TWELVE

I wake to a pounding on my door.

It’s Saturday morning, who in the hell wants something from me on a Saturday morning? I groan and roll to the left, glancing at the clock. It’s eight AM. Not early, but certainly not the sleep-in I was hoping for, either. The pounding continues, and I realize it’s not going to just disappear. With a hissed curse under my breath, I swing my legs from the bed and climb out, pulling on a jacket and walking to the front door.

I open it to see Slade and Ryder standing, staring at me. They’re both dressed and ready for the day.

“We’re going out today!” Ryder happily informs me.

I blink, rub my eyes, and then look over to Slade. “I’m confused.”

“We’re going out, so get dressed.”

I blink again. “Slade, it’s eight in the morning.”

“We’re going out,” he continues. “Get. Dressed.”

“Not when you’re being so bossy,” I mumble, eyes still bleary, body screaming for a coffee.

“Then I’ll take you out looking just like that,” he throws back, eyes firm, mouth in a hard line. “Don’t test me.”

I stare at him in a poor attempt at a glare. I’ve got nothing. I have no doubt he would literally drag my ass out just like this, so with a sigh, I do what he asks. I get dressed, brush my hair, and make a coffee to go, then I join them on the porch.

“Where are we going?” I yawn, sipping my coffee.

“You said you haven’t seen much, I’m takin’ you to see stuff,” Slade says, walking down the front steps and opening the passenger door for me.

I glance at Ryder, who gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up.

All-righty then.

“Well, OK then,” I say, sliding into the truck.

Slade doesn’t say a lot as we drive, and honestly, I’m not entirely sure what I should be saying to him. Do I ask him where we’re going? Why he got this idea suddenly when he barely said two words to me yesterday? The more I think, the quieter I am. Finally, it’s Ryder who breaks the silence. “We’re going up into the mountains,” he tells me in a happy voice. “There’s this lookout up there and it’s sooo cool.”

“That sounds awesome.” I smile at him.

“Then we’re going to lunch at Slade’s favorite restaurant, it has the best food ever!”

“Well, I love food, so that’s a winner.” I laugh at the little boy.

“Then we’re—”

“Don’t give away all my secrets, buddy,” Slade interrupts. “Or she won’t be surprised at all.”

Ryder puts a hand over his mouth and giggles. “Right, of course, silly me.”

I wink at him, and then look to Slade. “What brought this on? You didn’t even want to talk to me yesterday.”

“I spoke to you,” he points out. “And you said you wanted to get out, so that’s what I’m doing, I’m taking you out.”

“Because he likes you,” Ryder throws in. “A lot.”

My cheeks burn and I avoid looking in Slade’s direction, because I feel anxious. We all fall silent for a few minutes, before Ryder finally breaks the silence and chews my ear off for the rest of the ride. We arrive at the lookout an hour later, and pulling my coat tighter, I get out of the truck and walk over to the railing, looking out over what has to be the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen in my entire existence.

Mountains, trees, rivers, it’s like the best pieces of the world came together and formed this perfect view. I gasp, I can’t help it, nothing can even come close to what my eyes are taking in right now. A soft breeze trickles through the mountains and blows my hair around on my face. I close my eyes and inhale, taking it into my lungs and just relishing in the moment.

“What do you think?” Ryder asks me.

“I think this is the most incredible place I’ve ever seen in my life.”

He smiles up at me, and I wink at him. “I love it here, too. Slade used to bring me up here when I was little, and we’d talk for ages and ages. It’s kind of our place.”

I ruffle the little boy’s hair. “Well, buddy, I’d say that makes it even more special then, wouldn’t you?”

He nods and grins, turning and rushing to another part of the lookout to peer over at the scenery before him. Slade comes up beside me and I look to him, eyes holding his. “Thank you for bringing me here, it’s a really beautiful place.”

“Welcome,” he murmurs low, as if not wanting to disturb the silence.

“It’s nice that you used to bring Ryder here, it’s special to him now.”

Slade nods, and stares out over the horizon. “He was a restless kid, it was the only thing that would calm his overactive mind. So, I kept bringing him here, and it brought him peace.”

God damn.

I feel my nose tingle with unshed tears at the utter beauty of that statement. Perfection. He might not see it in himself, but Slade is perfection.

“It’s beautiful, Slade. Thank you.”

