Page 37 of Wrecked for Love
“This place is amazing,” I whispered, as if speaking too loudly would disturb the calm.
“Told you it’s a hidden gem,” Elia said, his voice soft but filled with pride. “No one really knows about it, which is why I like coming here. It’s peaceful.”
“Yeah, peaceful,” I echoed, taking a deep breath and letting the calm wash over me.
“Hey, come here,” Elia said, drawing me toward a nearby bush. He crouched down, plucked a few wild berries, and handed them to me with a grin.
“Buffaloberries?” I asked, recognizing the tiny, bright fruits.
“Yep.”
I popped a couple into my mouth and squinted as the tartness hit me. “Whoa!” I gasped, caught off guard. But the flavor mellowed. “Not bad. Though not quite like the jam.”
“Oh? You’ve tried the jam already?” A lilt crept into his reply. “I thought you were holding out for mine.”
“Sorry,” I said with my mouth puckered. “I bought a jar from Mama Berry.”
“Mama Berry?” Elia raised an eyebrow. “Who’s that?”
I laughed, feeling a little embarrassed. “That’s what I’ve been calling Mrs. Sutton in my head—the lady at the harvest shop. It just stuck.”
Elia’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “Miss Chili Pepper, I didn’t know you had a cute side.”
“How’ve you been?” I asked. “Any more trespassers holding you hostage for gas?”
He laughed. “Nope. Just you.” Then his expression shifted, turning a bit somber. “Logan mentioned you’re renting The Willow.”
I narrowed my eyes, wondering if his shift in tone meant he’d expected me to come back to The Lazy Moose instead. But why did he seem so sad about it?
With our day settling back on track, I decided not to press him. “Yeah, I am. I’m also working at Paul’s store now.”
“Wait, seriously? That’s impressive.” He seemed genuinely surprised. “Paul doesn’t hire just anyone, and that’s not exactly an easy job. How come I’ve never seen you there?”
I smirked, ready for a bit of banter. “Because I’m always in the back. Gotta keep my secret identity intact, you know? Stealth mode.”
Elia shook his head at me. “Stealth mode, huh?”
We continued along the trail until Elia suddenly motioned for me to follow him off the path. “Come on, I’ll show you another secret.”
“Really? A secret within a secret?”
“You’re gonna love it.”
We veered off the main trail, climbing higher up the hill. Elia carried Koda on his shoulders effortlessly as we navigated a particularly steep ascend, his movements careful but strong. He had this way of being both protective and laid-back all at once, and it made my chest fill with admiration just watching him.
Finally, we reached a small clearing, and I gasped. Before us, a waterfall cascaded down from the rocks above, the sunlight catching the mist and turning it into a million tiny rainbows. The sound of the water was soothing, almost magical.
“Elia…” I murmured as if hypnotized. “This…this is beyond beautiful.”
For a guy who rarely smiled, even the slightest shift in his expression made it clear he was pleased with my reaction. “It’s one of my favorite spots. Figured you’d appreciate it.”
He gestured toward a flat rock near the water. “Come on, sit down. Take it all in.”
I did, still in awe of the view. As I settled onto the rock, I couldn’t help but feel like this hidden place, much like Elia, held so many layers yet to be discovered.
He broke the silence first. “So, are you really from Idaho?”
That was the story I’d been feeding everyone, including his friend Logan—with just enough of a Chicago confession to ease my landlord’s suspicions. Elia shot me a knowing side-eye, clearly picking up on the lie.
