Chapter One
Natalie
Ipulled my car up to the rundown cabin. My grandpa’s shabby old rocking chair sat on the sagging porch like it was waiting for him to return. A sad wave of nostalgia flowed through me. I had so many happy memories of my summer breaks here. And yet it was bittersweet because I knew I’d never see my grandfather again.
I pushed open the car door and looked around at the expansive mountains. I closed my eyes as I listened to the nearby stream. I forgot how quiet it was here. Like I was the only person in the world.
Speaking of being the only person. Where was Beth? I glanced down at my watch: 10:20 AM. We said 10:30 and Beth was late at the best of times. May as well look around outside.
I’d barely taken a handful of steps when I heard a vehicle on the winding, dirt mountain road. It sounded close.
A moment later, Beth’s SUV pulled into view. I couldn’t help but grin at the goofy way she smiled and waved as she tried topull her car to a stop. The vehicle had barely stopped moving when Beth flew out of the car and leaped on me.
“Oh my God, you’re here. I can’t believe it,” Beth screeched as she practically tackled me to the ground.
I laughed and hugged my oldest friend in the world. “Me neither.” I sighed as a calm settled in me, a feeling I hadn’t felt in years. Lately all I felt was confused, and sore, and restless. This was exactly why I’d needed to come here. Nothing grounded me like these mountains. And I desperately needed that.
We pulled apart, and I took a moment to look at my friend. The sunlight hit her long dark brown hair and tanned skin, making it look like she’d just stepped out of the spa, not rushing here from parenting three kids. “You look amazing. Being a divorced woman suits you.”
Beth grinned. “It does, doesn’t it?” She studied me for a moment, then a frown knit her brows. “How are you doing, honey?”
I winced. “Do I look that bad?”
“What?” Beth’s eyes widened. “No, of course not. You couldn’t look bad if you tried.” Her gaze scanned my body. “You just look like you’ve been working too hard. Do they even let you eat?”
I pulled my blue shirt away from my body and shifted uncomfortably on my heels. Why was everyone always so focused on my body? In the dance world, I was borderline too heavy. To everyone else, I was too skinny.
Why couldn’t everyone just leave me alone about it?
I dragged my sleeves over my hands and slid my thumbs into the holes. Like the added coverage of my hands would somehow shield me. It didn’t.
“So, did you bring the keys?”
Beth scrunched up her nose. “About that? I kind of forgot to go by Ash’s house to grab them yesterday.”
“Seriously? You’ve known I was coming for two weeks.”
“I know, but Ash wanted to check a couple of things before you came so I couldn’t get the key early.”
“Your brother checked on the place for me?”
“Yeah, I mean he comes by every few months and makes sure nothing has gotten inside and what not. But with you coming, he wanted to make sure it was livable for you.” Beth rolled her eyes. “I told him I could clean the place, but he said it would need more than what I knew how to do to get it livable.”
My heart jumped. I looked back at the cabin. I couldn’t believe Ash had done that for me. “That’s so sweet of him.”
Beth groaned. “Please tell me you are not still hung up on my brother.” She stared at me as if she honestly expected me to answer.
I scoffed. “Good lord, I haven’t seen your brother in almost a decade. Of course I’m not still hung up on him. I just thought it was really sweet that he did that.”
“Of course he did. He’s always been protective of you. He always said he may as well have had twin sisters with the two of us.”
And just like that, the door slammed on what I may or may not have been feeling about Asher Briggs.
“I was supposed to go by last night and pick them up, but Diesel had baseball practice, and I needed groceries.” She shrugged.
I shook my head and smiled. “Enough said.” I glanced toward the cabin, then back at her. “So we need to go by Asher’s place then?”
“Yeah, I texted him and said we’d walk up to his place, and he offered to drive us back down and show you how a few things work since you’ve never stayed here alone.”
