CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Brody had never been so cold in all his life. He and four other men, all dressed identically in never-used, top-of-the-line winter gear—purchased conveniently at The Outdoor Outpost—huddled around a fire they’d miraculously built with their own ten hands.
Earlier that morning, they’d convened at the appointed meeting spot.
And after Tess checked their packs to ensure no one would die of starvation or hypothermia—at least, in theory—they’d started the five-mile trek.
The distance wasn’t the issue. It was that they carried thirty-pound packs, and the trail was straight up.
Well, not really, but that’s what it seemed like to Brody’s burning quads and calves.
The other men had complained, one of them—Zach—constantly and loudly, but heeding Alex’s warning, Brody kept his mouth shut.
It took them several hours as they stopped repeatedly for water and snack breaks.
Every rest period had a learning component, where Tess would give a mini-class on various topics—first aid tips, winter weather hacks, how to spot different types of animals, etcetera.
Under other, warmer circumstances, it would have been very informative and enjoyable.
Brody wanted to pretend he was better, tougher than the others. That he’d done this before and was equipped to handle the cold, but in reality, he was not.
The temperature plunged with the setting of the sun, and the wind had picked up too, making it seem even colder.
Tess sat around the fire with them, huddled into her coat, but otherwise outwardly unfazed by the near-freezing temps. She had to be as miserable as they were, but Brody suspected she’d cut off her own leg before she’d complain.
“Is there any point where we pack it in and go home?” One brave man finally asked. They’d all been thinking it, but no one had dared to say it until now.
“Only if someone gets hurt, or the weather makes it too dangerous to stay,” Tess said. “I suppose if there’s a mutiny, and y’all want to go back, I’d take you.” This was followed by pointed looks, one for each camper.
The men grumbled, but said nothing more, apparently not yet desperate enough to stage a coup.
Everyone else trudged off to bed, leaving Brody and Tess alone.
“You can add Robert to your list,” Brody whispered. “He did a decent job of hiding it, but he was wiping his eyes when he came back from peeing earlier.”
“I’ll make a note.”
“Are you really unaffected by this cold?” Brody asked.
“Are you kidding? I’m freezing my ass off. This sucks!”
He laughed. “Well, you’re hiding it remarkably well.”
“I can’t show weakness. If I do, it gives them permission to, and that’s not what we’re selling.”
“What are you selling?” Brody asked. “I mean, besides pricey winter gear?”
She chuckled. “On the record or off?”
“Either.”
“On the record? We teach survival skills and give people the chance to ‘rough it’ without the danger of doing it alone.”
“And off?”
“Most of these guys are very successful at what they do, but their lives lack ‘something.’” She put the last word in air quotes. “They come for the challenge, to prove themselves, to fulfill some primal need to overcome adversity. We make it tough, so they walk away feeling like they’ve done that.”
“Makes sense.”
Tess took out her phone.
“Hey,” Brody said. “That’s not fair. Why do you get a phone when we had to leave ours behind?”
“For emergencies,” she said. “I gotta check the weather. The original forecast was for no snow up here, but I can smell it.”
“Great,” Brody mumbled. “Just what we need.”
“Holy crap!” Tess squinted at the screen.
“Well, that doesn’t inspire confidence,” he said. “Is it going to snow?”
“Oh, no. I haven’t checked yet.”
“What is it then?” Brody was immediately on edge. If it was enough to rattle Tess, it must be catastrophic.
“Alex’s mom showed up at her place.”
“She who must not be named?” Brody said, raising an eyebrow. “I take it that’s bad.”
“I’m sure Alex thinks so,” Tess said. “Let’s just say they have a complicated relationship.”
“I gathered that from the way Alex shut down all conversation about it the other day at the diner. What’s the story?”
“Not my place to say.”
“Come on. Off the record. What’s said on the mountaintop stays on the mountaintop. What else we gonna talk about up here?”
“Fine.” Tess sighed. “But not one word to Alex.”
Brody made an X over his chest.
“Blossom’s a real piece of work. She not only blamed Alex for why she couldn’t leave GVF, but she also had some weird need to compete with her. Alex dealt with constant, subtle put-downs about her looks, her intelligence, even her basketball skills. Really did a number on Alex’s psyche.”
“That’s terrible.” Brody pictured a miniature Alex, confused and trying to cope with her mother’s insecurities.
