“Strange, because I guess I didn’t know if I’d be back at all.” Yet here he was.
He’d wanted to leave this town and see the entire world, and his job as a Combat Controller in the Air Force had allowed him to do that. He’d also wanted to get away from the loss of his mother. The loss of his friend.
Instead, loss had followed him.
“Your team must miss you,” his brother said quietly.
Jace fisted his hands, Kayden’s words bringing back a memory he’d rather leave in the past. “Yeah, they didn’t want me to leave, but it was time.”
He felt Kayden’s eyes on him before he saw them.
When he remained quiet, Jace finally asked, “What?”
“You’re okay though, right?”
He laughed, hoping it didn’t sound as forced as it felt. “I’m better than okay. I’m working at a skywalk in my hometown. I’m back with my brothers. Now get your eyes on the road before you kill us both.”
Kayden looked back at the road, and Jace filled the silence with a story about a teammate getting patted down at the airport by a good-looking security agent, getting a few laughs out of Kayden.
When they pulled into the parking lot outside the visitors center and climbed out of the truck, the air finally slipped into his lungs with a bit more ease. But that had nothing to do with the building. It was the mountains beyond.
Fuck, they were radiant.Thisis when he felt like he was home.
“You coming into the center?” Kayden asked.
“So I can see you and Tilly make out like teenagers? No, thanks.”
Kayden shoved his hands into his pockets. “Your loss.”
His brother went into the building, while he rounded the truck toward the skywalk. It wasn’t far from the visitors center, just a couple minutes’ walk. The air brushed over his skin, the sharp sound of birds echoing in the trees.
But none of that held his attention because all he could think about was Elle.
His hand itched to pull his phone out and text her. But for some goddamn reason, she didn’t want to catch up with him, not even for a coffee.
Why? Because so much time had passed? He just wanted to see her. Spend time with her. It felt wrong being back in Misty Peak and not talking to her every day. Because theyhadtalked every day when they were younger. And seen each other. Textedeach other. If a day had ever passed where he hadn’t made contact with the woman, it almost felt like a part of him had been missing.
He stepped onto the skywalk. He’d been working here for a week, and that week had been busy with people wanting to come and check out the newest attraction in town. Tourists making trips just to see the Smoky Mountains from up high.
His job was to make sure everyone was safe. To give tours to those who wanted them. And even to run some rappelling sessions from the center point of the skywalk, where a large tree sat.
He loved it, especially the rappelling. Anything that got his heart pumping was good for him.
He was striding along the skywalk when a rustling noise sounded from behind. He turned to see a woman standing at the skywalk’s starting point. She had long red hair and looked at the walkway with an anxious frown on her face.
He turned back and moved toward her, smiling. “Hey. Can I help you?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh. Hey. Do you work here?”
“I sure do. I’m Jace Walker. I run the skywalk tours and rappelling sessions.”
Another small frown tugged her brows together before her expression cleared. “Okay. Great. I’m here on vacation. How would I book a tour with you?”
He pointed back the way she’d come. “You would have passed a building next to the parking lot. That’s the visitors center. The lady at the desk should be able to slot you into a tour group.”
“Thanks, Jace.”
“You’re welcome.”
