Ink glides onto the worn paper of my journal as I let myself spill every illogical and unhelpful thought I’ve ever had.
I must have fallen asleep. Riley’s curls are shimmering in the sun as she hangs over me, shaking me gently. Crying is exhausting.
“Morning, sleeping beauty.”
She somehow seems even more free and beautiful than she did in Wyoming. It stuns me for a second. Riley grabs my open journal off my chest, and I snatch it out of her hand. “Uh, sorry. You can’t read that.”
My best friend tosses her hair over her shoulder and grabs my wrist to help me up. “I was just closing it for you. How invasive do you think I am?”
We both giggle before I reply, “You’re pretty invasive, Ri. Remember that time you walked in to ‘coach’ me during my first make out with Josh Barnes?”
Our giggles cascade into full blown laughter. I let myself out from under the safety of the pine, and the sun blankets me in warmth. Yeah, I fell apart, but I also put myself back together again. Reid didn’t show up to save me. I waded through negative thought after negative thought, and I came back up for air again. That’s a success, I have to believe that.
In typical Riley fashion, she sets up our picnic in the best spot—full sun and in the way of anyone trying to see the same view. Plopping down next to her, I do my best to catch her carefree attitude, even if it only lasts the morning.
We cheers our sandwiches. Every few minutes the panic starts to set in, and I have to let my eyes wander back to the crested domes of pale granite.
Riley stares at me intensely. “Addie, tell me what’s going on. What’s actually going on. Stop holding back, I can handle it.”
I’m not sure she can, but I tell her anyway. And I don’t apologize for how any of my emotions might make her feel.
31
The next night, there’s a knock on the cabin door.
I pull up the ring camera feed and see a mop of sandy brown hair staring back at me. Reid is here.
I hesitate to open the door. This must be a dream. He left—he lost his van and his shot at Red Bull and he left. Left me all alone to conquer the scariest competition I’ll probably ever do in my entire life. I’m trying not to be pissed at him, but I am a little, if I’m honest. It’s not that he left—it’s the way he did it.
I let him grovel. “Addie, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left. Let me in please.”
There’s a big white box in his hands. I can’t imagine what’s inside.
I know he can see me staring at him, but I stand there anyways. He shouldn’t have left me like that. He promised he wouldn’t. I get why he did, I really do, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
The wooden deck creaks under his weight as he falls dramatically to one knee. It’s a satisfying sight. I indulge his performance and keep watching from inside as he declares, “Addie. Please accept my humble apology.”
With a theatrical flair, he opens the box to reveal twelve perfectly gooey cinnamon rolls. My heart is officially doing somersaults.
This particular dessert has been our thing since we first met. His mom has a special recipe. Her first week on the job, she made a fresh batch and had Reid bring them to us kids. We were hesitant to let him play with us, but the baked goods changed our minds. We never looked back—he’s been a part of the family ever since.
He’s joking around with this apology, but I can tell it’s sincere. There’s turmoil in his eyes.
I creak open the door, and he starts to stand up. Instead, I push him down slightly. “I think I’d like to take a picture to remember this.”
As I pull out my phone, I snag one of the iced delights and tear off a chunk with my teeth. He grabs for one too, and I close the lid tightly. “Apology gifts are not to be enjoyed by the offender. You know the rules.”
He smirks at me. “Addie Fairfax, is seeing me on my knees going to your head a bit?”
Reid is trying to make this sound sexual, and it’s not, at least I’m pretty sure it isn’t, but I can’t deny I’m thinking about it now. My eyes scan the dirt driveway—parked next to Willa is a tiny red car. I can hardly believe he fit in there.
“Why’d you come back? And more importantly, how did you find me?” I cross my arms.
“You never turned off your location.”
I sound like an idiot, of course he used my location. “Okay…but why did you come back?” I’m suspicious—I can hardly believe he’s actually here right now.
He looks genuinely sorry. “Because I shouldn’t have left.”
