Page 3 of I’d Never Date my Best Friend…Again

When Liam chose the Army over me, he broke my heart. The Army took my father, and I was terrified it would take him. I couldn’t feel that pain again. I wouldn’t be able to survive if he died too. That day, my heart shattered into a million pieces, and Liam took them all with him when he left.

I’m startled by a knock at the door, and I quickly wipe my face and look in the mirror to avoid looking at whoever is coming in.

“Okay,” Stacy says excitedly. “It’s time. Everyone’s waiting, and Andrew is getting nervous,” she laughs.

I take a deep breath to steady my voice, then hear myself say, “Give me a few more minutes.”

“Penny!” She says, concern lacing her tone.

“I’ll be out in a few minutes, Stacy. Please,” I beg.

She’s silent for a moment, then says, “I’m getting Mom. Something’s wrong.”

The door closes behind her, and I panic. If my mom comes in here, she’ll drag me to the altar and offer me no choice but to marry Andrew. I have to leave before she gets here. I hurry out of the room, intending to get as far from this church as fast as possible. I run toward the stairs.

It’s a long way down, and I gather up the front of my dress so I don’t fall. By taking the stairs, I have a better chance of making it without anyone seeing me—also, the stairway branches to the back exit, where I can leave in my truck.

I sigh in relief when I find my key still in the ignition where I left it. I speed down the road, leaving the church in the rearview mirror. I can feel the tension leaving my body as the wind hits my face while I tear down the road.

I yank off my veil and shake my head. My hair falls down my back in loose curls. When I stop the car, I look around and see that I am at the trail Liam and I would come to when we were younger. I drop my head on the steering wheel as I realize that I’ve unconsciously come to find solace in our place.

Liam and I loved exploring Yosemite Park. My dad inspired both of us, and our mutual love of the outdoors continued after my father passed away. It was our way of honoring him. We would come here for picnics, stargaze, and hone our survival skills. We knew the mountains inside and out.

I take off my heels and dump them in the back of the truck before taking the mountain trail. The terrain here is rough, but I learned to walk barefoot with Liam. As I climb, I remember the plans that Liam and I made. We had dreamed of creating a survival camp to teach others how to survive in the wilderness. We even picked out a name—Zombie Apocalypse Survival Camp.

Laughter bubbles out of me, softly at first and then so hard that I double over at the force of it. Zombie Apocalypse Survival Camp is such a corny name. What were we thinking?

The last time I was here was with Liam for a picnic. Then, he told me of his plans to join the Army. Now, I’m back after leaving my fiancé at the altar.

When I reach our spot, my gaze takes in the view. Memories assault me. It’s like I can still feel Liam here. In this time and place, nothing else exists except the past.

I walk slowly toward the edge, careful to avoid the cliff. My father ensured I understood where it was and how unsafe it was to step on it. I stand at a safe distance and let the morning breeze, with all the smells in the forest, blow around me. I take a deep breath and breathe out my fear of the future.

I turn from the cliff but when I take a step, the ground crumbles beneath me and I slide down. A terrified scream tears from my throat as my legs give way under me. I try to grasp something, but nothing is strong enough to hold me.

I fall down the cliff, and my life flashes before my eyes. Suddenly, my feet hit something solid, and I manage to grab hold of a branch overhead. I stop falling. The solidness dislodges, and my feet slide. I still grip the branch, but my arm hurts from holding my body weight.

My heart is beating wildly in my chest. “Help! Is there anyone there? Please, help!” I shout with all my might.

My arms are getting weak. Just when I think there’s no hope, I hear a faint bark. Is that a dog? Or is my mind playing tricks on me? I blink the sweat out of my eyes and squint to pay more attention. I don’t hear anything for a long time, and tears fill my eyes. Am I going to die?

Then, I hear the bark again, and hope flares in my chest.

“Help!” I scream at the top of my lungs.

Just then, I hear the sound of footsteps. Someone is here! Relief floods through me.

“Penny, hold on just a little bit longer. I’ll get you up.”

It’s Liam.

Chapter 3

Liam

“Tex, come here.” He glances at me and then back over the cliff. He’s torn between his animal instinct and the urge to obey me. I’m terrified he’ll fall, too.

“Tex!” I say sternly.

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