A stern-looking officer peered in. "Where are you headed?"
"Bigfork, Montana," Aelin replied.
The officer didn’t blink. "Purpose of your visit?"
"Vacation,” Ryan answered.
The officer glanced at her, then back at Ryan. “Different names on these. You two are married?”
Ryan shook his head. “Just . . . friends.”
The officer motioned to the back window. “Roll this down, please.” Ryan obeyed. “Do you have permission from the parents of these children?”
He took his letter from the glove compartment and handed it over with the paper Aelin pulled from her purse. The officer perused and didn’t look up to ask, "How long will you be staying?"
Ryan’s grip tightened on the wheel. “A week.”
“Any alcohol or tobacco products, marijuana, firearms or weapons, agriculture products, fruits or vegetables, pets, or cash exceeding ten thousand dollars, including that intended for gifts in the vehicle?” He rattled it off as smoothly as his address.
Ryan shook his head.
The officer handed their documents back. "Thank you, enjoy your trip."
They rolled up the windows and continued on. Aelin let out a breath. "That wasn't so bad."
Ryan smirked. "You were worried?"
"No, I just—well, yeah. I always feel like I'm doing something wrong even when I'm not."
Ryan laughed. "Like when you see a cop in your rearview mirror, and suddenly you're convinced you have a body in your trunk?"
Aelin laughed out loud, and Ryan’s neck flushed.
They chatted about childhood road trips and vacations they wanted to take as they passed through small-town Montana. Finally, Ryan turned off the highway, following the signs to Bigfork. The road wound through dense forest.
"Never ceases to amaze." Aelin stared out the window. “Just wait till you see it.”
As they rounded a bend, the forest opened up to reveal a small town nestled on the shores of glittering blue. Ryan’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
"Yep." Aelin pointed. "Look at those mountains in the distance. It's like a postcard. And this isn’t even half of it."
They drove past quaint shops with colourful awnings, a general store with a hand-painted sign, a bakery with a line out the door, and a café with outdoor seating that spilled onto the sidewalk.
Aelin’s grin stretched so wide, Ryan couldn’t help but mirror it. He guided the car through the town, following the GPS directions to their cabins. They passed a couple of art galleries and a craft brewery before the road began to climb.
As they ascended, the view of Flathead Lake grew more expansive. The water shimmered in the late afternoon sun, tiny boats dotting the surface like bath toys. Ryan’s eyes traced the shoreline, finding a few secluded beaches and rocky outcrops.
They continued along the winding road, then dropped back to water level, the cabins finally coming into view. Ryan pulled into the gravel driveway and parked next to a truck with a hitch.
"This is it.” Aelin squeaked, and her shoulders nearly touched her ears.
Ryan had barely put the car in park before the girls were jumping out and running down to the docks. Ryan swung his door open, but Aelin put a hand on his arm. "It's okay, my sister and her husband are down there getting the boat set up."
Ryan looked skeptical. "She's never been around a body of water like this."
Aelin nodded. "We can go over safety, but it's not super deep around the dock." She pushed her door open. "Come here, I'll show you." He walked down the beach in awe of the smooth, coloured rocks.
"You're heeeere!" The woman who had to be Aelin’s sister, Mariah, squealed, jumping out of the boat and running up the dock toward them. Aelin flung her arms around her sister. "And you must be Ryan?" Mariah didn't give him the option of a handshake. She hugged him just as tight as she did Aelin, and Ryan felt a little shell-shocked when she pulled back.
