Chapter 4 #3
Neither did he.
Her phone alarm chimed from her pocket.
The sound shattered the moment. Eden fumbled for her phone, nearly dropping it over the edge.
“Sorry.” Breathless. “Reminder—I’m supposed to meet my team in thirty minutes.”
“Right.” Teague’s voice had gone carefully neutral, the vulnerability locked away behind professional detachment. He reached for his rappel device. “We should get moving.”
The descent was efficient. Silent.
They landed on solid ground with none of the easy camaraderie from earlier. Eden coiled the rope while Teague gathered quickdraws and cams, both moving with practiced efficiency that required no communication.
The tension followed them to the truck.
Teague drove with his eyes fixed on the dusty road, knuckles white on the steering wheel. Eden stared out the window at ponderosa pines blurring past.
What are you doing, Eden?
“We should talk about team assignments.” Teague’s tone was back to professional. Clipped. “Virgil wants a final decision today, and I want your input.”
“Mine?”
“You’re an amazing climber. You read the rock like no one I’ve ever met.” He adjusted his grip, jaw tight. “I trust you completely. And you know everyone—to me, they’re just names on a list.” A pause. His hands flexed on the leather. “My only request is that I’d prefer you on my team.”
Something else lurked there. Something he held back.
She wouldn’t push. Not yet.
“I’m good with that.”
More than good. Because if Teague was climbing with Marcus Roosevelt, she wanted to keep an eye on that man. The passing days hadn’t dimmed the warning bells in her head every time she talked to him.
“So we need one more on our team,” Teague said, some tension leaving his voice. “And three on Liam’s. Keep your friends together and take Xander? Or move Xander to Liam’s team and take one of your friends?”
“Keep the other three together. We take Xander.” The words tumbled out quickly. Too quickly.
She’d made the leap to get back on the rock—that was one thing. But climbing with Kyle, Trey, or Sierra? Having Landon’s memory wrapped around every belay, every anchor, every shared glance? She wasn’t ready for that.
Teague nodded, gaze fixed forward.
The ranger-station parking lot came into view—and so did a familiar silver Suburban. Three figures climbed out as Teague pulled in beside them.
Eden’s chest tightened.
Talk about flashbacks.
Sierra was practically bouncing, her pixie-cut dark hair flopping in the breeze. Same boundless energy. Same fierce grin. Her arms were already spreading for a hug before Eden had opened the truck door.
Beside her stood Kyle Morrison—tall, broad-shouldered, an easy grin that she’d seen him share often with Landon. The memory made Eden’s stomach clench. His dark-blonde hair was longer than she remembered, and he’d filled out a bit more in two years. More muscle. More presence.
And then there was Trey.
A carbon copy of Landon. Same height. Same build. Same easy stance, with his weight shifted to one side—exactly how his brother used to stand.
Eden’s throat tightened.
No more avoiding the past. No more pretending she could keep her old life and new life separate.
She popped the door open and slid out.
“Eden!” Sierra wrapped her in a fierce hug that smelled of lavender shampoo and cinnamon gum. “Oh my word, you look amazing. The canyon air agrees with you.”
“Thanks for coming.” Eden’s voice came out rough. She pulled back, forcing herself to look at Kyle and Trey.
But Kyle was already moving.
He pulled her into an embrace that was longer than necessary. Tighter. His cologne—woodsy and expensive—wrapped around her.
“Eden.” Low. Warm. “Man, it’s good to see you.”
When he finally pulled back, his hands lingered on her shoulders. His eyes studied her face with an intensity that made something uncomfortable twist in her gut. “How have you been? Really?”
“I’m good. Getting by.”
Over Kyle’s shoulder, she caught Teague. He was unloading gear from the truck bed, movements a little too deliberate. A little too focused on the ropes and quickdraws.
But his eyes flicked toward them. Toward Kyle’s hands still resting on her shoulders. His gaze sharpened—watchful. Assessing.
Eden stepped back, putting distance between herself and Kyle, and turned to Trey.
The resemblance hit harder up close. Same warm brown eyes. Same crooked smile. Same single dimple in his left cheek.
She offered a quick hug—brief, careful. “Trey. Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” His voice was deeper than Landon’s, but the warmth was achingly familiar. “Besides, Sierra said you needed the best.” He spread his arms wide, grinning. “And we all know that’s me.”
“Please.” Sierra shoved his shoulder. “You’re barely top five.”
For a moment, it almost felt like old times.
Almost.
The ranger-station door opened. Liam and Noah emerged, followed by Xander and Virgil.
Teague continued unloading gear, his attention clearly elsewhere. His eyes tracked Kyle—the way Kyle kept finding reasons to stand close to her, to angle his body toward hers.
Yeah. She’d noticed too.
Virgil extended his hand to Sierra. “Virgil Jones, park superintendent. Appreciate you folks coming on short notice.”
Introductions. Explanations. The cache, the cryptic poem, the technical climbs required.
Finally, he nodded toward the station door. “Let’s move inside. Maps and gear lists to review.”
The conference room was crowded with ten people filling the space. Maps covered every surface. The air smelled of stale coffee and old paper.
Marcus stood near the window, his usual guarded expression in place. Dark hair immaculate, expensive hiking clothes pristine. His gaze tracked the new members, a smile not fully reaching his eyes.
Teague leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, gaze moving between the maps and the newcomers.
Specifically Kyle.
“Team One, led by me, will include Marcus, Xander, and Eden.” Teague’s eyes met hers briefly. “Team Two will be led by Liam and will include Sierra, Trey, and Kyle.”
Kyle leaned forward, studying the map. “Eden and I should be on the same team.” His tone was reasonable.
Almost casual. “We’ve climbed together for years.
We know each other’s signals, each other’s rhythms.” He looked up, eyes finding Teague’s.
“You’d want to keep that kind of partnership intact. For efficiency.”
Teague stepped away from the wall. His expression remained neutral, but his gaze held like steel. “The teams are balanced as they are.”
“I’m not questioning the balance.” Kyle’s voice was smooth. “I’m thinking about what’s best for Eden.”
Oh, here we go.
The two men stared at each other across the table. The air thickened.
“Put Eden on Team Two with me, Sierra, and Trey,” Kyle continued. “We’ve all climbed together for years. Tell him, Eden.”
Eden opened her mouth—this had been her decision, not Teague’s—but Teague spoke first.
“Team composition is my decision. Eden’s on Team One.”
“Then let me trade with Xander.” Kyle straightened, his friendly expression cooling. “She’s getting back on the rock after a long hiatus. Might be easier with someone she knows well. Someone who understands her climbing style.” A pause. Heavy. “Someone she trusts.”
“The decision stands.” Teague’s voice was flat. Final.
Kyle’s jaw tightened. “I only want to make sure she’s taken care of.”
Like she was fragile. Like she needed handling.
Kyle’s protectiveness used to feel comforting. A safety net. Now it pressed against her spine. A hand nudging her toward the past.
“Eden doesn’t need to be taken care of.” Teague’s tone cut through the room. “She’s strong and capable. And if I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t have her on either team.”
Eden swallowed hard. Did he really see her that way?
But Teague wasn’t done. “I am in charge. And Liam is in charge of your team. Is that going to be a problem?”