His eyes hold mine for a moment too long to be casual. “I really don’t.”
888
Back at the lodge, I stand under the shower for what feels like an eternity, letting the hot water wash away the dust and tension of the day. My mind keeps replaying the moment the chamber began to collapse—the terror of watching Caleb go back for Richard, the agonizing seconds waiting for him to emerge from the stairs.
He could have died today. We all could have. The thought sends a shiver through me despite the steaming water.
As I rinse the last of the shampoo from my hair, I make a decision. No more running. No more keeping people at arm’s length. Kori was right—I’ve been surviving, not living.
I step out of the shower, wrapping myself in a towel as I contemplate what to wear. This isn’t just any dinner; this is... whatever Caleb and I are becoming. I want to look nice, but not like I’m trying too hard.
I settle on a body-hugging dark green sweater that rests at mid-thigh, which brings out the color in my eyes, paired with black leggings and boots. Casual enough for a small-town restaurant, but nice enough to show I care. I dry my hair, the pink strands falling in soft waves around my face. It’s still shocking to see in the mirror, but Caleb’s words echo in my mind: “It suits you.”
As I apply minimal makeup, I hear a knock at my door.
“Come in,” I call, dabbing on a touch of lip gloss.
Kori pokes her head in, her eyes widening appreciatively. “Look at you! Are you ready for your hot date?”
I roll my eyes, but can’t suppress a smile. “It’s just dinner.”
“Uh-huh,” she says skeptically, leaning against the doorframe. “The sweater says otherwise. That’s your ‘I want him to notice me, but I’m pretending I don’t care’ outfit.”
“Is not,” I protest weakly, though she’s not entirely wrong.
“Kane and I are heading into town for supplies,” she says. “Need anything?”
I shake my head. “I’m good. Thanks.”
She studies me for a moment, her expression softening. “I’m happy for you, you know. You deserve this.”
I feel a lump form in my throat. “It might not be anything,” I warn her, trying to manage my own expectations as much as hers.
“But it might be everything,” she counters with a gentle smile. “Be open to that possibility, okay?”
After she leaves, I finish getting ready, adding a simple necklace and small earrings. I check the time—6:45. My stomach flutters with a mixture of anticipation and nerves. It’s been so long since I’ve been on a proper date, especially with someone who matters.
Because Caleb does matter, I realize. In the short time I’ve known him, he’s become important to me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. The thought is both thrilling and terrifying.
At precisely seven o’clock, I hear a vehicle pulling up outside. I grab my coat and take one last look in the mirror, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “No more running,” I whisper to my reflection.
I open the door just as Caleb raises his hand to knock, and for a moment, we both freeze, taking each other in. He’s cleaned up well—dark jeans, a charcoal button-down shirt under a leather jacket. His hair is still damp from his shower, and there’s a small bandage at his temple where he was cut earlier. But it’s his eyes that catch me—the way they warm as they take me in, moving from my hair to my clothes and back to my face.
“You look beautiful,” he murmurs.
I feel my cheeks getting warm at his compliment. “You clean up pretty well yourself,” I reply, trying for lightness despite the sudden racing of my heart. “How’s the shoulder?”
“Forgotten,” he says, though I notice he’s favoring his right side slightly. “Ready?” he asks, offering me his hand.
I take it, feeling the calluses on his palm, the strength in his fingers as they curl around mine. “Where are we going?”
His smile turns mysterious. “It’s a surprise. Do you trust me?”
After everything we’ve been through—the storm, the treasure hunt, the collapsed chamber—the answer comes easily.
“Yes,” I say. “I trust you.”
And I realize with startling clarity that I mean it.
