Chapter Fifty
That drone had filmed everything. Our initial hug, Luke tying the bracelet on my wrist, and then the kiss that had been so raw and passionate that I blush every time the meme version of it pops up online.
The drone hadn’t been from one of the expeditions. The rumors that had been started by my all-mountain radio call hadn’t stopped at the confines of Base Camp. The drone belonged to an Australian paparazzo who’d been doing a Base Camp trek and had caught wind of the story. After he sold his footage, it didn’t take reporters long to discover my six secret Everest summits.
Reporters also went wild with Luke’s story. Unknown to me, Luke hadn’t simply been climbing the heck out of the North Cascades while at UW. He’d been tackling some of the hardest routes in them, including some remote big walls with none other than Josh Knox.
And my story and Luke’s story combined, with our against-all-odds romance thrown in? International media sensation.
Thankfully, the hullaballoo lasted only a few days. We were surpassed by the pictures of the couple from America who trekked all the way to Base Camp to get married—backless, ballroom-style white wedding dress and all. Brrrrrr.
The parts of the story that mattered to the climbing community had lingered on in a way that was shaping up to be really good for Luke and me, such as being included in Vertical View’s upcoming “Adventure Athletes to Watch” article. Good things were happening for Winslowe Expeditions and Global Adventurers, as well. What I loved most was that because of some new opportunities that had opened up for Dad in the United States, Tshering had fully taken over Winslowe Expeditions operations for the next year, and he and Dad were talking about him taking full ownership of the company eventually.
I’d been in Seattle now for almost two months. Tonight was April, Theo, and Ernesto’s Yosemite film premiere. Luke was getting back from guiding a Rainier trip later this afternoon and would be meeting me at the house I shared with April. Dad and his fiancée—aka Doc Teresa—were coming. Phil was driving into town for it, too.
But first I had to finish my shift at REI Co-Op’s flagship store in downtown Seattle. I’d gotten the job the good, old-fashioned way: a paper application I filled out in the customer service office the second day I’d arrived in the United States. My final customers of the day were a cute couple who had no clue about the outdoors but were excited to be going on their first car-camping trip. I recommended a retro, two-burner, car-camping stove instead of one of the high-tech, expensive backpacking stoves they’d been looking at initially.
I pulled off my apron as I walked toward the staff room. The smell of all the brand-new equipment was heavenly, and I loved working at a place where there was an indoor rock-climbing tower on site. I spent all my breaks climbing it.
Hanging on the far wall, above the staff room door, was a collection of ultra-enlarged images of some of the American climbing greats: Jim Whittaker, Ed Viesteurs, Josh Knox, Scott Fischer. And Dad, in a picture taken on the Eiger when he was just a few years older than me.
After I’d clocked out, I grabbed my bag from one of the lockers and walked through the store toward the main doors.
“I would have recommended the more expensive stove,” said someone with a touch of British accent.
It was Luke—my Luke—leaning against a hiking boot fixture. He wore a T-shirt, jeans, and his purple Huskies ball cap.
A teasing, satisfied grin broke out across his face.
“That’s Grinchy,” I said. I grabbed his hand, and we pushed out the front doors and down the stairs to the sidewalk.
I needn’t have worried about my life here in Washington being dependent on and wrapped up in Luke’s life. Guiding on Rainier kept him away a lot, and it would be the same when UW started in September. The campus wasn’t far, but with neither of us having cars in a big city like this and having a jigsaw puzzle of school and work schedules, there were only certain times when we’d be able to see each other.
The true problem was not getting enough of each other.
The second we reached the corner of the building, he yanked me around the side, pushing me up against the wall like he was going to kiss me. But then he stopped, his face just inches away. His deep brown eyes bored into mine, making blood rush across my torso until at last, he let me have his lips.
In order to be free for the premiere tonight, he’d had to work back-to-back Rainier trips, and we hadn’t seen each other for a week. Our kiss went from zero to obscene in seconds flat. My body tightened everywhere. It was responding like we were alone in my bedroom, not—
I pulled back. “Okay, so I work here.”
He shook his head at me, his expression tortured but jovial. I flicked his hat off. He caught it midair and put it back on.
