Page 43 of Reviving Kendall

I’m looking toward Mav and Goose on the couch. Goose shrugs trying not to answer as Mav simply says, “Yes.”

“Problem solved then,” I say. “Go without me.”

Lucas stands up, “No, now wait a minute. We would be gone all day, and we’re not just going to leave you up here by yourself.”

His gentlemanly attitude makes me smile, “As much as I love the snow, I truly despise being cold.” I hold my hands palm up and act as if I’m weighing things, “Falling on my ass and freezing all day, trying to keep up with you guys on the slopes compared to being comfy and warm in front of the fireplace. Not even a competition. Besides, I’m not exactly alone. Ryleigh and Eddie are here.”

“Are you sure?” he asks warily.

When I nod, Teagan’s blonde hair bobs as he jumps up, “Yes!”

I try not to laugh, but it’s impossible. They get up to leave and Maverick walks out without a word or look behind him. Teagan picks me up and swings me around before kissing me on the cheek, “You’re the best.”

Goose waits until he follows Mav out the door before coming to me and placing his hands on either side of my face, “If you change your mind, just let us know and one of us will come get you.” I nod, and he kisses my forehead.

Lucas takes my hand and pulls me straight from Goose into his arms. He leans down and kisses my cheek close to my ear before they follow the other two out.

I go to the window and watch them go down the short driveway. Waiting until I don’t see them anymore, I go into the kitchen to make some breakfast. While I eat, I check my phone again to make sure that I haven’t heard from Gramps. Nothing. No news is good news, right?

It isn’t until after I’m done with breakfast that I start to wonder what the actual fuck I’m going to do with my day. I try to read for a little while, but it can’t hold my attention. Plus, whoever this cabin belongs to apparently isn’t a big reader. There are no good books here. The cable picks up pretty good surprisingly, but after a few hours, my attention is elsewhere again. Ryleigh comes out once to heat up some soup for Eddie and promises to return. That was over an hour ago, and I’m starting to go stir crazy.

I’m exploring the rooms of the cabin when I find a map of the area. There’s some hiking and horseback trails right off the side of the house. If nothing else, maybe I can get some good pictures in. Plus, I’ll be close enough to the cabin to run back if I start getting really cold.

I bundle up, and decide that I look like a fluffed-up marshmallow once I’ve got all my gear on. I wrap the camera around my neck and stuff it underneath my jacket. I’d feel horrible if I fell or it got wet somehow and got broken, even if Mav is being an ass.

I put a bottle of water in one of the front pockets of my jacket and the map in the other. Contemplating leaving a note for the guys, I decide against it. I’ll be back long before they will. I give my phone another once over before tucking it in the same pocket as the map.

Once I’m outside, I take a deep breath of the cold crisp air. Makes no sense, but it’s almost as if I can taste the mountain in that one breath. It’s invigorating. The trail isn’t hard to find and from there, I just follow the carvings on the trees, stopping every so often to take a picture or two. There’s supposed to be a small stream around here somewhere. I’m sure that it’s frozen in these temperatures, but my curiosity has the best of me. When I do finally find it, I’m surprised to see that the water is still flowing. It may be slow and filled with ice and snow, but it’s still beautiful all the same. I want to follow it up to see if there’s a waterfall somewhere close, but I’m not stupid enough to leave the trail.

I take my time walking around the area and putting Mav’s camera to use, trying my best not to think about the hole that I’ve dug myself with the quad. After a while, my stomach starts growling and I realize that I forgot to bring food. Even with me as cold as I am, I haven’t wanted to turn back, but I’m fucking starved. Walking around in twenty pounds of extra clothes must require extra fuel.

The trip back to the cabin seems shorter than earlier. Walking out of the tree line, I find the Rover back in its place. I wasn’t expecting the guys to beat me home, but I’m definitely not going to complain about it. I’ve missed them today.

“Thank fucking god,” Teagan says from the porch as I round the house.

I don’t even have time to say anything before he jumps the railing and lands in front of me. He rushes me and when I lose my footing, we hit the snow hard. A laugh bubbles from my lips, but it’s quickly swallowed by his.

It’s an amazing feeling to have someone miss me so much. However, Mav’s voice ruins the moment, “Glad to see that you’re fucking alive.”

I jerk as far away from Teagan as I can as I try to sit up, “Mav?”

He shakes his head and walks away.

After last night and doing his best to avoid me today, I’m pretty pissed. Stomping after him, I yank him to a stop just inside the door, “Wait.”

I didn’t purposely use the same word as last night, but there’s a flicker of something there before anger takes over again, “Just leave it, Kendall.”

He starts to walk away again and it’s Teagan that pulls him back this time, “Dude, what the fuck is your problem?”

Maverick stops mid-step and turns back around, “My problem? My fucking problem?”

Goose and Lucas come around the side of the living room. They must have been in the kitchen.

“I’ll tell you what my problem is,” he says stalking back over. I back up away from him and run straight into Teagan. Mav points at me, “She’s my fucking problem. She’s been nothing but a fucking problem since you fucktards lost your shit over her a couple months ago.”

Lucas, always the peace keeper, steps up to the side of us, “That’s not true and you know it.”

Maverick laughs in his face, “You can’t sell me that shit man. The three of you have fallen all over yourselves for her. All she has to say is jump and you’ll ask how high.”

---