Her face lights up. “I was gonna head down to the river for a bit. Wanna join?”
I blink. “The river?”
“Behind the main house.”
I laugh. “I know where the river is.”
“Good. Then we’re going swimming.”
“We are?”
She hooks her arm in mine. “We are.”
Actually, that sounds amazing. I love the river. We spent a lot of time on its banks when we were kids.
We make it to my cabin, and she waits on the porch while I change.
I pull on denim shorts, an oversize academy T-shirt over my white bikini, and quickly braid my hair.
Then I grab a ball cap, sunglasses, towels, a blanket, sunscreen, and a couple bottles of water before we head into the woods.
The trail is familiar.
The scent of pine drifts through the warm afternoon air. Birds chirp overhead, and leaves rustle softly in the breeze.
The farther we walk, the quieter the world becomes.
It’s nice.
After the nonstop pace of the week, neither of us seems in much of a hurry to fill the silence.
Eventually, Harleigh nudges me. “So, how are things between you and Cabe?”
I cut my eyes to her. “How do you mean?”
“You know, are you two a thing again?”
I laugh despite myself. Harleigh has always been direct.
The river finally appears through the trees before she can continue her interrogation.
The spot is beautiful.
Sunlight sparkles across the water, and the current moves lazily over smooth rocks. Towering aspens provide patches of shade. Wildflowers bloom along the banks.
The entire place looks exactly the way I remember.
A peaceful haven, hidden away from the rest of the world.
I smile.
We find a huge aspen near the riverbank and spread our blanket beneath it.
I kick off my sandals.
Drop my bag and start applying sunscreen.
A few minutes later, we’re both stretched out beneath the warm Wyoming sun.
