Chapter 12
12
ASHER
My head throbbed and my eyes were gritty as I dragged myself out of bed on Saturday morning. I couldn’t even blame it on a hangover. I’d made a monumental ass of myself last night, and then I’d run instead of facing up to the consequences of my actions when Summer called me on my bullshit.
Hopefully no one had noticed that I’d left just after Summer and Blair and never returned. The last thing I needed was for Liam to put two and two together and realize I was lusting after his little sister, or for some other good Samaritan to break the news to him.I already knew nothing could happen, so all that would do was create a ton of awkwardness.
Blair had definitely clocked my interest. His smug expression when I’d followed them out told me that. But I didn’t think he’d say anything. I suspected it was more a case of him using this opportunity to get back at me for being rude to his sister when she first moved back to Destiny Falls.
Cookie wound around my legs as I made my way to the bathroom, and she waited at the door as I finished up, washed my hands, and went to the kitchen. I poured cat food into her bowl, refilled her water, and switched the kettle on to boil. I needed coffee.
Coffee, and then exercise. Very little could distract me like hurtling down the mountainside on my bike.
I made toast for breakfast, along with a mug of black coffee, and ate quickly, then dressed and loaded my cycle onto the back of my car. I double checked my first aid kit was under the front seat, filled a bottle with water, and grabbed a sweater and my helmet on the way out the door.
The morning air was brisk, with a hint of frost on the grass, but the sky was clear and once the sun was high, it would get warmer.
I drove to the parking area just outside of town, on the side closest to Destiny Peak, where a bunch of mountain biking trails began. Once there, I unloaded my bike, clipped my helmet into place, slotted my water bottle into its compartment, set my exercise watch to go, and started up a trail.
I cycled toward a lookout point, my legs burning with every rotation, but no matter how hard I pushed myself, I couldn’t get Summer out of my head. I kept picturing her laughing with Darcy or standing in a dark corner with Blair. The images were messing with my mind.
What the hell was going on?
I gritted my teeth, straightened my legs slightly, and lifted my ass off the bike seat, trying to get a bit more leverage so I could go a little faster. Breathe a little harder. Sweat a little more.
Summer continued to consume my goddamn thoughts.
I didn’t get it. I’d accepted a while ago that I was attracted to her, however much I might not want to be, but this was something more, and I didn’t know what to make of it.
When I reached the lookout, I dismounted and gazed out over the forest, panting heavily. I grabbed my water bottle and chugged a third of it, then turned around, ready for the return journey. Perhaps once I reached the bottom, I’d cycle another of the trails. One that was less well-maintained and would require more concentration.
I navigated downhill, taking the sharp corners less and less carefully each time. I picked up speed along a straight section, flying faster and faster until, all of a sudden, a figure appeared on the trail in front of me.
My heart leapt into my throat, and I squeezed the brakes, the tires skidding beneath me, spraying dirt in all directions.
The figure grew larger. I wasn’t slowing quickly enough. I was going to hit them.
They turned, and their eyes widened. Recognition flared. It was Connor, clad in his ranger’s uniform.
At that second, my front tire hit a stone, and I veered sideways, off the trail. I landed on my side in a pile of damp leaves and fallen branches. The air whooshed out of my lungs, and my hip throbbed from the impact.
“Ah, fuck,” I groaned. Pinpricks of pain danced along my shins and forearms. The scent of rotting organic matter filled my nose, and slowly, I pushed myself upright. Blinking rapidly, I waited for my vision to stop wavering, and then scanned my forearms. They were scratched to shit but didn’t seem to be bleeding much.
“Here.” Connor leaned over and extended his hand toward me.
I clasped his hand and let him pull me to my feet. I brushed myself down, sweeping away twigs and leaves, and reached down for my bike to haul it back onto the trail.
I bent to check my shins. My hip protested the movement, and I flinched. Like my forearms, my shins were scratched, but only one scratch was bleeding much. I touched it and hissed.
“Ouch.”
Straightening, I tested each of my muscles. Everything seemed to be in working order, if a bit achy.
When I turned to Connor, he was watching my every move with that intense focus of his.
He met my gaze and scowled. “What were you thinking? You came speeding down there like a bat out of hell.”
I grimaced. “I wasn’t expecting to see anyone else out here this early.”
It hadn’t occurred to me that Connor’s cabin was nearby, or that he might be up and about.
“You still have to be careful,” he growled. “What if some tourist had wandered in front of you?”
Guilt churned in my gut. He was right. I needed to behave more responsibly. As a paramedic, I knew exactly what could happen when things went wrong.My preoccupation with Summer was making me careless—and worse, proving I was exactly the sort of reckless man she didn’t need in her life.
“Sorry. I’ll be more careful,” I promised.
Connor crossed his arms and frowned. “What’s with the Speed Racer act anyway? You trying to outrun something?”
My quick intake of breath seemed to echo in the space between us. Damn, I’d forgotten how perceptive Connor could be. He didn’t say much, so it was easy to underestimate him, but he saw more than he let on.
“Is it something to do with Summer?” he persisted. “I noticed the tension between you two yesterday.”
I snorted. “She tossed a drink in my face. I think everyone noticed.”
He continued to stare at me. “There’s more to it than that. All the arguing you two do is a weird type of foreplay, but it’s been different lately. Something is changing.”
“It’s not like that. There’s nothing between us. I’d never…”
My breath started to come in rough pants. If Connor had noticed my attraction to Summer, did that mean others had too?
I’d hoped to have more time to get my head around whatever was happening, and to remind myself of why I needed to keep my distance. But if everyone in town was talking about us, I was screwed. I wouldn’t have any time to figure out my own feelings.
“Hey, calm down.” Connor clapped his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t think anyone else noticed.”
“Other than Blair,” I muttered.
He inclined his head. “Maybe. But it would be easier for him to see since he’s been out of town. You know how it is, it’s harder to perceive change when it’s gradual.”
“Then how come you did?” I asked.“And why aren’t you angry?”
He shrugged. “I’m around you less than the others too, and I’m not angry because you can’t help the way you feel. As far as I know, you haven’t done anything I need to be angry about, right?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I haven’t.”
“Good.” He pursed his lips. “You might want to be more careful, unless you want people asking questions.”
I sighed, slowly regaining control of my breathing. “You’re right. Again.”
He smirked. “I know. That said, there’s another option too.”
I frowned. “What?”
“You could get your shit together and do something about whatever you feel for my sister.”
My heart almost stopped. “I’m not the right kind of guy for her.”
He shrugged. “If you say so.”
“Everyone always says so.” Or at least, that’s how it felt. Surely, Connor had said something along those lines at some point too, even if I couldn’t quite recall it now.
He studied me. “I never realized you were such a rule follower. Do whatever you think is best. You okay to keep biking?”
“Yeah.”
“Great.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and backed away. “Remember what I said. Either do something, or don’t, but don’t let other people’s opinions be what stops you.”
He strode away, whistling to himself, leaving me to wonder what the hell I was supposed to do now.