Penny emerged from the tent a few moments later wearing jeans and a loose tank top, her dark hair now pulled back into a ponytail.That wasn’t enough time.
Brett grunted a hello as he passed and ducked into the tent. He changed and met the others by the van, then sat up by Sean before Kelty could claim the passenger seat. She may have thought him rude, but it was self preservation.
The six of them spent the rest of the morning exploring the nearby town, then drove to a gorgeous waterfall after lunch. Brett sat on a boulder larger than his apartment, soaking in the roar of water and the fine mist hitting his skin, and closed his eyes.
These were the moments.This was why working his steps was worth every second of discomfort. Why he went to bed feeling antsy or sat in his pain instead of numbing it. Being alive and present in these moments was a rivet in his soul.
He breathed in the spray, then opened his eyes and blinked. Penny sat next to him, her eyes closed and her face pointed toward the water. Brett clamped his eyes shut again, wondering how long she’d been there, and unable to see anything in his mind’s eye other than her dewy skin and flushed cheeks.
“I’m really glad I came.” Penny’s voice floated over the rush of water.
Brett blinked. “I think you already said that once.” He probably should’ve shown some surprise at hearing her voice if he wanted to pretend he hadn’t noticed her already.
She laughed and leaned back on the rock, her eyes glittering in the sunlight. “Maybe I did need a little romance in my life after all.”
“Everybody does.” Brett watched for her reaction. Penny grinned and when she dropped her eyes, she looked almost bashful.
“You coming, Penny?” Sean called out from the path. Brett exhaled, grabbed his backpack, then stood and slung it over his shoulder. He was about to offer Penny a hand when she jumped up next to him.
She took one last look at the waterfall, and her eyes crinkled with her smile. “Moments don’t get much more perfect than that.”
_____
Penny sat with Emma and Kelty on the front bench in the van as they drove down the mountain toward their campsite later that afternoon. The five of them had continued on to a high mountain lake after the falls without Brett. She felt bad leaving him, but he’d insisted he was content with his nature therapy and didn’t mind waiting while they hiked.
When they arrived back at the trailhead, Brett was leaning against a tree with his backpack next to him, writing in a notebook.Was it a journal?A place where he jotted down inspiration?What she wouldn’t give to see what he wrote on those pages.
As soon as they got back within the city limits, Penny’s phone caught service and buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out and saw fifteen messages on their family chat. That she’d check later. She opened a message from Andrea, and her heart flipped in her chest as she read through her sister’s text.
So excited to see you tomorrow! I think I already told you, but my flight is on Flair and I’m getting in at 7:55!
“Is everything okay?” Emma asked.
Penny looked up as dread settled in her gut. “I think I screwed up.”
Brett turned in the passenger seat. “Screwed up what?”
Penny scrolled through their messages, scouring the ones sent by her sister. The words started to blur and she squeezed her eyes shut. “Andrea’s flight time. Turns out, she’s coming in tomorrow morning. Not Monday like I thought.”
ChapterSeventeen
Penny 5:42pm
YOU SAID MONDAY!
Andrea 5:46pm
Why would I be flying home on a Monday? I have a job, remember?
Penny 5:46pm
People take time off all the time! I’m looking through our old chats.
Andrea 5:46pm
That won’t help you because I said Sunday
Penny 5:48pm
