Page 24 of Stuck with my Mountain Daddies

Beckett didn’t say a word. He sat there, arms crossed, green eyes narrowed.

“Oh, what?” I snapped, turning back toward him. “Got something else to say? Aboutmyworld?”

His jaw worked, and I could see the flicker of guilt behind his eyes. But instead of an apology, he gave me silence. Typical.

“You don’t know me,” I said, voice shaking now. “You don’t know a damn thing about how hard I’ve worked or what it took to get where I was. And yeah, maybe it all fell apart, but at least I tried. At least Icaredabout something.”

Beckett stood then. Slowly. And damn, he was big. Looming. That same quiet intensity that had first struck me now felt like a wall I’d never be able to climb.

“I didn’t mean—” he started.

“Save it,” I cut him off. “You did. You meant every condescending word. I’ve had enough of being judged by people who’ve never had to prove themselves to the world.”

Was he condescending?

Or was that everyone else?

“Alright, alright.” Asher stepped between us, palms up. “Can we not do this right before bed? Emotions are high, drinks werehad, and Beckett doesn’t speak fluent human after the sun has set."

“Asher,” Beckett growled, clearly annoyed.

I glared at both of them. Two emotionally constipated woodsmen with cheekbones sharp enough to slice through tension, but not a single clue how to actually defuse it.

“Forget it,” I muttered, spinning on my heel. “I really do need to sleep.”

“Riley—” Asher started.

But I was already heading for the stairs, my socked feet thudding against the wood.

Damn, what had I gotten myself into?

This was supposed to be a reset. A breath. A place to figure out my next step, not… this. Not being stuck in a cabin with these hot, judgmental hermits and a storm that wouldn’t let up.

By the time I slammed the bedroom door shut behind me, my cheeks were burning—not just from the booze but from the ache in my chest I hadn’t managed to drink away.

Tomorrow. I’d leave tomorrow.

No more mountains. No more flannel. No more being the weird outsider from LA trying to survive in a Brawny paper towel commercial.

Ugh, I needed somethingrealbefore I lost my damn mind.

I pulled my phone from my hoodie pocket and sent a quick text to Lucy.

Riley >>You are not going to believe the day I’ve had.

Lucy >>Uh-oh. What happened?

Riley >>Your cabin flooded. Legit water pouring through the ceiling like a horror movie. A pipe burst.

Lucy >>Oh no! What the hell? Are you okay??

Riley >>I’m fine. Just soggy and emotionally bankrupt. Will you be okay?

Lucy >>My brothers will help me.

Riley >>Speaking of I’m staying with your brothers for the night.

Lucy >>Ah, I did send Asher to check in on you. Will that be alright?

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