3. Tyler #2
I scroll through my texts with Reid and am reminded that he is spending the weekend with Annika.
I click over to my texts with Chloe and think of our recent, slightly awkward yet intriguing, interaction on the couch.
I woke up from our romance movie marathon thinking I was still dreaming as I looked up at her.
The sun seemed to be emitting from her as a halo of light glowed from her curly hair.
Her cheeks were flushed and she had sleep creases on the side of her face.
I wanted to pull her back into my chest and not leave from the couch.
But then she got up faster than I could even suggest anything more.
Not too long ago, I realized I would drop whatever I was doing for Chloe Marshall.
And that day was no different. I remember being on the riding mower, cutting the grass on the right side of the property, when she called me.
I didn’t even bother to finish, I leaped right off and drove to her house.
The mower still in the middle of the field.
This crush I have on her is insane, and I’m getting pretty close to jumping out of the “friends” territory and making a move on her.
Although the way she flung herself off the couch when I put my hands in her hair makes me think she’s maybe not into me the same way.
I suppose I could try to let my crush fizzle out, but I know it won’t be easy.
Chloe’s been like a ray of sunshine piercing my wall of grief.
Me
Hey, what are you up to today?
Almost immediately, three dots appear, indicating that Chloe is responding. A rush of relief falls over me because she isn’t ghosting me out. Not that I thought she would, but with Reid occupied with Annika, it’s oddly comforting.
Chloe
Crying because Annika is leaving me AGAIN to hang out with Reid
Me
Yeah, I haven’t seen Reid in days. We are happy for them, remember?
UGH
I know. I’m so happy for them. I cry thinking about it because they were meant to be together since we were 9 years old.
What are you doing today?
I was thinking of going on a hike. Do you want to join me?
Hmm, tempting…I could use some inspiration for paintings.
Yeah, what time?
Whenever. Does an hour from now work?
Yeah! Pick me up!
You got it. See you soon.
I pull up to the cottage on Beach Street, where Chloe and Annika live, promptly an hour later.
I can see Chloe already sitting on her porch, ready to go.
She darts over when she sees my SUV and skips to the passenger door.
She’s wearing a thick cream knit sweater layered over an oversize white T-shirt and dark-blue leggings tucked into hiking boots.
She approaches the car from the passenger side, gives me a bright smile, and immediately makes me feel less lonely.
“Scoot, is that you!” Chloe exclaims as she opens the door.
My puppy leaps over the middle console to greet her with lots of puppy kisses.
She laughs and climbs in. I grab Scooter with one hand and set him back into his car carrier, clipping him in so he stays put while we drive.
He nuzzles the window, and I lower it enough so he can stick his little head out.
“Is that a purse for your water bottle?” I ask as I point at the blue floral bag wrapped across her chest as Chloe buckles her seat.
She perks up and turns to me. “Yes! Isn’t it the most brilliant invention? I love and hate carrying my water bottle around. So, at the artisans’ fair last month, there was a booth where a woman had handmade purses. It even has extra pockets for your phone, keys, and other whatnots.”
“I love it. It matches the blue daisy dress you wore the other day,” I point out.
“Yeah, it does.” She smiles and relaxes in her seat. “I only have a few more weeks to wear my sundresses. It’s still warm, but it’s already colder than it would be back in Ojai at this time of year.”
What I shame, I think to myself. “I can’t imagine living somewhere where it was sunny and warm most of the year. Sounds great, honestly. But there’s just something magical about leaves changing, the air turning to a fresh crispness. Plus, it’s easier to climb outside when it’s cold out.”
“Do you climb outside often?”
“Only when my buddy from college, Griff, comes to visit. He texted me the other day that he’s planning on stopping through soon, so maybe then. When it’s cold, the rock face has more grip. In the summer, my hands get sweaty so it’s a bit more tricky to climb. I usually stick to the local rock gym.”
“Will you take me rock climbing again?”
“To the gym, you mean?” I ask not hiding the wide smile taking over my face.
“Yeah, I enjoyed it.”
Rock climbing is my favorite hobby. Nothing clears my head and fills me with more pride than scaling the difficult side of a mountain.
