Page 27 of Courage of the Mountain
I hold the key up, but he doesn’t understand the significance. “This must be how that fucker got in undetected,” I explain. “He had a copy of the key to get in, probably from staking out the place and slipping in while Lily was here on her own.”
“What happened? Why aren’t the cops swarming all over this place?”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm down enough to give a brief explanation of the events that unfolded. Hayden clenches his fists and grits his teeth when he hears the details, then nods his head once.
“Thank you for being here when I… when I couldn’t be,” he says, his voice full of self-hatred.
As much as I want to punch him for scaring Lily off, I hear the deep regret and feel for my best friend. Yeah, he handled the news about me and his sister about as terribly as I thought, but Hayden is a good man. Even if he can’t see it for himself right now.
“I will always be here for her,” I tell him. “I know it’s hard to talk about this shit, but I need you to know I’m all in. I’m not leaving, and I’ll never hurt her. I fucking love her, can’t you see that?”
Hayden snaps his head up, his blue eyes narrowed in on me. The longer he stares, the more his resolve is fading away.“Damn,” he says, letting out a low whistle. “You really do love her.”
“Yes. But you’re not the one I should be telling that to. Gotta find Lily and make sure she knows where I stand.”
Hayden nods and rubs a hand down his face. “Let’s split up. You take everything north of Main Street; I’ll take the south side of town. Keep in contact. Eyes open.”
He’s going into mission mode, which I understand. There’s a sense of control in having a plan, even if the world is spinning chaotically around you.
I take off in my truck, peeling out of the parking lot a second before Hayden. I weave in and out of the streets in Hope Mountain, the fear in my stomach knotting around itself and threatening to suffocate me.
“Where are you, Lily?”
A memory from childhood flashes across my eyes, one where I said the very same thing.Where are you, Lily?I was sixteen, which would make her only six years old. She ran away after she was grounded for one reason or another. Hayden and I, along with their grandma, scoured the town for her. I was the one who eventually found the sweet girl, hiding in a treehouse next to one of the streams that run through town.
I jerk the wheel of my truck to the right, doing a U-turn before pummeling down the road toward that very same park I found her in years ago. When I arrive, I jump out of the vehicle, barely remembering to shut the door as I sprint toward the giant maple tree.
“Thank Christ,” I breathe out when I see her cute little feet dangling off the ledge of the treehouse. Pulling out my phone, I send a quick text to Hayden to let him know I found her and she’s safe.
I take a moment to compose myself so I don’t scare her away with my intensity and sweaty palms. Fuck, I’ve never felt fear like that.
After a few deep breaths, I find the makeshift ladder and pull myself up to the platform of the treehouse. Lily gasps in surprise, then softens when her eyes meet mine.
“Lily,” I breathe. “You scared the hell out of me.” I sit down next to her and pull her to my side. Nuzzling into the top of her head, I breathe in her sweet scent, letting it ground me.
“Heath,” she replies with a sniffle. I press a kiss against her temple and bundle her even closer. “I couldn’t stand there while you both lost your friendship over me. I’m sorry.”
“Sweetheart, no,” I murmur. “There’s nothing to apologize for. We knew it was going to be complicated whenever we decided to tell Hayden about us. It just happened quicker than planned.” She doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “I’m sorry you saw us fighting, but I don’t regret anything. I’d defend us again, to anyone and everyone. No part of me is ashamed of this. Of us.”
“But… Hayden? Does he hate you? Or me? He must feel so betrayed.”
“Lily,” I whisper, leaning back slightly. I brush a few strands of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers trail down her cheek and across her jawbone. She turns toward me, those blue eyes filled with sadness and longing. “Hayden could never hate you. He’s so damn proud of everything you’ve accomplished, even if he’s too emotionally stunted to tell you. I understand the protectiveness he feels, and it makes sense. Once he calmed down, I simply explained what you mean to me.”
“What do I mean to you?” she murmurs. The way she’s peering up at me, holding her heart in her hands, has me falling even harder for this precious woman.
I smile softly, showing her all the affection and warmth I have for her. “I love you, Lily. I love every little thing about you, and I’m so damn glad I was there to catch you when you fell.”
Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears, that pretty pink blush blossoming in her cheeks. “I think you’ll always be here to catch me,” she replies.
“Damn right,” I confirm, resting my forehead on hers. “I didn’t know I could feel so much for someone.”
“And what do you feel?”
“Love, contentment, playfulness, protectiveness.” I kiss her cheeks and nose to emphasize each word. “I feel pain for all you’ve been through, and regret that I wasn’t here for you sooner. I feel like I can do anything with you by my side, and all I want is to support you and watch you thrive.”
“Heath…”
“You’re everything to me, Lily. I know it’s hardly even been a week since I came back into your life, but…”
