Page 41 of Love Letter Lost
“You’re welcome,” Audrey muttered. “Just remember to be careful.” She stooped down to pet Ruby, refusing to look me in the eye. Her words stung but served as a needed reminder for my traitorous heart.
“Make sure you send me all those pictures. I can’t wait to show Amber.” Ridge joined us, a giant smile stretching across his face. “You guys ready to head to the top?”
“Actually,” Audrey paused and glanced down at her phone, “I’ve got to get going. I need to drop Ruby off and then get to the store.”
“We don’t have to hike to the top,” I jumped in quickly. “We could hike back down…” I trailed off when I saw the look of disappointment on Ridge’s face.
“I’d really like to hike to the top. I don’t know when I’ll get another chance to hike this trail. Amber and hiking aren’t exactly friends,” Ridge said.
“It’s okay. I can head back now, and you guys can go to the top.” Audrey’s pitch rose at the end, making her statement sound more like a question. She watched me, eyebrows raised as she waited for my response. I could see the caution in her face and knew I should follow her down the trail, but I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint Ridge after all he’d done to help me the last few days.
“I guess we’re hiking to the top, then. Good luck at the store.”
“I’ll see you when you get home.” With a wave, Audrey started the trek back down the mountain, leaving me alone with Ridge. I tried to ignore the look of concern she sent my way as she walked away.
“Let’s go.” Ridge began walking up the trail, turning to head to the top of the waterfall instead of following Audrey down. I hesitated for a second. It would be so easy to follow her, to leave behind my twisting emotions and embrace her words of caution, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I clambered up the trail, careful on the shifting rocks. Ridge waited for me at the top, taking in the view of the valley below.
“This is beautiful.” Ridge nudged my arm. “Utah Lake even looks good from here.”
I laughed and nudged him back. “This trail connects to another one several miles away. I hiked it once, and it was long but filled with views like this.”
“Sounds nice.” Ridge sighed and we stood there a few moments more before moving to let another group have our place. “Let’s head back.”
Ridge took the lead, and I carefully followed him, picking my way down the steep path. At one point, someone had installed rubber mats on this part of the trail. I assumed that the mats were meant to stabilize the rocks, but they were so worn and old that they did little good, making this section of trail the most treacherous. I was nearly back to where the trail branched for the base of the waterfall when Ridge spoke again.
“Too bad Amber isn’t more outdoorsy. This would be a perfect place to propose.”
I stopped at his words just as some overeager kids pushed past me. My feet shifted on the unstable rocks, and I slipped, falling in a not so graceful heap on the trail. A whoosh of air escaped my lungs, and I felt one of my ankles twist, twinging with pain.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
“Are you okay?”Ridge was at my side in an instant. A small crowd was forming around us, and I felt heat creep into my cheeks.
“Fine, just clumsy,” I lied. I wanted to scream.What did he mean a perfect place to propose?I knew he liked Amber, but they hadn’t been dating long, and based on the interactions I had observed between the two, they didn’t seem like a good fit. My world spun as my heart clenched at the thought. I obviously wasn’t as indifferent to Ridge’s romantic life as I had told myself and my roommates.
“Are you sure you should be—”
“I’m fine.” I cut Ridge off and pushed to my feet. He grabbed my arm and held it as I stood. My ankle protested as I put weight on it, and I nearly fell again at the unfamiliar sensation combined with the light-headedness that had developed following his words.
“Careful.” Ridge wrapped his arm around my waist for added support. My heart thudded at his touch.
He just mentioned proposing to another girl!I screamed at my inner self, but my heart refused to see reason as it sped up at the continued contact.
“I’m okay. Just twisted my ankle.” I went to take a step, stifling a groan. My ankle was likely sprained, not the best state for hiking down a mountain, but I would live. It wasn’t my ankle that I was most concerned about.
“Twisted ankles can be a serious problem.” Ridge moved to help me through the small group who had stopped to offer assistance.
“But not serious enough to stop me from getting back to the car.” I gritted my teeth. The sensation of walking on my injured ankle was uncomfortable but not unbearable. I tried to move out of Ridge’s grip as we walked, but he kept his arm firmly in place.
“At least let me help you,” Ridge insisted. “I can carry some of your weight as we walk.”
The trip down the mountain was slower than normal. I told myself that it was because of my ankle, but the longer I walked with Ridge’s arm around my waist, the more I slowed down and forgot about his almost-fiancée. We reached the car, and I hobbled into the passenger seat, Ridge carefully holding my door until I was settled.
“I want to look at that ankle when we get back.” Ridge climbed in and started the car.
“It’s fine,” I grumbled, my tone curt. I hated being the center of attention, especially when injuries were involved.
