Page 17 of His Untamed Craving
Despite my foul mood, I can't help the slight quirk of my lips. Leave it to Garrett to have this whole new generation eating out of the palm of his hand. The guy's a natural at connecting with people—the complete opposite of my lone-wolf tendencies.
As if sensing my presence, Garrett glances over and catches my eye. His brows lift in greeting as the kids all turn to follow his stare, their expressions morphing into looks of awestruck wonder.
"Wyatt! Perfect timing, my man." Garrett claps his meaty hands together, that megawatt grin never wavering. "I was just telling these Silverpine Outdoor Adventure campers about some of our craziest call-outs from last season."
"You're Wyatt Croft!"
The high-pitched voice cuts through the chatter like a bolt of lightning. I blink, caught off guard as a young boy—no older than ten or eleven—extricates himself from the gaggle and approaches me with a look of unbridled reverence. His sandy hair sticks up at wild angles, eyes shining with excitement behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.
"I can't believe it's really you!" The words tumble out in a breathless rush as he skids to a stop before me.
The kid trails off, rocking back on his heels as Garrett lets out a deep, rumbling chuckle beside me, clearly amused by the starstruck display.
"Easy there, Coop," he interjects with a warm smile. "Why don't you introduce yourself first?"
The boy's cheeks flush crimson, but he quickly recovers, squaring those narrow shoulders. "Right, uh—I'm Cooper. But people call me Coop." He offers me a toothy grin, the tips of his ears burning red. "I'm at Camp Silverpine this summer on a scholarship."
The words hit me like a sledgehammer to the gut, momentarily stealing my breath. I shoot Garrett a sidelong glance, but the man simply shrugs, that knowing smirk still playing at the corners of his mouth.
Coop seems oblivious to my sudden inner turmoil. "I can't wait to learn all about climbing and wilderness survival from the real deal!" The excitement in his voice is palpable. "I've been watching Daisy's videos for years. She's the one who paid for me to be here."
He gestures vaguely at my dirt-caked boots and worn flannel with a look of sheer admiration. "She always talks about you being one of the best climbers out there. Says you've done routes that would make most grown men piss their pants."
Despite my roiling emotions, I can't help the slight quirk of my lips at his blunt assessment. The kid's got a refreshingly straightforward way about him.
Garrett lets out another hearty guffaw. "Well, she's definitely got a point there," he rumbles, clapping me hard on the shoulder.
Coop nods emphatically. " And now you’re going to help her raise money for more scholarships, right?" His eager gaze finds mine, bright with youthful enthusiasm. "That way, more kids like me can get a chance at Camp Silverpine, too!"
The words hit me square in the chest, momentarily stealing my breath. I open my mouth to respond but find myself at a complete loss, my mind spinning.
Christ, what a fucking idiot I've been.
"Hey, man. You still with us?"
Garrett's deep baritone cuts through the fog clouding my thoughts. I glance over to find him studying me.
Clearing my throat, I force a tight smile. "Yeah, I'm good." I turn my attention to Coop. "Just... thinking about how lucky you kids are to get a chance like this."
The words sound hollow, even to my own ears. But the kid simply grins up at me, utterly awestruck.
"Aw man, it's been a dream come true so far! I still can't believe it." His expression turns serious then, that youthful bravado slipping for a beat. "You have no idea how much it means to me."
I study the earnest young face before me—those wide, expressive eyes and the slight overbite that gives him a perpetual eager look. For a moment, I find myself transported back decades, to those long-ago days when I was just another lost kid from the system, yearning for any sense of purpose or belonging.
Camp Silverpine had been my lifeline back then, the first place that ever felt like home. It had given me an outlet, a direction... and a family of sorts in the other kids—Zane and Garrett, Tucker and Stylz, Declan and Jaxon. Without it, without them, there's no telling where my aimless path would have led.
Now, Daisy wants to provide that same gift to kids like Cooper—the opportunity to find their way through the healing power of nature. To discover that elusive sense of purpose and belonging that had been such a driving force in my own life.
A profound sense of shame washes over me as my parting words echo through my mind.
"You know what? Forget it. Have fun chasing those clicks, or whatever the hell it is you do."
Jesus. I'm such an asshole.
Yeah, she messed up. She posted that video without my permission. But I didn't have to fly off the handle like that. She and I had talked about working together on this, and she just jumped the gun before we came to any real agreement.
But for all her sassiness and bravado, there isn't a manipulative bone in her beautiful body.
