“I hope you’re right.” She put on the coat and tried to ignore the rotten feeling in her stomach.
She followed him off into the early morning mist on a deer trail that headed east. She stepped cautiously, wincing every time she miscalculated and put her foot down on a sharp rock.
“Try to connect with the ground under you.” Conner looked down at his feet, wriggling his toes. “You’re not a tourist anymore.”
“This place will never be home to me.” She cursed, stepping on something pointy. “I think it’s probably going to be time for me to head home soon.”
“See, that’s the problem.” Conner gestured to the trees around them. “You’re part of this place now. The river is running through your veins. The moment the spirits gave your life back, you were reborn in these mountains.”
“I admit this has been an eye-opening experience.” She looked around. “But I wasn’t made for this. Maybe the spirits reached out to me because they know I can talk my father into keeping the drilling companies out. If someone like me has a part to play in any of this, I think that would be it.”
“Do you think he’ll listen to you?” Conner tilted his head.
“I’ll make him listen.” She pressed her index finger onto the tabletop. “I’ll stage protests and go to the media if I have to.”
“And get cut off from your trust?” He nudged Finn with his elbow. “How much can you do? I mean, without the resources that are only at your disposal because of who your father is?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead, but I promise you, I will do whatever it takes to keep you guys and the circle safe.” Her eyes didn’t waver.
“I believe that you mean that.” He took her hands in his. “For now, at least.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She pulled away.
“Come on.” He put his hands on his hips and leaned his head back. “Isn’t some part of you hoping that you’ll wake up in bed and find out that none of this was real?”
“No.” She tugged his shirt. “I don’t know why you and Finn seem to think that I’m so anxious to forget about you guys.”
“Because not a day goes by that we don’t miss something about our old lives. I miss my friends, watching football with my dad… hell, indoor plumbing. I can hardly blame you for wanting to go back. But would it be worth it?”
“Yes.” She lifted her shoulders. “I have lived in the city my whole life. I’m not built to survive out here. You can try to tell me I’m not basic, but I am.”
“I don’t buy it.” Conner crossed his arms. “What would you be doing if you were at home right now?”
“I’d probably be in bed.” She paced away and came back. “I’d get up at like eight and have Maggie make me a breakfast smoothie and some avocado toast, which I’d post a picture of. Then I’d go to the gym for an hour, but only so I could get some pictures of myself working out.”
“Then go out to lunch and take a picture of your vegan tacos?” Conner nodded. “Then maybe go to that new boutique on Fifth Avenue and get a new outfit. Find out what topics are trending so you can post some relevant opinions for your adoring followers?”
“Where are we going, Conner?” She peered around, rubbing her hands together. “It’s cold and dark, and I’m still tired.”
“Check it out.” He pointed to a black silhouette of a large rock formation jutting up from the landscape a few hundred meters out. “Vincent isn’t the only one who can take you on a romantic getaway. Unless you’ve already made your choice.”
“I haven’t.” She rolled her eyes. “What makes you think that dragging a girl out of bed before the sun comes up is romantic?”
“Because I want to show you something you’ve never seen before.” He circled behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
“Yeah, It’s pretty.” She yawned. “Can I go back to bed now?”
“I didn’t bring you out here to look up at it,” he whispered in her ear, grabbing her hand and darting through the trees. “Stop being afraid of feeling things with your feet. They won’t be so tender if you’d actually use them.”
“I don’t have leather feet like you.” She hopped along behind him.
“Race me to the rock.” He stopped. “This path will take us all the way to the base. If you win, I’ll personally take you to the best breakfast spot in New York City.”
“I don’t know.” She crossed her arms, squinting at him. “I’m pretty sure most places in the city require shoes.”
“I will wear shoes just for you.” He smiled.
Pursing her lips, she stared at him. Without warning, she bolted down the trail as fast as she could go. As she leaned into the chill of the morning air blowing past her face, the energy of the earth flowed up through her bare feet. Her breath slowed, and she became acutely aware of the trail ahead of her, every branch, every stone that might slow her down was easily avoided.
Her hands slapped against the rockface as she reached the finish line. Conner jogged up behind her.
“I didn’t realize you were a track-star.” He put his hand on the rock just above hers. “With some practice, you might even be able to give Finn a run for his money.
“I don’t even know how I did that.” She panted.
“Well, now that we’re here.” He picked up a rock-climbing harness. Or some sort of homemade version of one. He sorted out the tangle of nylon straps held together