Or a challenging course at the rock gym.
I should give Griff a heads up to plan a climb while he’s here.
He, Miles, and I would often climb together in college.
Griff is the only one who made a career out of it.
He travels the world and has told me some of the most mind boggling climb stories.
He’s climbed nearly every route in Yosemite.
A part of me wishes I had the same feats but I’m not envious of the injuries he gets.
Each time he passes through, I work with him on physical therapy recovery.
He’s gotten injured a few times and has stayed with me while he recovers.
Griff’s love for climbing is infectious.
Reid goes climbing with me at times, but doesn’t have the same passion.
The fact that Chloe wants to explore my favorite hobby with me means more than she realizes.
“I’d love that.”
“You love a lot of stuff,” she jokes with me.
Only when it comes to you, I say silently in my head.
“We’re here!” I exclaim, setting my SUV into park.
“Geez, Ty, where did you take me? Feels like we’ve been driving for hours.”
“It was like a thirty-minute drive.”
“I guess I’m used to getting anywhere I need to be in under twenty. Small-town living perks. Well, except if we want to go to a mall or something, which—sheesh, I haven’t been to a mall in ages.”
We exit my car, I put Scooter on his leash, and the three of us head over to the trailhead.
I chose an easy two-mile loop hike, with a few moderate hills, but nothing exhausting.
Chloe mentioned she wanted to get some painting inspiration, and this spot is perfect for that.
It has a couple unexpected points that I’m sure will get her inspired.
The start of the hike is quiet. We pass a few other people on the path, nodding and giving curt waves.
I figured it would be busy, so this is a pleasant surprise.
It’s a gorgeous late summer day on a Saturday.
The trail becomes cooler as the redwood trees provide shade, but pockets of sunlight shine through the branches.
Occasionally, I’ll glance at Chloe, who gathered her curls in a blue claw clip at the top of her head.
As we walk the trail, the sun dances around her as if she shines back at it.
With each pocket of light, she tilts her head up in greeting.
She occasionally pauses to take pictures on her phone or to collect a flower or fallen leaf.
The four of us friends have been on some hikes together before, and it’s become my favorite activity to do as a group.
However, it didn’t start that way. Annika works as a professional photographer and brings her film camera with her nearly everywhere she goes.
When we went on a hike a few months ago, she brought about three rolls of film with her, and I thought it was unnecessary.
Why lug around all that extra weight? Then I realized that she was constantly taking photos.
It was almost unbearable to hike and have to stop as she’d snap pictures.
It felt more like a photo tour than a hike.
After she developed the images and shared them, I never complained about her bringing her camera again.
The photos were incredible. She perfectly captured the light breaking through the trees and some candid ones of us hiking together.
One of my favorite photos was from a hike we took recently. Reid, Chloe, and I are holding hands around a large Redwood tree, and all you can see is Reid’s head jutting out the side behind the massive trunk. I had her develop a larger print for me and framed it to display in my house.
“So, what was it like growing up here?” Chloe asks, pulling me out of my memory.
“It was quiet, and I didn’t appreciate it then like I do now.
It seemed like everyone knew each other, and nothing new ever happened.
It was frustrating as a kid because I wanted to see new things.
I hoped a new kid would move to town so I could have someone new to meet.
I didn’t appreciate all the good things Auburn Hills offers. ”
“Well, to your young self’s defense, everyone does know each other. Even though I’ve only been here a few months, I know every business owner on Main Street by first name.”
“You do? Wow, that was fast.”
“I like talking to people. So, I usually ask a question of whoever is working. Then it usually turns into a longer chat, and before you know it, I’ve made a new friend.
But I get what you mean. Ojai, where Annika and I are from, is super small, too.
Not as friendly as Auburn Hills, however. Some people are snobby there.”
“There are those people everywhere. Did you like growing up in Ojai?”
“Honestly, no. The town reminds me of so many crappy childhood memories that I tend not to reminisce. When Annika and I went to college, I felt like I could be someone new,” Chloe says with a frown, and she shakes it away. “Is that how you felt at college?”