Page 49 of Havoc

“Just throw the dishes in the sink. I’ll get them when we come back.”

Before I could respond, he turned and trotted off. I began clearing up the food, carefully placing those precious leftover biscuits in an airtight container and hand-washing the dishes. I stood over the skillet, eyeing one lonely slice of bacon. Havoc had already drained the grease, so it was nice and crispy. Just as I reached for it, he appeared beside me, staring into the skillet with the same intensity.

“What ya lookin’ at?” he asked.

“One lone piece of bacon,” I replied. “Trying to decide whether to eat it or leave it be.”

Quick as a flash, Havoc scooped it up and turned to me. “Halfsies?”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Absofreakinglutely.”

He broke it in half and fed me my piece by hand. His fingers brushed against my lips, and something about that small touch made my stomach flutter. There was an intimacy to it, subtle and unexpected. His expression turned thoughtful as he popped his half into his mouth, and then we headed out.

The day already felt lighter, freer—exactly what I needed after yesterday. He took my hand as we stepped off the porch, giving it a soft squeeze. His casual sweetness made me smile.

***

We found the trail almost immediately. It was packed dirt, covered in a layer of dried pine needles that cushioned our steps. The walk was quiet and peaceful. Birds chirped high above us in the trees. A light breeze rustled the leaves, and sunlight filtered through the branches in golden shafts.

We walked in silence, soaking it all in. Havoc pointed out a deer nibbling on a bush. A squirrel scampered across a branch nearby, scratching at the bark. The deer froze for a moment as if hearing something we couldn’t, then bolted out of sight. I was surprised by how much life filled such a small patch of woods—skunks, rabbits, butterflies, bees—all coexisting in a tiny pocket of serenity.

The waterfall’s roar reached us before we saw it. The river truly had picked up speed, just like Havoc had said. Water thundered down the rockface into a wide pool, then rushed along in swirling rapids downstream.

“There’s a cave behind the waterfall,” Havoc said. “Do you want to check it out? I can show you the way or hang back if you’d rather explore on your own.”

His words were careful, gentle—another act of empathy. He was clearly concerned I might not feel comfortable going into a dark, enclosed space with him.

I gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Lead the way. I’m feeling adventurous today.”

His face lit up. “Thank you for trusting me. I’ll try to make sure you never regret it.”

I didn’t know why his words made me emotional again, but they did. It was like my chest couldn’t quite contain the weight of how different he was from the men I’d known before. Maybe I wasn’t used to this kind of kindness. Maybe that was the part that got to me.

The trail narrowed as we approached the waterfall, winding between mossy stones and tall pines. The air grew cooler and damper as we stepped behind the curtain of falling water and into the cave.

“Wow, it’s surprisingly dry in here,” I said, slowly turning in a circle. The cave was maybe twenty feet wide and stretched back another thirty or forty feet before curving to the right. “Did you ever take that tunnel to see where it goes?”

Havoc shook his head. “No. Never thought about it. We can go if you want.”

I considered it and then shrugged. “We didn’t bring flashlights, so maybe we just peek around the bend and see how far back it goes.”

He pulled out his phone and switched on the flashlight app. I followed his lead and did the same.

“This is kind of exciting, don’t you think?”

He nodded, shining his light towards the tunnel. “Yeah. I’m always up for an adventure. But I want you to stay behind me. Let me make sure there are no tripping hazards. Or wild animals taking a nap.”

“It’s not hibernating season,” I pointed out.

He shot me a frown over his shoulder. “So, you’ve never taken a nap in the middle of the day?”

“Well… of course I have.”

He moved forward carefully. “Same damn thing. A bear could come back to its favorite nap spot any time. When it comes to your life, I plan to be safe rather than sorry.”

I grinned. “Good thinking. I just hope you don’t end up fighting a bear for me today.”

His face lit up. “It would make a great story though. With that kind of experience under my belt, I could run off and join the circus. Havoc the Amazing Beast Fighter.”

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