We took a minute to gather ourselves, then continued down the street hand in hand toward the house. I’m not sure I’d ever get used to seeing Luke in jeans and a T-shirt. Or jeans and flip-flops and a hipster flannel shirt, looking way more American than I’d ever feel. On most days, the U.S. still felt foreign to me.
I glanced over at him. Actually, I hoped I never got used to how good he looked in his regular clothes. Because every time it caught me off guard, I also got a little kick of pride knowing that this sexy stranger had chosen me.
He smiled as he caught me looking at him, his dimple popping out and making me melt. As friends, I thought I’d known all the variations of his smiles, but ever since that day on the Western Cwm, I’d gotten a different one: the soul-lifting smile he reserved only for his girlfriend.
“So, you’re back a lot earlier than you thought,” I said.
“Just a little. Hulk needed to pick up some supplies from REI, so I came right here with him.”
“Hulk was at the store? Did he see us just now?”
“You’re forgetting, MiniBoss. Everyone has already seen.”
My face went hot, more in indignation of Luke’s triumphant dimples than embarrassment of the Everest paparazzo footage he was alluding to.
It was a long walk from work to April’s house. I’d get a bike eventually, but for now, with the gorgeous, warm summer we’d been having, every block was a pleasure. Especially with Luke’s arm slung across my shoulders—both of which were pain-free and fully functional, thanks to the excellent in-network physical therapist here that Doc had recommended.
“There it is,” Luke said as we reached the top of the hill. Mount Rainier floated in the sky like a solitary white ghost, keeping a wary eye on the endless gray blur of the suburbs below. I hadn’t climbed it yet, but we had a trip planned in two weeks. Josh, April, Theo, Hulk, and a few others would be coming, too. I couldn’t wait.
When we got to April’s house, Josh’s truck was not in the driveway for once. He must still be at the theater, helping April with the final preparations.
The funny thing about April’s house is that it was my white bungalow, except that the house wasn’t white. It was gray with yellow trim. There had even been gladiolas blooming when I walked up to the house for the first time. I’d almost had a heart attack.
I unlocked the front door to the delicious aroma of my dal bhat in the crockpot. We went right to my room to put our backpacks down and so I could change out of my REI work clothes.
I started to take off my green polo shirt, but Luke took over and finished for me, leaving me in just a camisole. He took a step closer and traced my collarbone with his thumb. Leaning in, he left a warm trail of kisses from my earlobe down my neck. My knees turned to jelly. With Luke, I was more at risk of fainting than when I’d climbed Nanga Parbat without oxygen.
“I missed you a lot this week,” he whispered, his breath hot across my ear. I shivered.
He pulled me over to my bed. It was just a twin because even pushed against the wall that was all that would fit in this tiny room. But it was a bed with a mattress, box spring, and unbelievably soft flannel sheets. He sat back against the wall, and I crawled over to him, straddling his legs so that we were face-to-face. It was such a luxury to have him all to myself while not hidden away in a tent.
“I missed you, too,” I said as I leaned in for a kiss. His mouth immediately opened for mine, and our tongues twisted together. One at a time, he lowered the straps of my camisole off my shoulders. When they were both down, the rest of the camisole slid to my waist.
I was still a little shy around him like this. Though we’d been off Everest for two months, it was rare that we ended up alone, indoors, during the daylight. I reached for the sheet. He laid his hand on mine, thwarting my attempt to cover up.
He traced the scalloped edges of the fancy strapless bra I’d bought to wear under the dress I was borrowing for the premiere and had been test-wearing while at work today. My nipples pinched, anticipating more. I helped him pull off his shirt, taking a minute to admire the defined solidness of his torso before sliding my hands down his chest and hard stomach. I’d never get used to this, either.
The W of his lips pulled up mischievously, making his left dimple appear.
“What?” I asked.
He just smirked. Rebelliously, I pushed him onto his back, which only made his smile bigger.
“So, uh, I’m assuming you haven’t gotten your mail recently,” he said.
“Oops. No.” I wasn’t used to having snail mail and was constantly forgetting to check the mailbox.
“Want me to grab it for you?” he asked.
“I’ll get it later.”
“How about I go grab it for you?”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Seriously?”
He flicked my bare stomach just above my navel, then put his shirt back on. “Trust me.”
