim. I love alpine lakes, but usually I’m the only one to get in. They’re pretty fucking cold, even in the heat of summer.
I already took off my shirt, because it was absolutely drenched in my salty sweat. I’m wading through the air, it’s so thick with moisture. Riley somehow looks like she’s glistening where I look like I’m melting. How does she make absolutely everything look idealistic?
Reid hasn’t broken a sweat. My head is still pounding, and I make a mental note to never drink beer again. It’s a good thing we don’t compete until Sunday, because I need some actual recovery time.
None of us are talking—we’re too out of breath. The only sounds around are the gentle sound of a stream and birds in the distance. Bright yellow wildflowers scatter the edges of the trail, and I so badly want to pick one.
That would be against leave-no-trace and I’m nothing if not a rule follower, so I resist the urge.
Turning around to see the view behind us, I take a minute to soak it in.
It’s worth falling behind because it takes my already struggling breath away.
The warm morning sun is streaking through the branches of the trees in the right way—almost making them glow.
Gravel shifts behind me. Stepping off the trail, I nod at whoever is trying to pass me. I assumed it was a random trail runner but it’s Reid, and he’s full on sprinting.
“What are you doing back here, Blondie?”
He puts both of his hands on his knees and leans forward. It satisfies me more than it should to see him gasping for air.
I don’t reply, instead I point at the view behind us.
As Reid turns his attention to the horizon, a single eagle flies across the sky.
It’s almost as if it’s showing off for the two of us.
Riley has started back towards us too, but she was looking down at where she was stepping and missed the majestic event.
I’m glad she did. It was nice to share something special between Reid and I.
My breath is back to a respectable pace, and I slowly start back up the trail. I have to drag myself through the sticky air, and Reid notices.
“We’re almost to the lake. Want me to carry you?”
I ignore him again and find the strength within to push myself up the section of intense incline.
I’m sure it wasn’t a real offer, but I don’t think I could have accepted even if I wanted to.
My dreams last night were filled with a mix of my cowboy romance book and Reid riding that bull, and my nerve endings might fry if Reid even brushes my arm right now.
Reid keeps saying we only have half a mile, but I swear he’s been saying that for two miles. Usually, I love hiking, but apparently that inclination is Colorado specific. I had hoped that the lack of elevation would make hiking, living, and riding easier here.
Riley is grumpy, but I guess we all are—she’s just the most vocal about it.
Every thirty seconds or so there’s a groan, and I don’t even have to look to know that it’s Riley.
Thankfully, Reid is carrying the backpack cooler.
I’m not sure Riley or I would have been capable of getting that up here on our own.
Honestly, I’m surprised that Reid came with us. I pictured him hanging out with Kai and the others on the river or something like that. He insisted that he come along to ‘protect us from bears’. I think he secretly wants a peaceful mountain picnic just as much as we do.
After what feels like an hour, we finally catch a glimpse of shimmering turquoise. It’s magical, and suddenly my suffering is well worth it. Sunbeams dance off the surface of the water. It’s that Gatorade blue that you can only see when you work for it….or shell out for a flight to the Maldives.
I start stripping off my backpack and my shoes without a second thought. I can already feel how refreshing this is going to be, and I need it.
Riley is protesting behind me. “Addie.”
She’d much rather we sit on the picnic blanket all day. My beautiful best friend tends to consume nature in the most pedestrian way possible. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I prefer a dive.
I’m almost to the shore when I feel a large figure looming behind me.
Before I can turn around, I’m a foot off the ground and draped over Reid’s bare shoulder.
My arms swing helplessly against his toned back.
He’s shirtless, and I really wish I had kept my eyes closed.
I’ve seen him shirtless a few times in our friendship, but not since he started training like a professional.
The wide expanse of his back is pulled taut with hard muscles, and my fingers reach out on their own to see how they feel.
I grip his right shoulder to cover up my uncontrollable actions.
I’m kicking my legs trying to entice Reid to put me down.
Sure, I wanted to go for a cold plunge, but I wanted to wade myself in slowly.
Reid is about to toss me in head first, I can already tell.
Reid won’t let me down, and he locks his arm across my thighs, right where my ass meets my hamstring, and clamps down tight.
His other arm reaches up over my back, and I know I don’t stand a chance at freedom.