Chapter 34
Perfect Days
This time when the big wooden doors of the Alpine Rose swing open, there’s a firm hand on the small of my back guiding me inside. The now familiar scent of pine and garlic fries puts a smile on my face as Miles leads me inside.
It’s been two weeks of time spent just the two of us on the ranch.
Catching up on all of the years we spent apart, riding up to Ember Meadow at sunset, navigating the new bookings at the Old Cabin.
Most nights he stays at the guest cabin with me, huddled up by the fireplace as the fall temperatures set in.
One night, we went on a run up the dirt road just after sunset.
The sky was red, still on fire, and the air was just chilly enough to give me goosebumps.
We ran past fields of golden grass, groves of aspen trees turned yellow and oak trees turned red, cows enjoying the hay harvest of fall, and even a small pumpkin patch that apparently Isabella takes care of all year just to have pumpkins for a few of the kids on the neighboring ranches.
We stopped at the crest of a hill far enough away from the ranch house that it was just a small white spec in the distance, glowing with warm yellow light.
The first stars of the night winking at us from above as the twilight settled in around us.
I must have started to shiver, because the next thing I knew, Miles’s sherpa lined flannel was around my shoulders.
I tried to tell him it’d be too hot for a run, but I suppose he was right about bringing it.
I wonder if all along he brought it for me.
Miles and I stood there for a few minutes, with only the sound of our breathing in the air, our tennis shoes caked in dust from the dry dirt road.
Until Miles pulled out his phone and clicked play on a song.
Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight” played softly through his phone speakers as he pulled me into him, swaying back and forth.
We danced like that for the entire song, staring back at each other.
Miles pressing his forehead against mine, and me drowning in those deep brown eyes I can never seem to look away from.
It was one of those moments of peace you only feel every once in a while.
When you wish you didn’t ever have to leave, no matter how cold the night gets or how long the song is.
I would have bottled it up if I could have.
We’ve had more times like that than I ever thought were possible. Perfect days.
“You ready for this?” Miles grumbles under his breath as we make our way to the back of the bar where a few familiar faces stand around a pool table.
We’re meeting Parker, Codie, and a few of our other friends here tonight.
Only, they don’t know I’m going to be here at all. Or that Miles and I are together.
Selfishly, I wanted to stay in our little bubble as long as we could to make sure that I wouldn’t freak out like usual, even though I knew deep down that I wouldn’t.
I’m not perfect yet, but staying here feels right.
Now, I’m ready to rip off the band-aid and see my new friends.
Codie and I have some catching up to do, for sure.
“I sure am,” I grin up at him, interlacing our fingers behind my back.
I have to restrain myself from reaching up and running my hand through Miles’s wavy black hair.
This is the first time I’ve seen him without a hat on in a while.
The corners of his lips curve upward just enough to form a classic Miles-smile.
If you look close enough, you can almost see it.
Parker sees us first, standing up from the stool he’s hunched over in with a grin on his face. Every time I see him, he looks like the happiest man on earth, smiling and excited to see everyone.
“What do we have here? Miss Katie is back in Jackson? I thought you were no longer with us.” Parker booms, catching the attention of everyone else in the area.
“Jesus, Parker, you make it sound like she died,” Miles says, rolling his eyes.
“I’m just surprised is all, didn’t expect to see you tonight, Kate,” Parker winks.
The air is knocked out of my lungs as Codie barrels into me, hugging me so tightly I’m pulled away from Miles.
“Oh my god, Katie! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?
How long are you here for? Do you need a place to stay?
We can have a sleepover! Did Miles tell you we were going to be here?
” She takes a breath, looking at me as if I can answer all of her questions at once. “Why didn’t you text me?”
I grin at her, unable to contain my happiness any longer. I’m not used to this whole ‘content’ thing but I love it. “We wanted to surprise you,” I say, looking over to Miles. Like the past few weeks, he’s smiling back at me with a warmth in his eyes that melts my heart.
“Who’s we?” Parker says, looking between Miles and I as if he can’t figure out a complicated math problem.
Miles grabs my hand, pulling me from Codie’s embrace and against his chest. “Mac and I,” he says, as if it’s something everyone already knows. An everyday occurrence. I suppose it is, now.
I barely hear the gasps as he lowers his mouth to mine, kissing me in front of everyone. But, I do hear the hoots and hollers from Parker and the rest of the ranch hands when they’ve finally realized what’s happening.
As I pull away giggling at Codie’s shocked expression and Parker’s endless questions, I feel overwhelmed. I can’t believe this life is actually mine. That I’m standing here next to my favorite person in the whole world, with our friends, in this beautiful town in the mountains.
Even if we go up in flames, I’ll still have this moment. The first time I’ve ever felt that life-altering feeling that I never want to let go of no matter what.
I feel like I belong.