Page 15
Story: Ferocious Mountain Man
He wasn’t sure what to make of this confession. But that wasn’t the part that worried me.
“I didn’t come here to get more social media followers,” I said.
“You came here to track me down and write an article about me.”
I nodded. It was a good guess. But I knew better than to breathe a sigh of relief. The worst was no doubt yet to come once it sunk in.
“You’re going to write about me?” he asked. “About this?”
I shook my head. “Never. My goal was just to get some video of you. Maybe interview the people who’d come here hoping to get a glimpse of you. I was going to write about it as more of a commentary on the silliness of virality. This week, it’s a hot lumberjack in North Carolina. Next week, it’s a panda at the zoo giving birth.”
“You didn’t sleep with me for the story?”
Now I was feeling a little offended, but I shouldn’t. He was the one being caught off guard here.
“I never, in a million years, would have imagined that would happen,” I said. “I was a virgin, remember? I would have bet every dime in my bank account that this wouldn’t happen. But I felt this connection. I would have told you the truth earlier, but I kind of forgot why I came here in the first place. I got so caught up in you, it’s like the rest of my life doesn’t exist. Nothing matters but what’s happening here.”
And that was the God’s-honest truth. I just hoped he’d believe me. He had to believe me.
He looked around the tent, and I braced myself. He could very easily get up and walk out—after getting dressed, of course. Then I’d never see him again. I’d spend the rest of my life kicking myself for blowing the best thing that had ever happened to me.
“Please believe me,” I said in a desperate effort to keep him in my life.
“I believe you,” Rafe said.
Now I breathed a sigh of relief. “I was sure you’d freak out. I mean, it’s not like I’m going to write the article or anything.”
“Why not?” Now he was smiling. It was a slow smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth, and it was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. “It might make for an interesting story. You came here, tracked down Bigfoot, and fell in love with him.”
I tucked my chin and looked at him under raised eyebrows. “Bigfoot?”
He laughed. “I’m not saying I’m some freakish beast. I just feel like a monument.”
“Or one of the seven wonders of the world.”
He made a face, looking upward slightly and pursing his lips. Then, finally, after several long seconds, he spoke.
“More like an oddity on display in a case in a museum. Everyone gathers around and stares. Even takes pictures. Then leaves comments underneath.”
I gasped. “You didn’t read the comments. Tell me you didn’t read the comments.”
There was something odd about picturing some burly lumberjack hanging out on social media, scrolling through moronic comments from keyboard warriors. I couldn’t imagine Rafe doing that no matter how hard I tried.
“When I first saw the video, yeah.” He sighed. “Someone sent me a link. I don’t even have an account. I never looked again.” Suddenly, he shifted his attention to me, his gaze sharp. “You know what? I want you to write that story. Maybe interview a few of the other loggers who’ve been put on display like that.”
I nodded. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m one hundred percent sure. Besides, if you’re going to be my wife, I want you to do work that makes you happy. Thatfulfills you. And yes, when you’re ready, we’ll discuss starting a family. But not until you’re sure.”
I had a feeling it wouldn’t take as long as I’d originally planned. Rafe wasn’t like my dad. He’d encourage me to pursue my passion in life, whether that was raising kids, writing, painting, or a combination of all three.
But for now, I was going to enjoy spending time with the man of my dreams. Maybe doing a little traveling too. But mostly just getting to know him one-on-one.
Soon enough, I’d move up here, and we’d probably get engaged and married within the next year. We’d build a life together, and eventually, that life would include growing our family.
I, for one, couldn’t wait.
He put on his underwear and settled into bed next to me, pulling me close to him. As I drifted off to sleep, my cheek nestled against his chest, I couldn’t help but review the past twenty-four hours.
“I didn’t come here to get more social media followers,” I said.
“You came here to track me down and write an article about me.”
I nodded. It was a good guess. But I knew better than to breathe a sigh of relief. The worst was no doubt yet to come once it sunk in.
“You’re going to write about me?” he asked. “About this?”
I shook my head. “Never. My goal was just to get some video of you. Maybe interview the people who’d come here hoping to get a glimpse of you. I was going to write about it as more of a commentary on the silliness of virality. This week, it’s a hot lumberjack in North Carolina. Next week, it’s a panda at the zoo giving birth.”
“You didn’t sleep with me for the story?”
Now I was feeling a little offended, but I shouldn’t. He was the one being caught off guard here.
“I never, in a million years, would have imagined that would happen,” I said. “I was a virgin, remember? I would have bet every dime in my bank account that this wouldn’t happen. But I felt this connection. I would have told you the truth earlier, but I kind of forgot why I came here in the first place. I got so caught up in you, it’s like the rest of my life doesn’t exist. Nothing matters but what’s happening here.”
And that was the God’s-honest truth. I just hoped he’d believe me. He had to believe me.
He looked around the tent, and I braced myself. He could very easily get up and walk out—after getting dressed, of course. Then I’d never see him again. I’d spend the rest of my life kicking myself for blowing the best thing that had ever happened to me.
“Please believe me,” I said in a desperate effort to keep him in my life.
“I believe you,” Rafe said.
Now I breathed a sigh of relief. “I was sure you’d freak out. I mean, it’s not like I’m going to write the article or anything.”
“Why not?” Now he was smiling. It was a slow smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth, and it was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. “It might make for an interesting story. You came here, tracked down Bigfoot, and fell in love with him.”
I tucked my chin and looked at him under raised eyebrows. “Bigfoot?”
He laughed. “I’m not saying I’m some freakish beast. I just feel like a monument.”
“Or one of the seven wonders of the world.”
He made a face, looking upward slightly and pursing his lips. Then, finally, after several long seconds, he spoke.
“More like an oddity on display in a case in a museum. Everyone gathers around and stares. Even takes pictures. Then leaves comments underneath.”
I gasped. “You didn’t read the comments. Tell me you didn’t read the comments.”
There was something odd about picturing some burly lumberjack hanging out on social media, scrolling through moronic comments from keyboard warriors. I couldn’t imagine Rafe doing that no matter how hard I tried.
“When I first saw the video, yeah.” He sighed. “Someone sent me a link. I don’t even have an account. I never looked again.” Suddenly, he shifted his attention to me, his gaze sharp. “You know what? I want you to write that story. Maybe interview a few of the other loggers who’ve been put on display like that.”
I nodded. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m one hundred percent sure. Besides, if you’re going to be my wife, I want you to do work that makes you happy. Thatfulfills you. And yes, when you’re ready, we’ll discuss starting a family. But not until you’re sure.”
I had a feeling it wouldn’t take as long as I’d originally planned. Rafe wasn’t like my dad. He’d encourage me to pursue my passion in life, whether that was raising kids, writing, painting, or a combination of all three.
But for now, I was going to enjoy spending time with the man of my dreams. Maybe doing a little traveling too. But mostly just getting to know him one-on-one.
Soon enough, I’d move up here, and we’d probably get engaged and married within the next year. We’d build a life together, and eventually, that life would include growing our family.
I, for one, couldn’t wait.
He put on his underwear and settled into bed next to me, pulling me close to him. As I drifted off to sleep, my cheek nestled against his chest, I couldn’t help but review the past twenty-four hours.