I didn’t want any of it.
I felt kind of guilty for ignoring Grayson, but after everything, and especially the confrontation I’d had with Jess, I wasn’t in the mood for anyone. Which was exactly why it was the perfect day for a hike.
The trail was quiet, the way these trails could only be when most of the world was at work, and the forest still belonged to those of us who knew how to disappear into it.
The puppy surged ahead, nose to the ground, tail wagging like everything hadn’t just blown up.
Lucky bastard.
I followed the little guy at a steady pace, and soon I lost myself in the methodical movement and the fresh, pine air. It was exactly where I needed to be.
Everything in the forest made sense.
By the time Summit and I hit the last switchback, my legs were burning, and my shirt was damp with sweat.
Good.
I’d been pushing hard. At least hard enough to quiet my head for a little while. I took a few minutes to enjoy the view out over the valley. Trickle Creek looked small from up here. The way I liked it and wanted it to stay. Without all the new developments and destroyed trail accesses.
Affordable housing.
The rise of tourism.
This town is nothing without the people, Preston.
Jess’s voice was back in my head.
Time to go.
The hike down the mountain didn’t take as long, especially because I pushed myself, once more working up a sweat in an effort to clear my head from thoughts of her again.
It didn’t work nearly as well the second time. By the time Summit and I reached the bottom, where the trail opened upto a small clearing next to the parking lot, whatever relaxing benefits I’d gotten from the hike were gone.
Summit immediately found a shady spot to lie down in while I took a long pull from my water bottle and got his little dish out, pouring out some water for him, too.
I still hadn’t been able to get Jess’s words out of my head.
You’re so busy running away and hiding in the forest that you can’t see what really matters because you’re scared.
“Hiding,” I muttered. “Right. I’m not hiding from anything.”
Except…maybe I was.
In the outdoors, life was simple. Clear an overgrown trail. Climb a mountain. Cruise a bike down a path, or make a new one if you have to. There weren’t any meetings. No votes. And nobody looking at you like you were the problem because you liked things the way they were.
“Dammit.”I kicked a rock into a nearby tree.
I stepped out of the trees and stopped short.
Grayson leaned against my truck, arms crossed over his chest, like he’d been waiting for a while.
“Seriously?” I shook my head. “You stalking me now?”
“You forget, Quinn made us all sign up for that find-my-friend app. You weren’t hard to find.”
I scowled at him.
“I knew you’d come down eventually.” He shrugged. “Either that or I’d have to come up. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good hike, so I wasn’t totally against the idea.”
