Chapter One
Andrew
Thump. Thump. Thump. My thumbs drum a slow, steady beat on the steering wheel, helping me calm my nerves.
My girlfriend, Heather, and I have a thirty-minute drive from the airport to the small town of Three Sisters, Oregon.
After seven years, my little sister Charlie is finally marrying my best friend, Hayes.
I should be ecstatic, and I am, but my mind has been stuck in conflict mode since my last deployment.
I try to focus back on the scenery before me as I drive. Sagebrush and juniper trees line the highway. The Cascade Mountains only grow larger, the closer we get to the town. My only hope is that the beautiful landscape Central Oregon has to offer can pull me out of my funk.
When the wind blows the powdery snow across the fields and the highway, I clench my teeth and grip the steering wheel harder.
My eyes involuntarily begin scanning the road.
Watching for the next possible threat, both in front of me and behind me.
It feels like I’ve been on high alert for months now—if I'm being honest, years.
In my career, if you're not vigilant, you're dead.
That doesn't just turn off when you go on vacation, especially after the shit I just dealt with.
I've only been stateside for the last three weeks, after a grueling six months overseas. It’s safe to say that I still haven't adjusted back to civilian life. At this point, I’m not sure if I will.
I can’t help but wonder how much more I have left to give.
The training, the deployments, missing my family, losing good people—it’s all starting to weigh on me.
Heather sits blissfully unaware of my unease as she chatters on about whatever mindless topic she thinks of—trying to "catch me up" on all the things I missed the last few months I was gone. Her gossip is usually mind-numbing enough to distract me, but today it only feels trivial.
I let out a heavy sigh while trying to readjust in my seat.
Heather and I have felt off for a while now.
We started dating in high school, nearly twelve years ago.
Since then, our relationship has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with ups and downs, breakups, and fights.
By the grace of God, we've managed to hold on to each other through it all and make it through to the good times.
Recently, though, the good times are fewer and farther between.
Heather’s hand reaches out and touches my arm, catching me off guard. I instinctively jerk away from her touch, and she recoils from my reaction.
"You good?" She asks with concern dripping from her voice, but when I glance over at her, the narrowing of her eyes feels more accusatory than sympathetic.
"Just uncomfortable; I'm not built for small cars."
"No, you definitely aren't," she giggles and winks one of those baby blues.
There it is. Our safe place—the place in our relationship where we've never struggled. Flirting and sex.
I take a second to admire her; her long platinum hair is curled to perfection, and her make-up is still flawless. She looks like she's heading to a photoshoot, not just getting off a three-hour flight that required us to be at the airport at 04:30.
I grab her hand, pulling it to my lap, and let our hands rest on my thigh while I focus back on driving.
"We should be there soon. Are you excited to see Charlie and Hayes?"
"Hell yeah,” I say with a natural smile forming. It's been nearly a year since they came to visit me in San Diego.
Charlie and Hayes have been put through every test in the book and still managed to stay together.
I wasn't thrilled when I originally found out Charlie left South Carolina, but as we drive through the little town she settled in, I can see the appeal.
I feel like I'm finally starting to understand why Hayes didn't drag her back home to Heartsville.
Everything appears to be on Main Street, and traffic slows down as we drive by storefronts that look like they were built in the late 1800s.
The street is lined with busy shops and restaurants that show off the same unique Western style.
The temperature gauge reads twenty degrees on the dash and snow falls lightly, yet everyone in this town seems happy.
Kids run ahead and play as their parents walk behind them, holding hands and laughing.
It looks like something from a Hallmark movie, and I surprisingly don't hate it.
"Can you believe Charlie found this place?
" I glanced at Heather, expecting her to have the same reaction.
She's from Heartsville as well and used to talk about moving back home and starting a family.
Once her career as a social media influencer took off, though, she started referring to Los Angeles as home and stopped talking about marriage and kids.
"Yeah, it's just so… Oregon Trail," she let out a small laugh.
