Chapter 6 #3
“Liam and Teague are handling that.” Eden kept her voice even.
“Right. You think they can handle it?” He lifted one brow.
Was he serious? This was what they did for a living.
Her frustration must have shown because Sierra jumped in, too bright. “I, for one, am glad about that. It’s been a while since I could just focus on the climbs and not the logistics. Which means more focus for karaoke. I’d rather not think about routes while I’m butchering Adele.”
“I suppose.” Kyle’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe we can do a duet tonight, Eden? Like old times?”
The suggestion was loaded. Heavy with subtext.
Before she could respond, Trey stood. “Actually, I should go prep my gear. Sierra, want to help me organize the rack?”
“What? But we haven’t—” Sierra caught Trey’s meaningful look and stood quickly. “Right. Yes. The rack. Very important…rack organizing. And you had that thing, right, Eden?”
Smooth, you two. Very smooth.
Eden caught Trey’s eye and saw concern there—the protective instinct of Landon’s brother. Evidently, he didn’t understand what was happening with Kyle either.
But he recognized something was off.
“Yes. I should go too.” Eden pushed back from the table. “Need to change before karaoke.” She grabbed her tray and headed toward the dish station, pulse jumping when Kyle stood as well. But Sierra looped her arm through his, chattering about song choices, giving Eden space to slip away.
I owe you one, Sierra.
The evening air hit her as she stepped outside—cool and soft, carrying sage and juniper and the faint mineral tang of the canyon. The sky was shifting from blue to gold.
Farther down the sidewalk, four figures headed toward the ranger station. Teague’s auburn curls were unmistakable in the group. And she’d guess the other three were Xander, Liam, and Noah.
Her feet carried her toward them before she could think. “Teague. Wait.”
He turned, surprise flickering across his face before settling into something softer. The golden light of the setting sun caught his eyes, turned them impossibly green. He glanced back at the guys. “I’ll meet you in there.”
The three disappeared into the ranger station and he met her gaze again. “What’s up?”
“Hey.” Her mouth went dry. “I wanted to ask—the team’s doing karaoke tonight. At the lodge. It’s kind of a tradition for us before a climb.”
“I heard about that.” His eyebrows rose. “Karaoke isn’t really my thing.”
“Because you’re secretly a terrible singer? Or because you’re afraid of having fun?”
His mouth twitched. “Maybe I don’t want everyone to know what a great singer I am. Maybe I was supposed to be the next Justin Bieber but chose to work here instead. And if word got out—”
“It would be worse than the treasure hunters. It would be hordes of screaming teenage girls.”
Amusement and warmth sparked in his eyes. “That does sound worse.”
“I’ll keep your secret, but you do really need to come watch me massacre Journey.”
He laughed—a real laugh, surprised out of him. “You sing Journey?”
“Badly. Very, very badly.” She stepped closer, emboldened. “Come on. One hour. You can’t spend the whole night second-guessing yourself about today.”
The humor in his expression flickered. “Eden—”
“Please.” The word came out softer. More vulnerable. “I’m asking you. Not as your teammate. Just…” She couldn’t finish. Didn’t know how.
Something flickered across his face—want, uncertainty, fear. He was close enough now that she could see the tension in his jaw.
“Why?” His voice was low. Rough.
“Because I want you there.” Her heart hammered. “Because I think you need to stop punishing yourself for being human. Because—” She stopped, aware of how much she was revealing. How close she was standing. “I want you there. Isn’t that enough?”
The air between them crackled. The evening breeze wrapped around them, carrying sage and pine, and the rest of the world seemed very far away.
Teague’s gaze dropped to her mouth for half a second before returning to her eyes.
“Hamilton!” Xander’s voice shattered the moment. He appeared in the ranger-station doorway. “Noah’s getting impatient. Says the comms equipment isn’t going to check itself and he’s got plans.”
Teague stepped back.
Eden missed his proximity immediately.
“Right. Sorry.” His voice was rougher than usual. He turned back to her. “I need to handle this. But I’ll try.”
“I’ll save you a song.” Steadier than she felt.
“I might come.” His eyes held hers a beat too long. “But even if I do, no way am I singing.”
Might come. Not a commitment.
But something.
He disappeared into the ranger station. Xander threw her an encouraging grin before following.
Eden stood there, heart racing.
Then she turned toward her cabin.
Around her, the compound settled into golden hour—light rich and honeyed, shadows long. A hawk circled in the distance. The canyon stretched beyond the rim, layers of ancient stone painted in fire.
As she walked, something settled in her chest. A realization both terrifying and inevitable.
Her problem wasn’t just climbing again. Wasn’t even opening herself to her old life—to Sierra, Trey, Kyle, and all the bittersweet memories.
The problem was simpler.
And infinitely more complicated.
She’d fallen for another climber.
Eden paused on her cabin steps, hand on the weathered door, heart still racing.
Falling for him might be the most reckless thing she’d done since arriving at the canyon.
And heaven help her—
She was doing it anyway.
Tonight was the night.
Noah fidgeted with the ring box in his pocket for the third time in as many minutes. The velvet was smooth against his palm. Solid. Real.
A promise waiting to be made.
He was going to ask Meg to marry him.
The plan was simple. Take her to the lookout where they’d talked last month—where he’d driven her to start fresh, where she’d finally told him about her childhood, where he’d realized he couldn’t imagine life without her.
Pop the question as sunset painted the canyon in fire.
He’d even checked the weather forecast twice.
But when he arrived to pick her up, Meg was laughing with Nimue in the cabin doorway—both already dressed, ready to go out. Meg’s dark hair was loose around her shoulders, her smile bright.
“Noah!” Her smile widened. “I know we said we’d go for a drive, but—” She gestured to Nimue. “Everyone’s headed to karaoke. Would you mind if we stopped by first? Just for a bit?”
He couldn’t blame her for wanting to go. All she knew was they were going for a drive—he hadn’t mentioned the lookout, the ring burning a hole in his pocket, the speech he’d been rehearsing for three days.
“Sure, why not?” Casual, despite the disappointment settling in his chest. “Stay for an hour, then head out after?”
“Perfect.” Her hand found his as they walked. “We’ll still make the sunset. I know you’ve been planning this.”