It was the perfect place to be brave and confess the truth to Fern.
He had to do it.
They’d started their morning with poached eggs on toast and fresh berries. Then he brought her over to hike around the pond at Beckett Falls. They took their time on the walk, with her asking him to identify everywildflower, tree, and shrub she came across—he knew most of them—and him trying to psych himself up to say, “We’re true mates.”
He never got there.
He was taking too long. Even Olivia had texted him the night before, scolding him for staying silent on the matter. He couldn’t bring himself to speak the words.
What if she wasn’t interested?
His bearhatedthat idea. Scrabbling to escape, he head-butted Elliott behind the ribs, and Fern shot him a curious glance.
Shrugging, like he didn’t know what his grizzly was doing, Elliott rubbed his chest.
That fucker would bite her if he let him out, no doubt about it. His bear was positive Fern was in it for the long haul.
Yeah, he needed to tell her. If she rejected him, he’d live. He might need to leave town, but he’d live.
“Can we swim here? I’m dying to jump in. It’s so fucking hot out.” Fern blabbed as he led her up a slope beside the falls.
“We can. Do you want to go right now?”
“No. After we eat.”
They reached a rocky ledge where the earth curved around behind the waterfall, and Elliott took the lead while holding Fern’s hand for safety. “Don’t even think about jumping. It’s too dangerous.”
“Jesus— Why would I do that?”
“To swim.” As they stepped behind the cascade, the rush of water drowned out the birdsong and rustling trees, and a cool mist spattered his face.
“Oh,” she said, leaning out toward the water. A chip of loose stone fell from the ledge. “That actually—”
“Fern, no.” Tugging on her arm, he pulled back into the recessed alcove, dark and cool and carved by nature. He dropped the lunch bag and slipped both hands around her waist, taking a second to hold her, to enjoy the moment before he had to turn it all on its head with his confession.
“You don’t want me to get hurt?” she asked, slightly muffled by his chest.
“Of course I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Because we’re friends?”
“Uh—yes?” What was she getting at? Obviously, they were friends. They were also true mates, but sure, friends worked.
“Let’s eat.” Shrinking out of his hold, she bent to grab the bag and plopped down on the damp stone.
He’d done something wrong, clearly, because he’d have bet money on them kissing if he could rewind time by twenty seconds. What the hell had he said to make her clam up and slink away?
For lunch, he’d pre-made Greek-inspired pita wraps with olives, feta, and leftover grilled chicken. They ate, and Elliott kept his eyes trained on Fern while she looked out through the falling water, stealing glimpses of the landscape beyond.
“Elliott,” she said quietly, still facing away. Her words were almost swallowed by the falls, but he’d been tapped into his bear-hearing, listening to her quiet breathing, trying to suss out the finer points of her mood. She’d gone shaky just before she spoke.
“Yeah?” His voice came out tight, recognizing a buildup tosomethingwas underway.
“Are you waiting for your true mate?”
Oh, well, fuck. She just went for it—gave him the perfect opportunity—one he’d be a fool not to take. On the heels of a strained inhale, he began, “This time two weeks ago, my life was good.”
Fern turned to face him, sitting cross-legged and looking perturbed.
