3
Jake
I told Matt to take the lead today, volunteering to stay behind and bring up the rear. While Gabriel had originally been more polite – or at least, less rude – to Matt, I felt like we were actually on better footing now. And I didn’t mind trailing at the back if I knew that meant someone would actually be at the back. Yesterday wasn’t the first time Matt had abandoned his position. And, like I’d told him yesterday, the last thing we needed was for a client to get lost and fall off a cliff.
Not that I thought Gabriel was actually stupid enough to go wandering along cliff edges, but still. I definitely wouldn’t put it past him to get crazy lost.
So, as we trudged up the last few miles to the summit of Mount Vain and the incredible view of the Rockies it offered, I walked painfully slowly, stopped and waited every few minutes, watching Gabriel struggle. It was clear that he wasn’t a hiker, hadn’t spent much time outdoors, and was only barely keeping it together. If I took a deep enough breathe, I could literally smell the desperation and frustration on him. So why, I was dying to know, was he here? Had it been the no-show’s idea? The guy he was supposed to have come with? And if that were the case, why hadn’t he cancelled when the other guy had? Along with desperation and frustration, I smelled failed romance in the air. So, while I was itching to know the story, I wasn’t about to ask.
Though, to be fair, Gabriel wasn’t complaining. His breath came in short ragged gasps, he stumbled on the loose rocks underfoot, but he didn’t stop. He just kept his head down and put one foot in front of the other. I had to hand it to the guy: he was determined.
And there was something about that determination that called to me. I could feel the wolf in me stirring, drawn to this aloof but hurting omega. I was starting to see that his coldness and rude behavior might be coming from pain and fear rather than just general bad attitude. And maybe it was just my body reacting to those big blue eyes of his, but something in me wanted to make him feel better.
Not that he made it easy.
The last few feet of the path were steep, so you basically had to climb up and over about six feet of rock wall. It was hard but do-able. If you were used to stuff like that.
Gabriel was clearly suffering, and I came over to offer to help him – wrong choice.
“Do you want me to give you a leg up?” I tried, keeping my voice upbeat.
He looked over at me, his dark eyes hard and unimpressed. “I’m fine,” he said coldly and continued trying to heave himself up over the ledge.
“It’s really not a problem. If you want—”
“But I don’t want,” he replied, cutting me off.
I swallowed a sigh and bit my tongue. So much for the small amount of bonding we’d done. Apparently, we were back to square one.
For a minute, I stood back, arms crossed as I fumed silently and watched Gabriel struggle. But then I took a closer look at his face and realized that he was on the brink of tears. I sighed. The man had too much pride for his own good. What had happened to him that he couldn’t even ask for help when he needed it? Gabriel, you’re an idiot, I thought.
“Gabe, you’re being stupid,” I told him, marching up next to him again. Shocked, he turned toward me, already drawing himself up, ready for a fight. “Being outdoors, climbing mountains, and shit like this aren’t things that people can do alone. That’s why we go in groups. We all need help from time to time. There are just some things we can’t do alone. So stop acting like a child, and let me help you.”
He blinked at me, those two red circles on his cheeks getting even redder with embarrassment. “But everyone else did this on their own,” he muttered.
“No, everyone else did this with the help of their partner,” I replied. Which was true.
Gabe looked at me, clearly surprised.
“You didn’t notice because you were too focused on the ground, but everyone needed help with this wall. I mean, except Matt. But that’s because he and I are professionals.”
“I…” Gabriel began, but I didn’t let him finish.
“And I’m sorry I called you Gabe, but I was really frustrated,” I continued, getting it out all in one breath.
He blinked, then snorted and began to laugh. “You don’t need to apologize,” he said. “It’s okay. I don’t actually mind the name Gabe. It’s just…someone I used to know always called me Gabe and now it’s got bad memories attached.”
I nodded. I could understand that.
“And I was being pretty frustrating,” he added, almost shyly. He looked down at his feet in their fancy, almost-pristine boots. I sighed.
“Look, just…can I make a suggestion?” I asked.
Meeting my eyes again, he nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Please,” he added, making me smile.
“Throw your bag up first,” I told him, and did the same with my bag.
He watched the perfect arc of my bag and made a face. But, gamely, he shrugged off his pack and tossed it up as well. It landed closer to the edge, but not so close that it fell back down onto us.
“Okay, next, look for any finger or toe holds in the stone,” I told him.
He glanced at the rock and then made a sort of happy squawk. “There’s one,” he said, pointing to a shallow groove near the base of the wall, then another slightly higher up. “And there’s another!”
“Perfect,” I said. “I’m going to climb up now and if you get stuck, I’ll help pull you up, okay?”
He made another face but nodded.
I reached up and grabbed the lip of the wall, pulling myself up and over in a move that we both knew Gabriel didn’t have the upper body strength to execute. But it didn’t matter. I’d show him how to climb up.
“Okay. Now, grab the lip of the rock and fit your toe into the first groove,” I told him, watching from above.
For once, he did as he was told.
“Great, now pull yourself up a little and fit you other toe into the second groove.”
His arms shook a little as he scrabbled around with his right foot, looking for purchase in the stone. I wanted to grab his arms but held back, knowing he wanted to do this by himself. Finally, he did. His right foot caught the groove and he grinned up at me.
“Push,” I told him, grinning back.
Hands gripping the lip of the wall for dear life, he put his weight on his right foot and pushed himself up and past the lip. Throwing himself forward onto the dirt next to me, he scrabbled and managed to get his left leg over the edge and onto the path.
“Oh my god,” he gasped as he finally staggered to his feet. “Oh my god, I did it!” He met my eyes and grinned like a loon. Then, before I could reply, he threw his arms around me and hugged me.
I blinked, caught off guard. But my arms reacted on their own, hugging him back. I could feel his heart hammering against mine, smell the salty sweat in his hair. My jeans suddenly felt a little tight.
As quickly as the hug had come, it ended. Gabe stepped back, clearing his throat awkwardly. “I, um…thanks,” he said. “Thanks for helping me.” He raked a hand through his dark hair and looked at the ground, embarrassed.
I smiled at him. “No problem,” I told him. “But…next time…just ask me for help, okay?”
He looked back up at me and gave me a hesitant smile. Suddenly it was my heart that was hammering. “Okay,” he said softly, picking up his bag and slinging it back on.
I swallowed, watching him head towards where the rest of the group was already eating lunch. I’d liked the feeling of him in my arms. Maybe a little too much.