Page 49 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

“Would you be upset if I didn’t stay for a soak in the hot tub?” I had some deep thinking to do, and the only thinking I’d do in a hot tub with Garrett would be indulging every sort of persuasion for why it didn’t matter that we spent so much time together and claimed we were only friends.

Looking down at me, he wiped a tear off my cheek. “I don’t mind, but I don’t like to see you upset. I’m not sure exactly what is bothering you. I have only a general idea. But when I said I didn’t expect anything from you, I meant every word. I don’t care what your parents think or what Parker thinks. I care what you think.”

Nodding, I whispered, “I don’t know what I think.”

His smile wasn’t what I expected, but it calmed me.

“We’re still friends?” The tease in his voice lightened the mood.

“Yes. And I’m still staying at the cabin for Christmas. Just promise me...” I wasn’t sure I could get the words out, but they needed to be said.

“What’s that?”

I inhaled, thinking through the words so that they wouldn’t come out jumbled. “When you meet someone—someone you’d want to date—promise me that you won’t let the opportunity go.” As much as it would sting to see him with someone else, I wanted him to be happy... and not alone.

He needed someone who could make him happy day... and night.

Garrett stared at the landscape and rubbed the scruff on his jaw. After a second, he met my gaze. “I promise that when I meet someone who captures my heart, I will expend every last ounce of my energy to capture hers.” His eyebrows lifted. “Does that make you feel better?”

“Yes.” I could enjoy our friendship, knowing that he’d move on when he found a special someone. Now, I didn’t have to think about it anymore.

“Since I don’t expect to meet anyone new in the next three weeks, I was hoping you’d be my plus one for Eli’s wedding.” He flashed a smile that somehow made sunlight dance in his eyes. “Just friends.”

“Sure. But if you do meet someone, tell me.”

“I’ll keep you completely updated on my love life.” The tease was back in his voice.

Blue barked.

“Garrett is funny, isn’t he?”

There hadn’t been any great revelations, but I felt better about our friendship. I loved being friends with Garrett, and if he was comfortable with how things were, no other opinion mattered.

We started back down the hill toward the truck, and when I tried to imagine how Garrett would look in a suit, I almost tripped.

He reached back and grabbed my hand. “Careful.”

All thoughts of Garrett in a suit needed to be saved for when I wasn’t in danger of rolling down a hill.

Chapter 16

My plan to go home and think was derailed the moment I saw Delaney’s number on my screen. With only three weeks until the wedding, her nerves were starting to frazzle.

“Hey there.” I wanted to be the voice of calm for my friend.

“Please tell me you aren’t busy. Can you come over?” Her voice sounded strained, but at least it didn’t sound like she’d been crying.

“I can be there in two minutes. I just finished hiking with Garrett.”

“Oh good. Do you know the way through the back gate?”

I waved to catch Garrett’s attention. “I’ll find out. Be there soon.”

He leaned down to my window. “What’s up?”

“What’s the fastest way to the goat farm? Delaney is having a mini crisis, I think.”

He pointed, giving directions and mentioning landmarks. The man knew how I navigated.

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