Page 8 of Falling for the Mountain Man

Zaria

Waking up, it’s the burly arm wrapped securely around my waist that makes all of this feel real. Then I shift, and the soreness of my body makes it set in stone.

Ryder wants me just as much as I want him.

Oh boy. Talk about a dream come true.

Cracking my eyes open, I stare at his bare chest. Dragging my eyes up, I find him still resting so peacefully. Is it weird that I’ve wanted to see him like this for the longest time? It’s not like I get to stare at his handsome face for long.

I want to cradle his cheeks and kiss him awake just so I can see the first smile of today. I mean, every time I catch him looking my way, he’s always got a small curve on his lips.

At the same time, I don’t want to wake him up. He deserves his rest. After everything he did with his hands and his mouth, he should get to sleep in.

Wiggling free, a groan slips from my lips as I move to stand.

How many times did we lose ourselves last night? Every time my body would relax, his hands would return, setting me right back on fire.

I guess I’m not the only one dreading what’s to come.

Despite the ache, I can’t stop the smile that forms on my lips. There’s nothing I would’ve changed in the last handful of hours.

Searching for my clothes, I’ve got no clue where they are. Finding my underwear bunched up, the rest of my outfit has magically disappeared.

I don’t want Ryder catching me on my hands and knees while searching under his bed while stark naked.

Chewing on my lip, I turn my attention toward his closet.

When Kallie asked me if I wanted to wear something of his, I really wanted to say yes. Talk about a dream come true. Of course, if I had caved, both of them would’ve known just how happy wearing one of his shirts. Now, the temptation is just too good.

Heading over, I consider grabbing one of his shirts with the fire department’s logo on it. Wearing something with his name on it feels like a claim. However, I doubt it’ll cover much of my body. Instead, I pluck out a long-sleeved shirt that’s soft to the touch.

Throwing it over my shoulders, I’m fumbling with the buttons when I turn and find Ryder watching me. He looks as tired as I feel, but he’s smiling like he’s so pleased.

“I, um—”

“Looks good on you.” He moves to sit up. Throwing his legs over the edge of the bed, he motions toward me. “Come here.”

I do as I’m told. Drifting across the floor, I stop right between his knees. My cheeks warm as he rolls up my sleeves first so they’re no longer swallowing up my hands. Then, he starts buttoning the shirt from the bottom to the top.

He’s barely got a blanket on him, but the longer his eyes cling to me, the easier it is to see the effect I have on him.

It’s a miracle he keeps buttoning the shirt instead of stripping it off of me.

However, he’s not as strong as he wants to act.

When he reaches the collar, he tugs me down to meet his mouth.

A slow, tired kiss is what it takes to hit me that I’m leaving today.

Cradling his face, I’m ready to climb on his lap, but he stops me.

“Your body needs to rest. We overdid it last night.” Humming against my lips, he pecks me once more. “Let’s start with some breakfast.”

It’s hard to tell him no when he’s concerned about me.

Nodding my head, I pull back. “And more coffee. A whole pot.”

I’m exhausted. Not just because of the workout he put me through, but because of how restless I’ve felt.

Kallie’s probably still asleep. She loves waking up once the sun is high in the sky, getting more rest than a person can need. I’ll have to wait before I can talk to her.

Creeping towards the kitchen, it’s the thought of making a cup for him that makes my feet feel light.

Does he like it with extra cream like I do, or just a hint?

There’s still so much I need to learn about him. Now that we’re headed in this direction, I can start discovering the little things.

Pinching my lips together to keep a laugh inside, I float the rest of the way toward the kitchen.

I come to a halt when the smell of coffee hits me. It’s not from the night before, it’s a freshly brewed scent.

Kallie sits at the table, her cup cradled in her hands. It’s the same cup I left out.

Oh. Oh no.

Her eyes flick toward me, and as she takes in my appearance, her nose scrunches.

And here I wanted to tell her everything, but I think my current state is worth a thousand words. But I don’t want her to assume and try to put the pieces together by herself. I don’t want her to misunderstand.

