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“We’re not doing anything wrong,” I defended, though the uncertainty in my eyes likely told a different story.
“Really?” Mason asked. “If you don’t feel like it’s wrong, why don’t you give Eric a call and tell him right now?”
“I— Uh—” I had no response.
Bodhi rubbed his temples. “It’s not about right or wrong. It’s about trust. And timing. We need to figure this out with Zoey first before dragging Eric into the mix. It’s only fair to everyone involved.”
Mason and I shared a look, an unspoken agreement passing between us.
“We give it some time,” Mason proposed. “See where this goes with Zoey, understand what we’re all feeling, and where boundaries lie. Once we have a clearer picture, then... we talk to Eric if we must.”
I nodded. “And we do it together. As a united front.”
The faint sound of footsteps signaled Zoey’s approach, and our conversation ended abruptly.
“Hey, are you guys almost ready for our hike?” she asked in a sing-song voice.
As she walked into the kitchen, her sleepy eyes lighting up at the sight of breakfast, I couldn’t help but think about the uncertain road ahead. But whatever lay in our future, one thing was for sure: we wanted to face it with her.
CHAPTER10
Bodhi
Isquinted down at the map in my hands, feeling a flush of embarrassment as I realized we’d taken a wrong turn. The path we were supposed to be on seemed so clear on the map, but the snowy forest around us looked nothing like what we’d expected.
Zoey peered over my shoulder, her warm breath forming little clouds in the cold air. “That doesn’t look right.” She pointed to our trail.
Liam looked around the landscape. “Bodhi, did you lead us off the trail? I knew we should’ve let Mason handle the map.”
Mason shot him an amused look. “It’s just a minor detour, Liam. Besides, it’s not like we’re lost-lost. We just need to retrace our steps.”
I nodded at Mason, silently thanking him for taking my side.
“Yeah, and how hard can that be in knee-deep snow?” Liam quipped, but his attempt at humor fell flat.
Zoey’s brows furrowed, and she wore a concerned gaze. “We’ll be fine,” she assured, even though I detected a hint of worry in her voice.
Mason, ever the voice of reason, pulled out his phone. “Let’s see if we can get a signal out here and figure out where we are.” After a few tense moments, his face lit up. “Got it. We’re not far from the trail. It’s just back that way.” He gestured toward a slightly sloping hill, the tops of a few markers just visible above the snow.
Liam let out a relieved laugh. “So, we took the scenic route, huh?”
Zoey’s gaze turned thoughtful as she took in our surroundings. “It’s beautiful out here, off the beaten path. It’s like our private winter escape.” Her voice held a note of wonder that was infectious, making the situation feel more like an adventure than a mistake.
“I guess you’re right.” I let the serene beauty of the untouched snow and tall pines calm my nerves. “But next time, let’s make sure our adventure is intentional.” I flashed her a playful grin.
Mason started leading the way, ensuring we stayed on track. “Come on, let’s head back. We might have taken a detour, but at least it’s one we won’t forget.”
His words eased the tension in the air, which was very unlike him. Maybe Zoey was starting to have a positive effect on him.
The four of us soon fell into an easy rhythm, our boots crunching against the freshly fallen snow. Birds chirped from overhead branches, and the distant sound of a flowing creek provided a soft, melodic backdrop.
The landscape before me was a breathtaking scene I wanted to recreate in a painting—one I was sure would fetch six figures, just like all my artwork. The brilliant array of colors, the intricate play of patterns… I needed to ensure I captured every nuance.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone and snapped a few pics. When I finally painted this, I wanted to make sure I got the colors and lines just right.
As we walked, our playful banter resumed. Liam regaled us with exaggerated tales of his past hiking exploits, making Zoey laugh with his over-the-top renditions. Mason shook his head in amusement at every embellished detail.
It felt good, this camaraderie, and for a moment, it was easy to forget we were ever lost.
