Page 9 of Hero Mine

She snorted, though the sound lacked her usual humor. “That’s not true.”

“You’re the reason it exists,” he countered. “You jumped into that lake on a dare ten years ago and started the whole thing.”

“That was a dumbass thing to do,” she muttered, shaking her head.

“Maybe. But it was memorable.” Just like she was. “And it gave this town one of its best customs.”

When most people thought of Pike’s Peak, they were thinking of the mountain in Colorado. But for Oak Creek, Pike’s Peak was an old quarry lake. The water was cold year-round, but especially in November. Joy had jumped in when she was fourteen on a dare, and then everyone had built a huge bonfire to defrost her.

A tradition had been born. Now, half the town jumped in on the first Saturday of November at sunset. Then it became a huge bonfire party afterward.

“I don’t know.”

“Face it, Davis, you’re a local legend.”

She snorted. “Hardly. Anyway, I think I’ll sit this year out. Let someone else be legendary for a change.”

He couldn’t stand the thought of her not being there. “C’mon, you’ve got to go. It’s my favorite day of the whole year.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “I would’ve thought that was the opposite.”

He knew what she was thinking about. He was thinking about it too. He’d thought about it for years, even though he shouldn’t.

But he knew not to bring it up now. He shrugged, trying for casual. “The Polar Plunge is fun. Everyone together, a little bit of crazy before winter fully sets in. Bonfire, freezing water, bad decisions. All thanks to you. What’s not to love?”

“I don’t know, maybe the freezing and bad decision-making parts?”

“Are you kidding? That’s what everyone loves. Oh, you’re going,” he said confidently. “You don’t get to quit your own tradition.”

Joy shook her head, but that tiny smile lingered. “We’ll see.”

Bear grinned. It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a definite no. For tonight, he’d take it.

Her house came into view, its small, familiar shape framed by the glow of the porch light. Bear’s stomach tightened at the sight of it. The place was pure Joy—quirky and welcoming, with flower boxes still clinging to a few brave sprigs of green, despite the season. But he couldn’t ignore how hollow it seemed now, how much it felt like it had lost its heart.

Joy hesitated at the gate, her hand hovering over the latch. Bear stopped a few steps behind her, watching the tension ripple through her body.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

She nodded quickly, but the way her fingers trembled told a different story. Bear stayed silent, letting her gather herself. He wasn’t here to push—just to be ready when she needed him.

The air between them grew heavy, and his thoughts drifted. He’d always thought of Joy as unshakable, a force of nature wrapped in fiery energy. But the attack had stolen that, leaving her raw and uncertain.

His chest tightened. He wanted to fix it, to bring back the fearless girl who’d tried to seduce him under the stars at the Polar Plunge bonfire all those years ago.

But what if she never came back?

Bear shook off the thought. No. That wasn’t an option. Joy wasn’t gone; she was just buried beneath the weight of what had happened. And he’d wait as long as it took to help her find herself again.

She didn’t move from the gate, her hand still hovering over the latch. Bear could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her grip on her bag had turned her knuckles white.

“Want me to come in and check the place out before you lock up?” he asked gently.

She stiffened, not looking at him. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.”

He frowned but kept his tone steady. “It’s late, Joy. No harm in making sure everything’s good.”

“I don’t need you to do that,” she said sharply, her voice hardening as she pushed the gate open. “I’ve got it.”

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