by Farlow, LK
"No. I do...I do love you. So much that it scares me. I mean, how is it even possible to feel this way about you, given our history?"
Once again I'm hit with guilt, but I deserve it and I own it. "Honestly, and this might sound crazy, but I think our past is why we feel so strongly connected in the present. It wasn't an ideal beginning, but it was our beginning, plain and simple. There's never been anything typical about us, nor do I want there to be."
I shift and pull her a little closer. "Well, I would've preferred not to hurt you, but you know what I mean."
"As crazy as it sounds, I do love you, Sterling. Does this...does this mean...are we..."
A giant, smug grin breaks out across my face as she stumbles over her words. "Little mouse, are you trying to ask me if we're dating?"
Her cheeks turn a brilliant shade of pink. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Yes, we are. And we're dating exclusively."
"Exclusively?" There's an undercurrent of surprise in her tone, and I hate it. I'll just work that much harder to assure her of our status.
"That's right, baby, exclusively. Unless that's not what you want?"
"It's exactly what I want, it's just hard to believe you do. Surely you know that you're so out of my league—"
I cut her off. "No. That's where you're wrong. It's you who's out of my league."
She laughs; any other time the sound would be music to my ears, but the fact that it's full of self-deprecation rubs me the wrong way. This woman is wonderful and she needs to know it, which is why it's now become my new mission to prove it to her.
"How about some breakfast?" she asks, very obviously changing the subject.
"I could eat." I wag my brows.
"You're insatiable," she says with a small laugh.
"Only for you."
She rolls her eyes, trying to downplay my words.
"I mean it. This thing between us might take some time for you to get used to, but I need you to know I'm in this for the long haul. This isn't a game, and you aren't some passing fancy. I want a future with you, whatever that looks like. Anything and everything you're willing to give me, I. Fucking. Want. It."
Her eyes shine with emotion as she smiles up at me, her earlier sadness melting away. "I want you to have all of me, Sterling Abbot, every single drop."
She leans in and kisses me then, moving her lips against mine in a way that sets my heart soaring, and before I know it, the covers are pushed away and our towels are on the floor as we come together—body, mind, and soul—two hearts finally beating as one.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Emmy
"Do you have everything packed?" I holler to Stella from my room.
"I think so," she grunts back, her voice strained.
Curious, I wander into her room, only to find her kneeling over a duffel bag, squeezing it together with her knees as she tries to force the zipper closed.
"Um, how much do you need for an overnight trip?"
She glares up at me, and I have to cover my smile with my hands.
"Listen, Linda, there's no such thing as being too prepared."
"Oh, okay, Park Ranger Stell. Is there anything useful in that bag or just clothes?"
"You hush your mouth. There's also snacks, drinks, sunblock, bug spray...I even put some Oreos. But if you want to complain, I guess I'll take them out to make room."
I hold my hands up in surrender. "Let's not make any hasty decisions."
We both laugh, knowing good and well if she took the Oreos out of her bag, they'd only end up in mine.
"It sucks we can't ride together." She looks at me with big, puppy dog eyes.
"Yeah, it does."
"Damn Sterling and his two-seater car." She knocks her shoulder into mine. "You'd think with all that money he could afford a back seat."
"Oh my God, you're such a mess."
"I'm delightful."
"A delightful mess," I deadpan before busting out laughing.
"What time is he supposed to be here?"
"Should be any minute." I check the time on my phone, and, sure enough, there's a knock at the door.
Except when I open the door, it's not Sterling waiting on the other side.
"Do you need something?" Stella asks, all sass, as our RA cranes her neck, trying to peek into our suite, looking for God only knows what.
"Just stopping by to check on things, ladies." While her words are typical, her tone is caustic.
"Are you ever gonna give this a rest?" I ask, beyond exasperated with her antics.
"Give what a rest?" She cuts her eyes at me, and Stella throws her hands in the air.
"You know exactly what she's talking about. Stalking isn't a good color on you and neither is petty."
Melanie glowers. "I can make y'all's lives very hard here, so tread carefully, ladies."
"Did I just hear you threaten my girlfriend?" Sterling asks from behind her. It's been two weeks since we made it official, and my heart still flutters every time I hear that word.
"And her best friend," Stella grumbles.
"Oh, Sterling.” Melanie bats her lashes, her personality switching in an instant. "It's so good to see you."
Sterling looks down his nose at her. "I can't say the same."
Melanie rolls her eyes and swats at his chest like he's joking. "You're so funny."
He takes a step back, and she tries to follow. "Melanie, enough is enough. This has to stop."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she whines, trying to deny any wrongdoing. "She started it!"
"I didn't start anything!" I shout, my temper getting the better of me.
"When he comes to his senses and leaves you, I hope you know he'll come crawling back to me." Melanie flips her hair, like she's hot shit, once again focusing her gaze on Sterling.
I go to reply, but he steps around her, placing himself between us, creating a buffer with his body. "Melanie, I need you to listen to me, and I need you to listen carefully." She nods eagerly, like a puppy begging for scraps. "There is no us. There has never been an us and there never will be. What you're doing is considered harassment, and if you don't leave Emmalyn and Stella alone, you will force my hand in pursuing this with the dean."