I feel my eyebrows knit together for a second, and then it dawns on me, "The computer game we played in Mr. Smith's 7th grade class?"
"Yes! I hated that game; I always lost all my supplies in the river and then died of, like, dysentery."
Chuckling, I reassure her she has nothing to worry about: "Just leave the food and the river fording to me, and I think we will be okay."
"I will, ya big bad 'frogman.' You could probably just swim all of our stuff across those rivers, anyway."
I flexed my arm a bit and wiggled my brows at her as we turned down the winding road that leads to the resort. I’ve been a Navy SEAL for the last ten years and have quite the reputation going for me.
Tall pine trees line the driveway, getting thicker as they lead deeper into the forest. The trees open to reveal the resort, which looks like it was plucked out of Aspen and set down in the middle of Oregon.
The Cascade Mountain Range is covered in snow and practically glows behind the three-story brick building, which resembles more of a palace than the "typical ski lodge" Charlie described.
The Cascadia Ranch Resort exudes an air of luxury and elegance with its grand entrance and meticulously maintained surroundings.
This place is breathtaking, from the architecture to the groomed landscaping that still looks natural.
Not a piece of litter on the ground, overgrown shrub, or single leaf out of place.
I glanced up just in time to see the valet jump out of his seat and start rushing toward our car from his booth.
He isn't very far, yet my eyes track him the entire time, unease building in my stomach at his erratic movements. By the time he reaches for my door, he has a massive grin plastered on his face. It’s only then that I realize I've been subconsciously feeling for my rifle the entire time, ready to neutralize the threat.
Except he isn't a threat. He's practically a kid, doing his job
The guilt eats at me as I realize my fuckup. I quickly lower my hand, hoping he didn't notice my instinctive reaction, and force a smile as I exit the tiny car.
“Hello, Sir! Will you be staying with us?”
I nod, forcing myself to smile back. “Our check in isn’t until later, though.”
“No problem, I can take your bags and then get them to your room when it’s available.”
The unease from my overreaction was still with me for the rest of our conversation as I helped unload our luggage and handed over the keys. So much so that I end up giving him a more than generous, mostly guilt fueled, tip.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, taking a second to let the woody Juniper smell that is lingering in the cold air ground me for a moment. Then I let it go and made my way over to Heather, who appeared to be having a flirty conversation with the other valet attendant.
Between my sudden approach and expressionless face, the chump starts scrambling over his feet. He’s quick to apologize for any inconvenience caused, while also trying to welcome us to the resort.
I can't help but smirk as Heather steps in front of me and smacks me in the chest while rolling her eyes. She's obviously annoyed that the poor guy felt threatened merely by my presence.
Chuckling, I whisper in her ear as we enter the lobby, "I'm either inspiring or intimidating. If he chooses to be intimidated, that's on him for being weak."
She turns around and wraps her arms around my waist. "Well, maybe next time try that million-dollar smile instead of your normal ‘resting bitch face,’ and he may act differently."
I mock being offended with a little gasp, "‘Resting bitch face?’ How dare you?"
She slips out of my grasp and gently pushes me away. "Come on, you big ogre, let's go check out this bougie place."
We walk hand in hand through the lobby. The front desk is discreetly located off to one side, providing guests with a panoramic view of the mountains.
The floor to ceiling windows somehow magnify the snow peaks, making it look as if you could step out into them.
It’s surprisingly even more spectacular inside than it was outside.
I take a second to look around before checking my phone to see where everyone is meeting.
The lobby features a coffee shop, a local gift store, three fire places with couches, and an enormous bar.
I could spend the entire trip right here.
Just get me a blanket and a beer, and I’d be happy to pass out on one of the couches.
Scanning the group chat that Charlie set up with me and seven other people, I found the itinerary she set up. "They're meeting in the ballroom in twenty minutes. Do you mind if we just go there now and wait?"
Heather lifts one shoulder, indifferent. "Sure, I guess I can scout out some shots for my Instagram story on the way. You know, keep the 'Heathies' updated on my adventures."