“Kallie—” I step forward, and the cool air of the room licks at my knees. It’s impossibly cold on the mountain in the morning, and there’s no doubt that a fire hasn’t been started. “I can explain—”

“You guys were so loud.” Setting her cup down with a thump, she shoves her hand through her hair and yanks like she’s frustrated. “I’d think you were keeping this a secret, but there’s no way. Not after that.”

My cheeks burn at her words, and just like that, I want to melt into the cracks of the floor and disappear.

Hearing Ryder’s steps growing from behind, I look back, relieved that he’s now dressed. He doesn’t look mortified when he sees Kallie’s caught us in the aftermath. Rather, he looks relieved. To him, it’s probably better to rip off the band-aid.

Well, I wanted to work my way up to telling her the truth. Now, I’m too busy hugging myself to find the right words.

Kallie only seems to prickle up when she sees Ryder. It’s like the first push to a long string of dominoes.

“Good morning.” He doesn’t point out her frown, but looks between us. “So, we’re going to talk this out like adults. Because that’s what we are. Adults.”

“Right.” She moves to stand, her chair scraping behind her. Rounding the table, she keeps a good amount of feet away from us. If she gets too close, she may see more than she wants.

Though, I think it might be a little too late for that. Ryder wasn’t shy with his mouth last night.

“Okay, so I knew you had a little crush on him. I mean, literally all of my friends did growing up.” She doesn’t bother to hide the grimace on her face. “As gross as it is, I can admit that we’ve got good genes. It’s one of those things that come with being his daughter.”

Like she realizes she’s getting off track, another over-dramatic groan leaves her lips.

I freeze up at the realization that I’ve already been caught. I don’t know at what point she put the pieces together. “You knew?”

“Well, yeah.” She lets out a huff of air, laced with exasperation.

“No offense, but you’re not exactly subtle about it.

I’ve caught you staring at that picture of him from last year’s trip on the boat.

Like, many times.” Her attention swings fully to her father, and I can feel the heat of Ryder’s gaze burning into the back of my neck, a silent, heavy pressure.

“But you…” she continues, her voice hardening.

“You’re supposed to be the responsible one.

You knew she’d be lonely here. She needed to be around people, not—”

She waves a hand in the space between us, a frantic, dismissive gesture as she struggles to find the right word.

And that’s when the second realization hits me, colder and clearer than the first. The anger in her voice isn’t aimed at me. It’s targeted with laser precision at Ryder.

She’s always clung to my side, always played the part of an overprotective friend. She’s my other half, has been from the day she crashed into my life with way too many pieces of luggage than a roommate should have, and a heart of gold.

The other women in our rental barely knew of my existence. But Kallie, she put super glue between us and stuck to me like no one ever before.

And now, her father might as well have pried us apart to put himself right in the middle.

Despite the floor feeling like it’s tilting, despite the humiliating tremor in my legs that threatens to buckle, I force myself to step forward. Before I can speak, I feel the warmth of Ryder’s hand on my shoulder.

“Kallie.” His voice cuts through the tension, low and firm, but devoid of anger.

It’s a tone that commands a room, and it instantly halts her next words.

He moves to stand beside me, his shoulder brushing mine—a silent, solid wall of support.

“Look at her. Really look. Do you see someone I took advantage of? Or do you see the woman I care about?”

My stomach instantly clenches, trying its hardest to subdue the butterflies that want to flap around at his words.

Kallie’s mouth opens, then closes, her anger momentarily derailed by the sheer, unvarnished truth in his declaration. She then squints. “I know you care for her. You’ve taken care of her the same way you have for me. I mean, you have to admit, it’s crazy. It’s—”

“I love her,” he corrects himself and sighs. “But not in a way a man like me should. I know it’s crazy, but that’s how it is. Once it starts to blossom, it doesn’t stop.”

Lips parting, I look up to find him staring back. Just like a cage being burst open, the butterflies go crazy.