I wrapped myself in the sheet and fell back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling where I’d hung the picture garland from my tent and a bunch of newly made tissue-paper flowers.
Luke came back in and handed me my portion of the mail.
There was some junk mail and a few envelopes from City Community College, where I’d registered for a cooking class this fall. And then, there was a letter from Esplanade Equipment.
“Open it,” he said.
I did. It was an invitation to join the crew of an Esplanade-sponsored mountaineering film in Patagonia in December. All expenses would be paid.
I looked at Luke, not comprehending. This had to be some sort of practical joke.
“Congratulations,” he said. His eyes were sparkling.
Was this real? And if so, how had he known that I’d be getting this letter?
He reached over to his backpack and pulled out an identical letter. On the second page was a list of the invitees, ten in all. Luke’s name was on it, so was mine.
“I’ll be able to be there only for the part that’s during winter break, but I’m going. And did you see? It’s Walkabout that is contracted to film it.”
“Wow.” That was all I could say.
I skimmed the letter again, this time noticing a second signature on the bottom. Barrett Browning. The ink was smudged, which meant he’d signed it personally. I guess this was proof he wasn’t upset at me for un-accepting his CentralPoint Tanzania job offer.
I stared down at the Esplanade Equipment logo on the letterhead. It was the same logo on all our Winslowe Expeditions tents, and most of my jackets, backpacks, and climbing gear. A logo that represented the highest quality, safest, most dependable gear in the outdoor industry. A logo that represented the very essence of the freedom and adventure that people seek in the mountains. And now the logo was on a letter addressed to me.
This offer was real.
“Oh my god,” I whispered.
He nodded and then studied me with eyes that still sparkled. We kissed long and slow, like we had all the time in the world. Because we did.
Then, I was the one studying him, getting lost in the eyes of the person I loved more than life itself. With whom I would soon be going to Patagonia.
I have spread my dreams under your feet, I thought. I will always spread my dreams under your feet.
Luke twisted my bracelet around my wrist thoughtfully. His thick eyelashes cast shadows down his face.
“Sometimes I think about how lucky you were,” he said quietly. “How lucky we all are. How lucky I am to be with you, here in Seattle.”
I nodded and threaded my fingers through his. Tashi.
I still had nightmares about that never-ending night in the Death Zone, and random things would sometimes catch me off guard if I wasn’t prepared for them. Like how tonight Doc would be in a cast again after a second surgery to correct the damage from going down the Lhotse Face with a broken leg. That, and the fact that I’d never see her in sandals again, nor would we ever have a repeat pedicure session: she’d lost a total of five and a half toes.
That was small fries to all that could have happened. I’d heard of crazier survival feats on Everest than hers, but not by much.
Luke kissed me softly on the forehead. I slid next to him and lay on my side with my hand resting on his chest. He fingered the bracelet again.
“I want you to know something,” I said.
“What?”
I hesitated. I was getting better at coming straight out with my feelings, but sometimes I still got hung up on the threshold of releasing a thought. I shut my eyes briefly, thinking of the silent prayer I’d said on my seventh summit of Mount Everest. For my bravery in life to be equal to the bravery I have in the mountains. I thought of all Luke had bravely and faithfully done that had enabled us to finally take that step beyond friendship.
When I opened my eyes, they caught on the corner of the bulletin board next to my bed where I’d pinned a scrap of paper with Luke’s handwriting.
My heart still belongs to you.
“I want to tell you what I wished for when you tied on my bracelet,” I said.
He took my wrist in his hand, delicately closing his thumb and middle finger around it like a second bracelet. My pulse rushed.
“I wished that you would love me for as long as the bracelet held fast. And then I wished it would never ever fall off.”
I swallowed and looked deep into his eyes as I waited for him to say something. His face was somber and full of emotion, yet it also seemed like he was biting back a smile.
“Well then,” Luke said, his smile slowly breaking free. “You’re in luck, because my heart will always belong to you.”
Our kiss was tender and wistful, but then firm and definitive, alive with possibility. For the first time in my life I had everything I’d ever wanted all in the same place. I had mountains and a way to pay for them. I had a home where I had friends and family, acceptance and permanence. And most importantly, I had love and my best friend Luke.
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