“Hmm. As soon as Alex turned eighteen, Blossom was out. Now she only comes home when she needs something or to flaunt something.”
“Did Alex say which?”
“No. But it’s been like five years. Alex finally lets her guard down, and she shows up. Typical Blossom.”
“Alex seems so confident and self-assured.”
“On the outside, yes.” Tess paused, and Brody got the impression she was regretting spilling Alex’s secrets.
“I promise I won’t say anything,” Brody reassured her.
“Humph.” Tess nodded, but was distracted by something on her phone.
“Here’s another secret you can’t tell anyone.
We’re gonna have to cut this trip short.
Weather’s moving in faster than expected.
We’re equipped enough for cold, but not for snow.
We gotta get off the mountain by dinnertime tomorrow. ”
“That’s too bad,” Brody said. “I’m having such a good time.” They both laughed at that, knowing it wasn’t true.
The next morning, Zach and Robert were attempting to start the fire, but the wind was so strong they couldn’t get a match to stay lit.
When Tess looked away, another guy named Miles pulled out a flask of something and drizzled it on the wadded-up newspaper, then put a finger to his lips.
After that, the flames started right up.
“I smell that,” Tess said, her back still to them. “Points docked for cheating.”
“Worth it,” Zach mumbled, opening his palms to face the heat.
When Tess didn’t mention leaving early and proceeded with the morning class on navigation as if a snowstorm wasn’t bearing down on them, Brody assumed the forecast must have changed again and that they’d be staying.
The class ended with a practical test. They were all given instructions and sent off in different directions to find a specific item and return it.
According to Tess, the items had been placed last week and should be simple to spot.
Brody’s was a brightly colored garden gnome, which he had no trouble finding.
Some of the others didn’t fare so well, returning empty-handed and complaining they were lucky to have found camp again.
They had just finished lunch—pork and beans from a can heated over the fire—when Miles finally broke, causing the rest to fall like dominoes.
“I’ll give you a thousand dollars to get us off this mountain right now,” Miles said.
“Ten thousand,” Zach said. “If you swear not to tell anyone we bugged out early.”
“You do understand the concept of weekend warriors, right?” Tess said. “It’s not meant to be easy. It wasn’t advertised as a stroll in the woods. You’ve got one more day and one more night. You can do this. And you’ll regret it if you don’t.”
They all maintained that they wanted to stay but just couldn’t.
“I left a really important deal on the table, and I need to get back and finish it,” Robert said.
“I’m worried my wife will go into labor early,” Miles said, even though he’d already mentioned she was only six months along, making his argument flimsy.
“I hurt my ankle going to the bathroom last night in the dark,” a guy named Grant said. “I think I need a doctor.”
“I’ll be honest,” Zach said. “I didn’t know it would be so freaking cold. I miss my wife and kids and heat.” At least he had the guts to openly acknowledge he was wimping out.
“Is this your version of a mutiny?” Tess asked dryly. “Is everyone giving up?”
Brody cleared his throat. “I’m okay staying.” Four glowering stares kept him from elaborating. Which was fine. He was willing to tough it out, but it wasn’t a hill he was adamant about dying on.
Tess looked at each man separately, silently judging and condemning them. These were rich, presumably powerful men who’d been reduced to whimpering shells.
“All right,” she finally said. “Pack up and let’s go home.”
The men glanced back and forth, stunned that their pleas hadn’t fallen on deaf ears.
“Really?” Grant said. “You gave in easier than I thought you would.”
“Snow’s coming sooner than expected,” Tess said. “We were already going to head back early.”
Grant sighed. “Only now we’re leaving in shame.”
Tess’s silence confirmed the comment. No one said a word as they packed up and followed Tess down the mountain, the snow hot on their heels.
It was dark by the time they made it back to the original rendezvous point, and they all went their separate ways.
There was no snow at the lower elevation, but cold air rushed through the cracks of the truck’s cab. Even with the heat on full blast, Brody could not get warm.
Happy to be home, he stumbled up the porch steps, opened the door, dropped his pack, and removed his boots.
He’d slept fitfully the night before and longed for a good night’s sleep. But when he flipped on the light, he had to bite back a scream.
The person in his bed had no such restraint.
“Ahh!” Alex sat abruptly and rubbed her eyes against the glare.
