Page 171 of Mountain Grump
Ethan wasn’t happy about me carrying my own bag, but he’s done so much for me already. And I wanted my phone handy so I could take some pictures.
I snap one of the cabin. A few more.
I take a picture of the firepit, now empty of any debris. The ashes buried and mixed with dirt to ensure no flames come back to life.
I take a video of the forest, turning in a slow circle to get the full view.
I take a picture of Ethan walking toward me.
And a second.
And I’m grinning by the third, when he’s close enough to fill the whole screen.
He takes the phone from my hand, turns it around, and takes a photo of me.
I’m still smiling, and I don’t care how bad I must look. This is a memory I’m happy to keep.
“Let’s do one together.” I move so I’m standing beside him, the cabin at our backs. “To remember our honeymoon,” I say jokingly.
Ethan switches the camera so it’s facing us, puts his arm around my shoulders, pulls me into his side, and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
And that’s when he takes the picture.
When his lips are on me. And when my expression is full of… joy.
I can only describe it as joy.
Because no matter how things turn out once we’re back home, I’ll always have this moment.
Chapter 90
Ethan
“It’s just a little farther,”I tell Tilda.
She sighs in response. “My feet are literally fine, Ranger Obnoxious.”
I side-eye her, pretending I don’t like the names she makes up for me.
It’s only about half a mile from the cabin to the landing site—which are the coordinates I gave Stoleman for the pickup. But I hate making Tilda walk that far. Her feet might not be bleeding anymore, but they can’t feel great either.
“When we get home, you need to spend a full two days with your feet up.”
Her annoyed exhale is adorable.
Then I realize what I said.
Whenweget home.
To our own homes.
My jaw works as my steps crunch over downed pine needles.
We’re married. Even if we weren’t dating before this weekend, it doesn’t matter. Because we’re married now. I should be able to live in the same house as my wife.Iwantto live in the same house as my wife.But… I don’t know how to accomplish that.
“I meant to ask you…” Tilda pauses as I grip her upper arm and help her over a log. “Have you ever done that landing thing before?”
“What landing thing?”