We stare in silence for a while longer, and after a few minutes, he takes a step closer and reaches over, moving the hair off my face and tucking it behind my ear. I look up at him, and I swear my heart stops beating. The feeling that’s inside me right now is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, and it terrifies me. It also excites me. I hold the brown eyes locked on mine, and my entire body becomes fully aware of him.

“Can we go and get something to eat now?” Ryder asks, bounding over.

Slade drops his hand, and disappointment lodges in my chest, but I don’t let it show. Instead, I turn to Ryder and smile. “I think that sounds like a great idea! I’m starving.”

“Let’s roll,” Slade says.

We all get into the truck.

The tension this time is of a completely different sort.

~*~*~*~

Slade takes us sight-seeing for a few more hours, and we stop and grab some takeaway breakfast. When lunch rolls around, he takes us to a restaurant nestled in the edge of the mountains, looking out over them. It’s gorgeous, the kind of place you’d bring someone to propose, or even get married. It’s breathtaking.

“They have the best chicken here!” Ryder tells me, tugging my hand as we walk up to the restaurant.

“Is that so?” I laugh. “I’ll take your word for it, little man.”

We step through the front doors, and heated air tickles my cool face. I shiver happily and shrug my coat off. Slade speaks to the waitress, and we’re lead over to a booth beside a massive window that has an absolutely spectacular view. Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.

“Can I get you all something to drink?” the waitress asks, smiling at all of us.

“I’ll just have some tea, if you don’t mind,” I tell her. “It’s a bit cold out there today.”

She laughs. “Yes, I’ve had a few people say that. Tea it is. And you, sir?”

“I’ll get two Cokes, please,” Slade asks her.

“Coming right up. Take a look at the menu while I’m gone, and I’ll be right back to take your order.”

She disappears and Slade hands me a menu, I take it and glance down. “So, which chicken is the best?” I ask Ryder, scouring over the delicious sounding food.

“The one that has creamy bacon sauce with it. It’s soooo yummy.”

I place the menu down. “It sounds perfect, I’m going to take your word for it and order it.”

He smiles at me. Gosh, he’s adorable.

The waitress comes back a few minutes later with our drinks, and we all order the same creamy chicken. When she’s gone, I look over to Slade. “Do you come here a lot?”

“We used to come at least once a month, hey, buddy?”

Ryder nods, and pulls out his Gameboy, playing on it while he waits.

“Well, it sounds like the food is pretty impressive.”

Slade nods. “It is, that’s why I come back. Thought I’d show you the better places to eat around here.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that. I’ve only been to that Italian place that does those great pizzas in town.”

Slade’s face darkens just a little. “Cowboy take you there?”

I nod, biting my lip to stop the smile breaking free. Slade is even more gorgeous when he’s jealous.

“Well, this place will have you braggin’ too, don’t worry about that.”

“I have no doubt.”

We talk casually until the food is delivered, and then we all fall silent as we eat. Because, honestly, it is without a doubt the most tender, best tasting chicken I’ve ever had. I moan more than once and eat the entire meal because it’s too good to leave any behind.

“Gosh,” I groan when we’re done. “You two were right, that was amazing.”

“I’m sooo full,” Ryder complains, rubbing his stomach.

“Let’s get home then and chill out, buddy, what you say?” Slade asks him.

We all leave, thanking the waitress and giving her a good tip. The ride home is quiet as we all try not to explode from the incredible lunch we shared together. When we arrive back at the cabin, Slade invites me inside. I hesitate, only for a second, purely because the idea of crawling into my bed and sleeping this off is looking pretty good, but instead I take Slade up on his offer.

Ryder disappears into his room and Slade comes out onto the patio with two beers, handing me one. We sit on the chairs, and I sip the beer very, very slowly.

“Tell me this food will wear off soon?” I laugh softly. “I’m so full.”

“It’s worth it, yeah?”

I smile and nod. “Yeah. Thank you for taking me out today, I had a really good time.”

“I owed you, for being such a prick. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be like that, fuck, at times I don’t even know I’m doing it.”

“That’s OK,” I say, feeling warm inside that he even said sorry. “All is forgiven. That is, if I don’t gain ten pounds from that food alone.”

He snorts, but his eyes are light with laughter. “You’d still be beautiful, babe. Don’t doubt it.”

My cheeks heat and I smile over at him.

I’m in deep shit.

Because I like him.

I really, really like him.

Dammit.