“What are you doing here?” they yelled at each other in unison.
“Oh, here we go again,” Brody muttered. “I live here. What are you doing here?”
Alex seemed to process the question and realize he was correct. “Well, I know that. I mean, why are you back early?”
“Snowstorm.” He put a hand on his hip. “You’re still not explaining why you’re in my bed.”
“Okay,” Alex said, pushing off the covers and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She wore one of his T-shirts, and Brody was temporarily mesmerized by her tiny yet toned legs. “I know this looks bad. This is bad, actually. I don’t normally go around sneaking into renters’ beds.”
“And wearing their clothes?” He glanced at her attire and raised an eyebrow. She pulled on the hem of the shirt, and her cheeks burned pink.
“My mom showed up. She’s…difficult.”
“Alex,” Brody said. “Focus. Why are you in my bed?”
Alex blew out a breath. “She and her new fiancé took over my cabin. I didn’t have anywhere to go.”
“What about your friends? Or your grandpa?”
“Yes. Okay, under other circumstances, those would be options.”
“What other circumstances?” he asked. “What are you talking about?”
“Ugh. She thinks we’re dating.” Her shoulders slumped, cheeks turning even pinker.
“Your mom? Why would she think that?”
“Look, she got to me, okay? Got my goat real good. I had to let her know she’s not better than me. That it’s possible for a man to love me. That I’m not a total loser who will be stuck, single and alone, in GVF forever. That I will make something of my life, even here, in this small town.”
Oh, dear. She was melting down quickly and thoroughly right before his eyes.
“All right. All right,” he said. “So you told her we’re dating. Are we also living together?”
“No.” She huffed. “When they demanded to stay at my cabin, and I explained there wasn’t room for all three of us, she basically goaded me into staying with you. Insinuated our relationship wasn’t real!”
“Um, I hate to point out the obvious…”
“I’ve already conceded that I fudged the truth, okay?” She waved a hand. “Once the lie was out there, I’d pigeonholed myself. Why would I bother my grandpa or a friend when my boyfriend’s cabin is so close? And honestly, I wasn’t in a mood to talk to anyone. This was just easier.”
“Oh, yes. I see,” he said. “Quick question. Why me?”
“It’s a small town, Brody.” She shrugged. “Pickings are slim. It was you or…well, you or nobody.”
“I’m the only single guy in Green Valley Falls?”
“The only handsome, successful one I knew was out of town all weekend.”
He narrowed a brow. “You trying to butter me up? To play along with this?”
“Just stating facts. And no, I don’t expect you to perpetuate this hoax. I’ll regain my senses and come clean tomorrow. I can’t admit I lied, but I’ll tell her we broke up.”
“Wow,” Brody said. “I thought my relationship with my mom was complicated. I stand corrected.”
Alex slapped a hand over her mouth as a psychopathic laugh escaped. “She makes me crazy. Literally, crazy. What am I doing in your bed? Oh my gosh. I can’t believe I let her get to me like this.”
“In your defense, I was supposed to be gone,” he said matter-of-factly. “It was reasonable to assume I’d never be the wiser, and your lie would be a harmless one.”
He didn’t mention that he would have noticed. The smell of her flowery shampoo had already taken over the room. He was sure his pillow smelled of her too.
“Yes.” She nodded emphatically. “That’s exactly what I thought. It never occurred to me you’d come home early. I thought I could get away with this without you ever knowing.”
“And yet, here I am—hungry, cold, exhausted, dying for a hot shower and a soft bed.”
Alex jumped up as if the mattress had caught fire. “Of course. I’m so sorry. I’ll get out of your way. Risk going to Tess’s or Juliet’s. So what if Blossom finds out?”
“I’m not saying you have to leave.” Brody sighed. “I can sleep on the couch.”
“No way. I’ll take the couch.”
His shoulders slumped with relief. Cramming himself onto that couch would only be one step above spending another night in a tent on the cold, hard ground.
“Any way we can finish this conversation in the morning?” Brody felt dead on his feet. “Right now, I just want to take a shower and go to sleep.”
“Of course. Again, so sorry.” She saluted and left the room, head hung and looking like someone had killed her pet duck.
She was unbelievable. She’d snuck into his place, rifled through his drawers, and lied about their relationship. Still, he couldn’t help but smile at her predicament. And the fact that she’d called him handsome.