Chapter 37
thirty-seven
GAGE
“You doing okay?”
“What do you think? It’s winter, and we’re hiking a literal mountain!”
“Rebel.” I can’t help the chuckle that escapes.
“Don’t laugh at me.” Ava stops so quickly I almost run into her. She whirls around to face me, arms banded across her chest. “Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about romance, not roughing it in the woods.”
She looks adorable, bundled in her winter gear, the tip of her nose pink from the cold. I step into her space, resting my hands on her hips.
“You did see the cabin we’re staying in, right? That bathroom and kitchen are not roughing it.”
“Gage!” She stomps her foot like a toddler having a temper tantrum, and I can’t help but laugh as I pull her in for a kiss.
“While we might be hiking a mountain, it’s a very small one, and I promise we’re almost there.”
The glare she shoots at me doesn’t have as much heat as she wants. I know it’s winter and a little cold, even with the layers and the fact that we haven’t stopped moving, but I know she’s having fun.
I could have planned some romantic getaway for the two of us this weekend, but in the almost two months since we talked about going for a hike, we never found time for it. Ava’s tried every other hobby that’s been even mildly interesting to her and every hobby her friends and brother have suggested, but hiking with me just hasn’t happened.
It might have been a little selfish of me to plan this particular weekend getaway, but I originally wanted to rent an RV.
Besides, the longer we’ve hiked, the more relaxed Ava has become. This last month, since everything happened with Brian and her parents—while not necessarily stressful—has been busy. There are only a handful of evenings I can recall that someone wasn’t at my house or we weren’t over at someone else’s place for dinner. It’s like everyone in our lives wanted to make sure we weren’t alone.
It was ridiculous, but I loved them all the more for it.
This is the first three-day weekend I have off from the station since everything happened back in January, and I’m not taking it for granted. The second I knew my schedule for this month, I ran to Abbey to make sure Ava could take today off. While there are very few nights we don’t spend together in one of our beds, I’m desperate for some alone time with Ava. Seventy-two hours of uninterrupted time seems like a dream. And introducing her to one of my favorite pastimes feels like the best way to spend Valentine's.
“Is it really that terrible?” I bend and kiss the tip of her nose.
Her body relaxes, and her arms fall from her chest, wrapping around my waist instead. “No, it’s not. I just wish it were a little warmer.”
“We’ll stay in the cabin the rest of the weekend. I just really want to show you this view.”
“You’ll build me a fire and let me crochet on the couch while you make dinner?” The gleam in her eyes has me laughing again.
I’ve laughed—really laughed, not just something to help lighten the mood—more in the last month than I have in the last three years. And that’s all thanks to this woman in front of me. The peace I feel with her is something I used to only find when I was outdoors. It’s something I craved and searched for in every hike and camping trip, and it’s something I never thought I could feel every minute of every day. But I do. Just the thought of her—doing whatever she might be at any given moment of the day—brings me peace.
“Yeah, Rebel. I’ll build you a fire.”
“Okay.” She presses a kiss to my lips, lingering there for a few seconds before pulling away. “Show me this view.”
“It’s right around this bend.” I take her gloved hand in mine, walking at her side the rest of the way.
Maryland doesn’t seem like it has much to see, but the Appalachian Trail isn’t anything to sneeze at. The views you can get from this place will take your breath away.
As we round the bend, I feel the moment Ava sees it. And it’s the moment I know she falls in love with hiking. Winter might be the worst time for hiking due to the cold, but it’s Ava’s favorite season—especially when there’s snow on the ground. And Maryland did me well this week. It made this hike a bit of a bear, but seeing this sight of trees and valleys covered in snow is beautiful. Almost as stunning as the glow emanating from Ava.
Stepping up behind her, I wind my arms around her, pulling her back to my chest, supporting her in every sense of the word.
“It’s amazing.” Ava closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and holds it. As she releases it, she opens her eyes, and I feel her entire body melt into mine. Any stress she was carrying is officially gone. “Thank you,” she whispers, her words a little choked.
“Anytime, Rebel.” I kiss her cheek and absorb everything I possibly can from this moment. Every feeling, every touch, every smell, all of it. I never want to forget this moment.
We stand here quietly, taking in everything around us longer than I thought we would. But I’ll stand here as long as Ava wants to.
“Can we come here again next year?” Her words are so soft I almost miss them.
“We can come here whenever you want.”
Ava turns in my arms, wrapping hers around my neck and pulling me in for a tight hug. “I know I acted like a child during the hike, and I’m sorry. This was more than worth a little discomfort.”
“I love you, Rebel.”
“I love you, too, Gage. More than I ever imagined.”
I let my eyes roam over her face for a moment, taking in every facet possible. “I never thought I would have this, and I’m grateful every day that I found you.” I press a soft kiss against her lips, pulling back just enough to look her in the eye. “You are the most unexpected love, but I wouldn’t change any of it for anything.”
Something sparks in Ava’s eyes, but it’s gone before I can identify what it means. “Unexpected love, indeed.”
She smiles as she presses her lips to mine, and I feel her happiness soaking into every part of me.