He continues, his gaze locked on his daughter. “You’re right. I am the responsible one. And that means being responsible with her heart, and with yours. This wasn’t me filling a void of loneliness. This was me finding the other half of my soul in the one person who already felt like family.”

Tears well in Kallie’s eyes, the anger melting into a confusion that hurts more to see. “I just… I love her,” she whispers, her voice cracking as she looks at me. “She’s my best friend. And I love you.” Her gaze flicks to her father. “And this… it feels like you’re stealing her away.”

All this time, I was worried Kallie would hate me and leave my side. Now I’m thinking we’re more like two sides of the same coin. Both feeling the same way.

I cross the space between us and pull her into a hug. She stiffens for only a second before collapsing against me, her own arms wrapping tightly around my waist.

“You two are all I have. That isn’t going to change.” Murmuring the words into her hair, I sigh. “I’m scared of losing you, so you have nothing to worry about.”

I’m sure this kind of discussion is going to happen again the moment Kallie finds her other half. I’ll be the one begging her not to disappear out of our lives.

I hold her tighter, praying she understands that my love for her isn’t diminished; it’s the very foundation that makes my love for him feel so right, so destined. The super glue she put between us years ago is still there, stronger than ever. It just has to hold one more, priceless piece now.

“Please, Kallie. Try to understand.” Pleading the words, I release her.

The way she looks between us, like she’s trying to picture a rare future, she pulls me back into her arms.

“How in the heck am I supposed to tell you no when you look so sad?” She squeezes me tight. “I want you to be happy. But it’s going to be weird. So weird.”

I can agree with her in that sense. She’ll always be my best friend. “This way, we won’t have to worry about parting ways after graduation. I’ll stay here, and you can see me whenever you want.”

Ryder does not help by agreeing happily behind me. He likes the thought far too much.

As if seeing there’s only one path to giving me my happiness, she caves and nods. “Fine. Fine. But you need to soundproof that room. You’re going to give me nightmares if I have to ever listen to that again all night.”

She really knows what to say to make the heaviness of the room disappear, morphing it into absolute humiliation.

“Yeah, that’s an easy fix. I’ll take care of it while you’re gone. When winter break rolls around, you won’t hear a peep.” Shameless, Ryder agrees to her stipulation.

Turning to look at him, I want to scold him for being so comfortable. Seeing how cheeky he is, a full on grin on his face, I can’t.

Kallie curses and gags when he reaches for me. “Can’t you guys give me five more minutes before you start getting handsy? At least have her put on some pants. Dad, you can get the fire started. I want to be warm, if you don’t mind.”

“It is…kind of chilly in here.” Murmuring the words, I gasp when he picks me up, much to Kallie’s dismay.

“Go warm her up, got it.” He nods like he heard every word.

Leaving her behind, his smile seems to grow.

“She’s barely agreed to accept us.” Huffing, I can’t help but cradle his face as he carries me toward what I hope is her room so I can get clothes. “Let’s not make her change her mind. If we leave together, she might not let me come back.”

He scoffs at the very thought. “She may get her greediness from me. But hey, if she tries, I’ll just have to come to Arizona and steal you away.”

Okay, I won’t lie. I wouldn’t mind the thought of him doing that. So just this once, I’ll let him get away with it.

He sets me down just inside the doorway of her room, but he doesn’t let go. His forehead rests against mine, the playful grin softening into something deeper, more profound. “She’ll be okay, Zaria. We’ll all be okay. Because this isn’t something that’s sudden, and she knows it.”

I believe him. Because in his arms, with the ghost of Kallie’s reluctant blessing still hanging in the air, I finally feel it—not just the thrilling, passionate secret, but the solid, unshakable foundation of a future. It’s messy and complicated and utterly terrifying, but it’s ours.

Eventually, this will become the norm. The three of us, finding our rhythm, building a new kind of family from the pieces of our old ones. There will be more conversations, more awkward moments, and undoubtedly, more threats from Kallie.

As Ryder’s lips find mine in a soft, sealing kiss, I know with every fiber of my being that it’s a future worth fighting for.