I lean forward, pulse quickening. “Eliza, I?—”
She holds up a hand, silencing me. “Please, let me finish. I know you came here to heal, to figure things out. And I know your stay was supposed to be temporary. But I can't ignore what I'm feeling anymore.”
She pauses, and I can see the vulnerability in her eyes. “I care about you, Matt. More than I've cared about anyone in a long time. And I think ... I think you might feel the same way.”
I'm speechless. Everything I've been feeling, everything I've been too afraid to say, she's laid it all out there.
And instead of fear, all I feel is relief. Hearing it out loud makes it real. There's no more guessing, no more wondering.
“Eliza,” I say, my voice rough with emotion. “You're right. I feel the same. These days with you ... they've shown me what I truly want, what I need. And it's you.”
I take her hands in mine, marveling at how small they feel, how perfectly they fit. “I came here looking for peace, for healing. And I found it, but not in the way I expected. I found it in you.”
Eliza's gaze softens, a quiet sigh escaping her. “So, what does this mean? For us?”
I steel myself, knowing this won’t be easy. “It means ... I care about you, Eliza, more than I ever thought possible, and I want more for us.” I pause, the gravity of what comes next pressing on my chest. “But I have to go back to the rig, at least for now.”
My heart sinks as her eyes search mine. I swallow hard, forcing myself to continue. “It's not only about the money,” I say, my voice quieter now. “I have to prove to myself that I can do the job again, that I've conquered my demons. That I won't fall apart.” I run a hand through my hair, feeling the pressure mounting. “I can't live with the fear that I'm broken ... but it doesn't have to be forever.”
The silence between us feels like a chasm, her unspoken hurt clinging to the air. I wish I could offer her more, but I don’t evenknow if I’ll be able to face that place again without falling back into the darkness.
Hope flickers in her eyes, hesitant but sincere. “Really?”
“Yes. Look at what we’ve been through already. What’s a little distance compared to an avalanche, right?”
The tension breaks with her soft laugh, a sound that’s like a warm gust of wind after a bitter freeze. “When you put it that way...”
“I want this to work, Eliza.” My thumb traces slow circles on her palm, anchoring myself in this moment. “We’ll figure it out together. Video calls, visits when I’m on leave.” I meet her gaze. “It’ll be challenging, but I think we’re worth it. Don’t you?”
She looks at me, the silence stretching again—but this time, it’s different. There’s something stronger behind her gaze now, like she’s weighing the truth of what I’ve said, testing if I’ll break under it.
Please, I think.Please believe in us. Because I want to believe, too.
Without warning, she throws her arms around me, holding tight. Her breath is warm against my neck as she whispers, “We are worth it.” She pulls back, cupping my face in her hands. “We definitely are.”
My heart pounds as I look at her. Everything I’ve been holding back surges to the surface. The uncertainty, the ache of wanting her—it all crashes into me at once. Her touch still lingers on my skin, her words echo in my mind. I can’t hold it in any longer.
I lean in, my pulse quickening as our eyes meet. There's a split second of hesitation, the last barrier before everything breaks. Then I capture her lips with mine, letting every ounce of emotion pour into the kiss. It's different from before—there's no restraint this time, no careful pacing. It’s raw, unfiltered passion.
Eliza responds instantly, matching my intensity. Her fingers slide into my hair, pulling me closer, and I lose myself in the feel of her—of us. It's like the world falls away, and all that's left is this, the electric connection between us.
When we break apart, breathless, it feels like we’ve both surfaced from deep water. My chest heaves as I search her face, struggling to catch my breath while everything unsaid lingers between us. For a moment, we stand there, eyes locked, neither of us willing to break the connection completely.
“I wish we had more time,” I say, my voice still rough from the intensity of it all. The reality settles in like a brick on my chest. “Leaving feels impossible. It's like time slipped through my fingers.”
Eliza's eyes sparkle with mischief and longing. “We still have tonight,” she says, her fingers tracing a path down my arm. “And I think we've earned a little celebration, don't you?”
My heart races at her implication. “What about your brothers?” I ask, glancing back toward the lodge.
She takes my hand. “They’re not invited. Come on, your cabin's more comfortable.”
As we step inside, reality crashes over me—this is happening. The air between us feels electric, charged with something I've never quite felt before. My pulse thunders in my ears, and anticipation and disbelief surge through me. She's here, with me, and in moments, we're about to cross a line we can't uncross.
I glance at Eliza, her eyes locking onto mine—full of trust, of want, of something deeper that stops me in my tracks. For a fleeting second, I wonder if I’m ready for this, if I’m worthy of her. But there’s no turning back.
I take her hand, pulling her close, feeling the heat of her body against mine. This is real. We're about to becomesomething more, and for the first time in a long while, I let myself believe I deserve this.
“Are you sure?” I whisper, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