She tries to laugh, like he's joking, but we all know he isn't.
Before she can say anything else, Sterling turns around to face me, clearly dismissing her. "Are you ready to go, baby?"
"Yup." I pass him my bag and turn to Stella. "I'll see you there. What time is Gabe coming to pick you up?"
"Oh, he texted me five minutes ago that he was waiting outside, but I wasn't packed yet."
"Well, then let's go," I say, and together all three of us head downstairs, blatantly ignoring a fuming Melanie as we all file past her.
* * *
"Exactly how far away is the campsite?" Stella asks, looking apprehensively at the woods in front of us.
"Not that far, princess," Gabe replies with a deep, masculine chuckle.
"Listen, you outdoorsy giant, camping is not my thing, but I'm here and I'm making the best of it."
Gabe grins, pleased he was able to get a response out of her. The two of them realized quickly they could rile one another up within seconds and have been playfully at each other's throats ever since.
"Retract your claws, kitten," Zach says, slinging his arm around Stella's shoulders. "You know Gabe can't help himself. Every now and then he has to prove how big and manly he is."
Gabe puffs out his chest. "I'll show you big and manly."
Zach's eyes widen and he licks his lips. "You don't have to prove anything to me, babe."
"And that's enough of that," Sterling says, approaching our little group with both of our backpacks slung over his shoulder. "Let's go."
We hike about a mile through the woods, down a well-marked trail, until we come to a circular clearing. The guys immediately set to work pitching our tents while Stella and I gather wood for a fire. Ever the gentleman, Sterling sets up Stella's
for her as well.
"Are you sure about sleeping out here?" she asks, glancing around like a bear's going to pop out and gobble us up.
"We're gonna be fine, Stell."
"Says you! You and Sterling get to share a tent together, and Zach and Gabe have their tent together. Where does that leave me?" She throws her hands in the air. "Bait! That leaves me as bait!"
"I'll sleep with you, and Sterling can sleep alone."
Judging from the pained sound Sterling makes, he must've overheard me and is not a fan of the decision, but I know he won't fight me on it because my happiness means more to him than a night of sleeping alone.
After our camp is set up, Stella asks, "Okay, so who brought food?"
I snicker, knowing that she has an entire pantry of snacks in her bag.
Gabe looks back at her with comically wide eyes. "What do you mean brought food?"
Stella tilts her head to the side. "You know, that stuff you eat?"
Sterling moves in closer behind me, bringing his lips to my ear and whispers, "You've got something I want to eat."
I elbow him in the ribs, but I'm laughing.
Gabe continues giving Stella a blank look, somehow keeping a straight face as he says, "I thought we were gonna like hunt and gather...you know, everyone gets their own food."
"Like on those TV shows," Zach says, catching on to his boyfriend's plan. He begins pulling his shirt over his head. "You know, like Naked and Afraid!"
Stella's cheeks blush brightly at the sight of Zach's abs. "You stop right there!" she shouts, but it's no use.
Gabe joins in and whips his shirt off as well, despite the fact that it's cold outside. "What's wrong, Stella? You don't want to play with us?"
My best friend is now the color of a tomato, and if I know her like I think I do, she's wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
Finally, I can't take watching her be tortured any longer. "Y'all leave her alone."
"Spoilsport.” Gabe rolls his eyes, but he's smiling. "I brought the stuff to roast hot dogs over the fire."
"And s'mores," Zach pipes up.
"Thank God. How long until we eat?"
"Girl, we just got here. Slow your roll, enjoy the fresh air."
Stella huffs, causing both Gabe and Zach to laugh.
"You really don't like nature, do you?" Gabe asks.
"I like nature just fine, thank you very much. I just happen to prefer it to be on the TV screen."
"Okay, city girl. Think you can handle a hike?"
Stella tilts her chin defiantly. "Of course I can!"
"All right, let's go."
The three of them immediately set off toward one of the trails while Sterling and I hang back a little. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" he asks, his voice strained. God love him, while Stella has grown on him, he's still getting used to spending time with Gabe and Zach. But he’s friendly…for the most part.
"I'm sure everything will be fine."
"Remind me why your friends came with us?"
"Because I wanted to do this, and those three are the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Simple as that. Plus, I don't think you get to complain, Ster. You bullied me just because your friend wanted you to. My friends, on the other hand, come camping with me."
A resigned sigh leaves his lips. "Touché, little mouse, touché."
"Now, let's go." I start walking after the others.
"Okay, but first—" He snags my hand and pulls me back into him, pressing his lips to mine in a sudden but passionate kiss.
But before it can heat up too much, Gabe interrupts us. "Come on, lovebirds!” he shouts from the tree line.
"So," Sterling hedges, drawing out the word. "Are we gonna talk about that nickname you just called me?"
"What nickname?"
"You called me Ster."
"Oh. It just slipped out."
"I like it."
I link my arm with his and rest my head on his shoulder as we approach my friends. "Good."
"I've camped here before," Gabe says, "and if we take this path, there's a really beautiful waterfall."
