27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Our group rested for a while, drinking water and eating the sack lunches we had packed at the cabin. While the hike had been mostly flat, my feet were tired from the long distance we had walked, and I was looking forward to slipping off my hiking boots when we got back to the car. Already the group was talking about getting an early dinner in West Yellowstone instead of driving all the way back to the cabin to fix something. Sandwiches and granola bars only provided so much fuel.
“Grey, Tory said you’re a construction genius. Can I pick your brain for a project I’m working on?” Brad called as we started the hike back.
“Of course,” Grey said, shuffling our hiking order and leaving me alone at the back. He threw me a wink, and I hoped it was a promise he’d join me in the back again soon.
I didn’t mind having a moment alone. I took my time walking, pausing to take pictures and enjoying the scenery a bit more before we got back to the car. I reached the turn back onto the main trail from the Fairy Falls Trail to find Kylie stretching her calves, waiting for me.
“Mind if I walk back with you?” she asked, her ponytail bobbing as she fell into step beside me.
“Of course not.” I shook my head, surprised Kylie wanted to talk with me. I assumed she’d be flirting with Grey and laughing about an inside joke with Tory, Brad, and Alex. While I didn’t think Kylie was intentionally trying to cut me out of the group, my lack of shared history showed.
“It’s beautiful here. Is this your first time in the area?” Kylie asked.
“It’s my first time hiking Fairy Falls, but I’ve been to Yellowstone before.” My words felt stilted as I tried to figure out why Kylie had waited for me.
“That’s awesome! I came with Tory in the early spring, but it was too cold to really do anything besides hang out at the cabin. We did visit Big Springs, though. There was still so much snow!”
The conversation tapered off. I tried to ignore the awkward dynamic between me and Kylie, instead focusing on the fact that at least she’d tried to strike up a conversation. Even if it fell flat.
“So, are you big into hiking?” I asked after wracking my brain for conversation topics. I had a hard time picturing Kylie, with her designer clothes and manicured nails, regularly clambering up mountains, but maybe I was wrong.
“You know,” she gave a flip of her hair, gesturing vaguely at herself in biker shorts and a floral top, “this really isn’t my scene. I prefer days at the spa and shopping, but every once in a while, it’s nice to switch things up. Not to mention you can’t be friends with Tory if you’re not willing to venture into the mountains from time to time.”
I bit back a grin, curious to know what Grey would think of “visiting the spa” and “shopping” being listed as hobbies.
“A change of pace is a good thing,” I said.
“I was thrilled when Tory told me who was coming on this trip. I mean, we’re all, well most of us, are such good friends. It sounded like a blast. Tory told me she thought Trent might even propose on this trip.”
Based on the dynamics I’d witnessed between Trent and Tory this week, I highly doubted that. In fact, I’d be more surprised if their relationship survived the waves of jealousy rolling off Trent every time Brad walked into a room.
“I had some secret hopes for this trip myself,” Kylie said, a sad smile teasing the corner of her lips. “I’d hoped I could convince Grey to see me as more than a friend. I thought he was just playing hard to get, and I’m competitive enough I couldn’t resist throwing my hat in the ring. After watching him with you, though, I realize it’s never going to happen. Everyone tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen.”
“I’m so sorry,” I stammered, not sure how to respond to Kylie’s confession. I had been prepared for some backhanded information-gathering mission or maybe snide comments questioning why Grey would choose me. Kylie’s frankness was startling. Also, what did she mean by “after watching him with me”? Had she seen his interest and realized she couldn’t compete? Or was something else buried beneath the surface of her observation?
She gave a small shrug. “I can’t count the number of times someone told me ‘he’s not the relationship type’ or that ‘leading girls on is what he does.’ For some reason, I thought I’d be the one to convince him to give a relationship a shot. He always seems happy and interested when we’re together.”
She paused, watching me before continuing. I was careful to school my expression, my gaze focused on my feet and the trail.
“That’s part of why I wanted to talk to you, away from the group. I wanted to do for you what others tried to do for me. Be careful around Grey. He’s fun and flirty, makes you feel special and seen, but he won’t commit. Though watching him with you is the most interest I’ve ever seen him show in someone.” I felt hope at the offhanded compliment, but Kylie kept talking.
“He can’t even commit to a job for longer than a year. Why on earth did I think I could get him to commit to a single woman for longer than a weekend?” She gave a self-deprecating laugh.
“What do you mean he can’t commit to a job? He said he worked construction.” I forced the words out, picking apart Kylie’s revelation and trying to find some flaw in her logic, something that would prove her wrong. Instead, I replayed the pieces of conversation I’d overheard from his phone call back at the cabin.
“He does, right now. When I met Grey last year, he was a substitute teacher. Before that, I think he worked retail or something. He kind of just bounces around. He even lived out of state for a bit but came back after a family emergency. If his brother hadn’t beat him to it, I think he would have moved as far from Utah as possible after his dad passed away. The only thing keeping him there is his mom, and that tie will only keep him there for so long. I think his brother’s trying to convince him to take a job in Oregon, bring his mom with him.”
I shook my head. Kylie’s claims didn’t make sense. They didn’t align with the man I’d met, the bearded, flannel-wearing man with a big heart who liked to flirt and tease, but who also stood by his mom in times of crisis and made me feel safe enough to show my most vulnerable places. And yet, did I really know Grey well enough after less than a week to say with certainty Kylie was wrong? How did I know Grey wouldn’t drop everything for the next adventure, especially if he could bring his mom?
His text conversation with his brother from our drive up came to mind. He’d said it was a message about his brother struggling to provide help for their mom from states away. That would change if they moved closer. Maybe a fresh start would do all of them some good. Not to mention he’d have help handling his mom’s anxiety.
“It’s sad, really. He’s such a good guy. Too bad he’s too busy getting lost in adventure to recognize what he’s missing out on in the dating sphere,” Kylie said, her tone nonchalant, her face pinched into an expression of genuine sadness. “And Audrey, I genuinely mean that. You’re great, and I don’t want Grey hurting you because he’s too busy chasing the next shiny thing.”
Even spoken in kindness, Kylie’s words hit their mark, and my heart shattered. I had just started to hope, allowing myself to imagine a life after Lyle. A life with a genuinely nice guy who would value and cherish me. Who would choose me, again and again. But if what Kylie had said was true, my future dreams of a happily ever after were just as far out of reach as they had been before Grey had shown up on my doorstep with a grin and an apology.
After giving me time to process her words, Kylie changed the topic, rambling on about work or some other mundane thing, but I stopped listening. I followed her on autopilot, my feet moving but my mind still digesting Kylie’s revelations and what they would mean for me. Nothing had changed, not really. Grey hadn’t promised me anything. It was my fault for reading so much into his smiles and touches. Too bad that didn’t make this moment hurt any less.