“I know it’s only been five months, but I’m feeling things for you I didn’t even feel in five years with my ex. And it ain’t just about sex, even though that’s… well, damn good.” He let out a low chuckle, then steered back to seriousness. “But it’s more than that. It’s your presence, the way you move… the way you think.
I felt my heart tick louder in my chest.
He wasn’t finished.
“I know you were engaged, and even though you haven’t told me the whole story yet, I ain’t dumb either. I can see it in the way you talk about men—or don’t talk at all—that you’ve been hurt. I’m guessing that experience made you guarded… maybe even a little jaded. I also notice how you flinch when I get too personal or do or say certain things. I don’t know what happened with you and that nigga, but I’m not him.” His tone sharpened. “And if he fumbled you, then he’s the kind of dumb that don’t deserve a helmet.” Adrian exhaled slowly, then added, “I just wanna see you happy, Chesteria. I wanna be a man who adds to your peace, not threatens it. Let me be the one to help you heal. You ain’tgotta keep doing everything by yourself just to prove you don’t need nobody. You ain’t weak for needing softness. If you’ll just give me a chance, I promise, I’ll make the time worth it.”
Warmth bloomed low in my chest at his unexpected but welcomed honesty.
And then, as if summoned, Klarissa’s voice floated through my head to offer unsolicited guidance.
“Let somebody make you smile… even if it’s just for the weekend… even if it’s just a lil’ distraction.”
Maybe she was right; not so much about letting another man into my heart, but about letting somebody tag along. I never took anyone to that cabin—ever—not even Klarissa, but that was by choice due to her busy schedule. But somehow, her and Adrian had talked me into taking him… and maybe that was the real danger. I was about to break a rule I swore I’d never break. Maybe I was trippin’… or maybe I needed help carrying my bags in case some wolves popped out. Either way, it was happening.
“Alright… if you’re serious about coming, we leave tomorrow afternoon,” I said reluctantly, before I could talk myself out of it.
“Tomorrow afternoon? Cool,” he replied without hesitation. “Believe it or not, I’ve never been to the mountains before. Cabin trips ain’t exactly my lane, but for you, I’ll make an exception. So tell me what I need to pack, research, and mentally prepare for so I don’t embarrass you in front of the forest.”
I chuckled at the thought. “Just bring warm clothes, sturdy boots, and a positive attitude. Oh, and when we get there, don’t touch anything that looks like it could bite back.”
“Say less. I’ma start practicing how to politely decline bear attacks now,” he joked, sounding way more excited than I expected. “Seriously, I’m looking forward to it.”
We spent the next few minutes sorting out details—the departure time, who was driving, grocery run plans, etc. When I finally hung up, I realized I was smiling.
They say if you wanna make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Moments earlier, I was hell-bent on going on that trip alone, but words have a way of changing a mood, cracking a door open, and making you consider things you swore you weren’t ready for. Maybe I didn’t want to admit it to Adrian, but atinypart of me hoped a weekend with him would peel back whatever I’d been ignoring and show me whether my heart was actually ready for another relationship… or still locked in the past.
In truth, I wasn’t even sure what I expected from the weekend.
Maybe we’d sleep in late and make breakfast in oversized sweatshirts… maybe we’d go hiking… or just lie tangled up under throw blankets watching holiday movies we’d pretend to hate but secretly enjoy. I could picture Adrian with his tools spread across the table, sleeves pushed up, and sawdust clinging to his shirt. And maybe, just maybe, I’d decide we could finally be morethan just friends... with benefits.
Chapter two
Bryce Frost
“Touchdown at Reagan, Takeoff Into Chaos”
The hum of the engine was the only thing that kept me grounded. Christmas lights blinked along the runway as the plane taxied to a slow crawl, the glow bouncing off the windshield like reminders I didn’t ask for. That was my last rotation before a full two weeks off, and I’d been counting down the hours with parole-level anticipation.
We eased into the gate at my Delta base, and I went through the shutdown steps on autopilot. By the time the wheels chocked and the jet bridge locked in, the cabin door was open, and my crew was already gathering their things. But I stayed in the cockpit for a moment longer; headset still on, hands hovering over switches I’d already turned off.
That was always my ritual…
Sit, breathe, and let the silence catch up after three days of flying city to city.
My crib was only twenty minutes from the airport, and normally I’d be one of the first things smoking to get off the plane—not that night. Maybe it was because the holidays were louder that year… or maybe because my time off meant I’d actually have to sit with the shit I’d been ignoring.
My co-pilot, Ryan, unbuckled beside me.
“Smooth flight,” he said, stretching his arms. “Could’ve done without all that damn turbulence, though.”
“Yeah, well, welcome to December in the Midwest.”
“You doing anything for the holidays?” he asked, standing, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“I don’t have anymajorplans… just heading up to my cabin in Shenandoah in Blue Ridge, Virginia.”