We all nod our agreement, and Gabe leads the way. We talk and bicker collectively as a group, generally just having a good time as we traipse down the trail.
The nature all around us is so serene and beautiful, so untouched and untroubled by the modern world, that it gives me pause. It makes me really stop and think about where I am and who I am...and who I want to be.
As always, Sterling is totally tuned into me and notices the change in my attitude. "What's on your mind, little mouse?"
"Just thinking about life." I shrug.
"Talk to me," he urges, his voice low, meant only for me.
"Just thinking about the future, I guess."
He grins. "Am I a part of that future?"
My heart soars in my chest, as it does every time he mentions a future between the two of us. "I hope so," I tell him honestly.
"I do, too, because, Emmalyn, you're mine."
I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling at his cocky alpha tendencies. "I am yours, for as long as you'll have me."
"Settle in for the long haul, baby."
"It should be just up here on the left!” Gabe hollers, bringing both Sterling and me back into the moment.
We hear the waterfall before we see it; the sound of rushing water is louder than I ever could have imagined.
"Oh, wow! It's beautiful," Stella murmurs, awe evident in her voice.
Zach wraps an arm around her slim shoulders. "Better than television?"
"Holy shit, one hundred percent. I would literally get married here if I could."
"There's an idea," Gabe says. "Who knows, maybe I'll get ordained just so I can officiate."
She laughs. "You're just extra enough to do it."
"Birds of a feather..."
"Are you calling me extra?"
"Babe, you're the definition," I say, coming to stand beside her.
Together, we peer over the rail, to where the fall crashes into a pool below, sending spray into the air.
She smiles. "Yeah, I am. Now, let's take a selfie."
We take turns snapping pictures in front of the waterfall before finally heading back toward camp.
* * *
"Were you a Boy Scout?" Stella asks, teasing Gabe as we all stand around the fire roasting our hot dogs.
"For fifteen years."
She giggles. "That explains so much."
"Not quite sure what you're trying to insinuate, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with being a scout. They taught me a lot of invaluable lessons.”
"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Gabriel. I'm only teasing."
"I'll show you teasing." He tosses his roasting stick down, hot dog and all, and charges toward her.
Stella screeches and throws her stick to the ground as well, breaking out into a run. She squeals as he gains on her, the two of them playing their own demented game of duck-duck-goose.
"You take it back!" he shouts.
"Take what back?" She stumbles a little but keeps going.
It's obvious Gabe's not really trying to catch her; not that you'd know it from the way Stella's running. She's like a chicken with her head cut off, flapping her wings as she sprints circles around the campfire.
"Take back that I have my panties in a twist. I don't wear panties, Stella!"
Gabe's face reflects the humor we're all feeling as we crack up at their antics. That is, until Stella trips and goes down hard.
"Ouch!" she wails, and we all rush to check on her.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"No! It hurts. God, it hurts." She clutches her ankle as she rolls to her side, tears welling in her eyes.
"What do we do?" I ask, feeling helpless.
"Let's try and stand you up," Gabe says.
"No." Zach tugs his boyfriend back. "We need to check her ankle first."
Gabe nods and kneels next to her, letting Zach take over.
&
nbsp; "Can you rotate it?"
Stella tries and cries out, her pain so apparent that I swear I feel it, too. "N-not really."
"What about your toes—can you wiggle your toes?"
Again she cries out, her chest heaving with the effort.
"Okay. Shit. Let's get you up and see if you can put any weight on it."
Gabe scrambles to help her to stand, but the second she tries to put weight on it, she immediately crumples.
Luckily Zach catches her before she hits the ground.
I take her hand in mine, trying to comfort her. "I hate to say it, but I think you need to go to the hospital."
"But then I'll ruin your camping trip!"
"Stell, we can camp anytime. You getting to a doctor is way more important."
"Why don't you and Sterling stay and we will take her?” Gabe offers.
"Are you sure?" It feels weird to stay while she's hurt. But Sterling, Zach, and Gabe all nod.
I turn back to Stella, because right now her opinion is the only one that matters.
"Babe. Stay and have a good time. I know this is something you've been wanting to do, and it'll be too cold pretty soon."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." She tries to smile, but it's more of a wince. "Bright side, now there's no worry over who sleeps where. It'll just be you two out here.”
"Jesus, Stell. You didn't have to break your ankle to avoid sleeping alone."
She shrugs and immediately hisses in discomfort. "Like Gabe said, I'm extra."
"Let's see if I can stabilize your ankle,” Zach says, grabbing two sticks and a T-shirt. He rips the shirt into three strips and sets to work while the rest of us pack up their things.
We help them back to the parking lot. "Text me updates. And if you decide you want me with you, just let me know and I'll be there. Okay?"
"Don't worry about me, babe. Go have fun with your man."
"Emmy, why don't you and Zach help Stella into the car?” Sterling says.
He's clearly up to something, but I go along with it, rushing ahead of them to pull open the door.
"You take care of her," Gabe says, his attention focused on Sterling. I'm not sure he means for us to hear him, but the wind carries his words to us loud and clear.