Chapter 9
L auren was going to the lake.
It was a public trail.
She was a camper.
She had every right to be there. She even packed her camera gear, her phone, and a thermos of water to make it look casual. But deep down, she knew the truth.
The only reason she wanted to go to the lake was because Mac was going to be there with his son. They mentioned going fishing earlier, so...yeah, she was officially stalking him.
That morning, after visiting the shower facility between Cabin 6 and Cabin 7, she hadn't gone looking for Mac. In fact, she was feeling a little self-conscious after having sex with him.
But the way everything seemed greener now that the dust was gone and the trees were framing the lake, the scenery tempted her outside to take pictures. Running into Mac and his son was an accident.
Though she was trying to see him, she couldn't help herself. To preserve her batteries on her phone and cameras, she needed to find something else to entertain her.
Lauren found a spot tucked behind a thicket of brush. From there, she had a clear view of the water, the dock, and the trail that led down from the ridge. She set up her tripod, clipped her camera into place, and began filming the lake and how it shimmered. The light danced across the surface.
It was peaceful. Almost enough to distract her.
Until she saw them.
Mac and Jetter stepped off the trail, poles in hand, coming closer than she expected. She froze, heart pounding. They hadn't seen her. She was well hidden, and she planned to stay that way.
When she came down to the water, she expected them to go to the dock rather than the bank. But now that she thought about it, she could picture Mac choosing a spot away from where everyone else would go.
It was obvious he enjoyed his own company and being around his son.
She turned her camera toward them. They'd walked to the edge of the lake, so she was behind them and to the right. If she stayed in the exact spot, they wouldn't see her.
Taking their picture, she smiled. The photo wasn't for content, likes, or views.
It was for her. A moment from her summer. A summer she wouldn't forget.
Mac moved with quiet confidence, his steps deliberate and his posture relaxed. Jetter closely followed, mimicking his dad's every move—how Mac held his pole, how he scanned the water, how he crouched near the edge to check the bait. It was like watching a shadow learn how to become a man.
Lauren's chest tightened.
She snapped a few photos, zooming in gently. Jetter's face lit up when Mac handed him the rod. They spoke, but she couldn't hear the words. Still, she could feel the rhythm of their bond. It was easy, unspoken, steady, strong.
Once her vacation was over and she was back home, she'd have the picture developed and send it to Mac. She had a feeling he'd like a photo of him and his son.
They fished for nearly an hour, casting lines, chuckling, pointing at ripples. At the end of their outing, Jetter caught two fish, and Mac reeled in three. They dropped the fish into a bucket with practiced ease, and when they packed up to leave, Jetter carried the bucket like it was a treasure.
Lauren hunkered lower behind the brush, holding her breath as they passed.
Mac glanced toward the lake once, and for a moment, she thought he might see her. But he didn't. He only adjusted the strap on his shoulder and walked on, Jetter at his side, taking two steps for every one of Mac's.
She raked her teeth over her bottom lip, guilty for spying on their private moment.
If she were honest, she would admit to missing life back in Missoula.
Living there, she was close enough to her parents that when she felt lonely, she could always stop by the house, share a meal, or catch up on everything that'd happened with them.
Then, once she had her fill of her parents, she'd hang out with Sonja—her one friend who lasted throughout high school and beyond.
While she loved traveling and exploring new areas, it did get lonely. Maybe that's why it was so easy to fall into Mac's bed last night.
She didn't regret having sex with him.
It just left her feeling mixed up and a little unsettled.
When they were gone, Lauren stood slowly, brushing pine needles from her dress. She packed up her gear, her hands moving on autopilot, her mind somewhere else entirely.
She walked back to her cabin alone.
The night they'd spent together played on a loop in her head. The way he'd touched her like she mattered, the way she took his silence for acceptance instead of distance. She knew it probably wouldn't happen again. Knew he'd retreat into his quiet world, his routines, his walls.
Yet, she still couldn't stop thinking about him.
She'd dated plenty of men, mostly from the city. More often than not, they turned out to be too immature for her taste and always underperformed. Mac was different. He wasn't trying to impress her.
And somehow, that made her want him more.
She arrived at the cabin and put her things on the counter. Then she curled up on the end of the couch, pulled a blanket over her legs, and stared at the photos on her phone. One of Mac crouched beside Jetter, pointing at the water. Another of them, walking away, side by side.
She'd never met a man like him.
And she wasn't sure she ever would again.