Page 66 of Tempting Promises
“You need to tell me to stop if it’s too much. You can’t sweat, we’ll be in a different kind of danger, sweetheart.”
I took two layers off midway, not wanting hypothermia to be the next obstacle.
“I didn’t think I was hot until we sat for a second.”
“About how far is the dot now?” I ask, placing her jacket in her pack.
“Maybe another half mile? I don’t know, I’m so tired.”
“I know you are, but we’re close now. I won’t let you fall, I’m right behind you.”
She leans her head against the tree, eyes filled with so much emotion, but she won’t let herself cry. “I know you won’t.”
I take the walkie-talkie out, ignoring the desire to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless. “Come in Moist Beard.”
Charlotte groans. “I can’t wait for that thing to get run over by my car.”
“Skittle Titties, this is Moist Beard.” I love irritating the piss out of her. “Are you close?”
“We’re about a half mile away still, Charlotte and I are trudging through thick ice and it’s taking longer. Are you able to come any closer?”
There’s silence for a moment. “I tried, Row, but I slid a good amount and almost got stuck. I really don’t think I should risk it.”
That’s what I was afraid of. “All right. We’re going to be a while. With her injury and the ice, it’s a lot of work.”
“I have a fire going up here and food. As soon as you get here, I’ll get Charlotte to the house. Faye and Meagan had to leave this morning, but Joey is waiting.”
“Theyleft?” Charlotte screams. “What does he mean they left?”
Oh fucking hell. I hand her the walkie-talkie because I’m not playing the relay game, I’ve had to do it one too many times with Brynlee.
“Sawyer, you said Faye and Meagan left? Like to go to the store?”
There’s a pause, and I’m pretty sure Sawyer is debating heading back to the house to avoid this. Finally he speaks. “Umm, Meagan had to get home, and Faye knew we’d drive you back to Sugarloaf. She left you a note explaining it.”
Her jaw drops. “She left me?”
“Relax, Charlotte, you’re not abandoned, we’ll take you home and get you medical care. You know Meagan has to take care of her brother.”
The anger drains from her face. “Right. I forgot. It’s fine. We’ll get back, and I can finally shower and go home.”
I let Sawyer know we’re starting to hike again and then I grab Charlotte’s pack, hoisting it to my chest.
We climb for what feels like hours, stopping to cool down or add another layer. It’s by far the most intense hike I’ve ever done and we’re not even going all that far.
I see the smoke plume and Sawyer wasn’t kidding about the ice in this area. It’s thicker the higher altitude we go. Charlotte and I both slip, catching a tree or each other.
“Almost there,” I say, as the smell of firewood gets stronger. “Come on, find atree and pull.”
Her arms must be screaming in agony, God knows mine are. Charlotte stops for a moment, looking back to me.
“I need to say something before we get up there.”
Something in her eyes has me worried. “Okay.”
“Whatever...that was between us, I don’t really understand how two people who hate each other as much as we do could ever be that . . .”
“Good,” I finish for her.
