Lincoln barked a laugh.“No shit.But he’s a good sport about it, and he can handle anything legal we need.”He paused, tilting his head to the side as he considered me.“Going to see Kendall tonight?”he asked.
My hesitation stretched just long enough that he narrowed his eyes.
“Dude, what the fuck?I get your whole thing around her brother, and I know it hurt you that it was right before we left.But he’s family.”
“I know.”I blew out a breath.“I’m not sure why I reacted so much to that.”
“Okay, so tonight?”he pressed.
I rolled my eyes.“I’m going over.I understand why she wants to be there for her brother.”
“Yeah, I fucking hope so.Blake’s a good guy.He went through some hell in high school, none of it his fault.And, sure, he’s got to own his own mistakes, but it seems like he’s trying.I’m not so sure he would’ve gotten to a place where he could try, if it weren’t for Kendall.”
My chest tightened just thinking of her.“I know.”
“You’ve been in love with her since, what, middle school?”
“Not since middle school,” I replied defensively.
“Okay.Maybe you didn’t grasp how much she mattered to you then.But since high school for sure.”Lincoln wasn’t letting up on me.
I rolled my eyes.“I have owned my feelings for her.”
“She knows how you feel?”
“I hope she does.”
“Then get over there.You missed her like hell while we were out there freezing our asses off.I’d like to put in a word for a limit on how many winter camping trips we offer, by the way.”
I threw my head back with a laugh.“Seriously?Hotshot firefighter?Tough guy?”
“Yeah, I don’t do that full time anymore.Winter camping is fucking freezing.Damn.The only people who want to do that are the fools who want to train for something big like climbing Denali.Here and there, others might want to, but not usually.”
We finished putting away the gear, and I hustled to take a shower in the ones we’d installed downstairs.I’d originally thought these were unnecessary.Now, I knew the plan had been smart.
After that, I got pulled into helping Haven and Asher work up a schedule for the next run of day trips.I left my phone in the storage area, not even thinking about it until Tommy came running into the kitchen.
“Kendall needs help!”he announced.
“What?”My head whipped toward him.
“She’s stuck,” Tommy explained.
“She’s stuck?”
“Yes.”He bobbed his head rapidly.
“Where?”
“In the barn.”
I was running before I could think.As I bolted past the hallway leading to the showers, Asher came walking out.“Got your phone, man,” he said.
“Why didn’t Kendall call me?”I muttered to myself as I snagged the phone from Asher and kept on moving.
“Well, shecan’t.She’s stuck.”Tommy looked at me like I was an idiot.
“I’m driving!”Lincoln called, catching up as we jogged down the front stairs.
