On a mission, I continue along the gravel path, looking for a side path that would lead up the mountain. Unfortunately, I can’t see anything but dense brush and lush forest. Way too much nature.
I step back and observe the mountain once again.
Ah, who am I kidding? Even if there was a path, I wouldn’t climb the mountain. I’m not a big hiker, and heights? No thanks. I won’t even jump off a diving board.
I eye the mountain and try to ignore the pang of sadness needling me. I used to hike with my parents when I was a kid. My parents were very adventurous, but when my dad left, everything changed. Mom buried herself in work, and I buried myself in photography.
You’ve got to find your best way to cope. For me, that meant taking care of myself and learning to be independent. Learning to enjoy my life, have fun and be carefree? That can come when I fulfill my dreams.
Like my mom always says: there’s no time for love if you’re not doing what you love. In my case, love comes in the form of my future as a photographer.
“Someday, I will climb you,” I say to the mountain, not knowing what point in the future I’m referencing. Could be tomorrow, could be 20 years from now.
“Well, isn’t that romantic?” A deep voice says from beside me and I almost jump out of my skin.
I whirl around to find myself face to face with Jonathan. He smirks like he’s just caught me doing something deeply embarrassing. I suppose he has. It’s not every day that you come across someone speaking to a mountain.
“So, are you just following me around now?” I ask. My face burns red, but I’m hoping the shadows conceal it.
“Someone needs to keep an eye on you. Just in case you need rescuing again.” Jonathan shrugs with practiced nonchalance. He’s wearing the same fancy polo shirt and slacks he wears at school. “You realize it’s a free country and you don’t own this lake?”
I exhale in a huff and put my camera back up to my face, pretending to line up the lake for a photo. “I don’t own this lake. But I was hand-selected to take photos of it all summer. And what will you be doing, golden boy? Maintenance or something?”
“Yeah… something.”
I almost open my mouth to ask him what he means, but that’s exactly what he wants me to do. Instead, I keep my mouth shut and flip my hair over my shoulder as I turn away. The girls in movies make it look so cool, but with my wild wavy hair, I probably look like a shampoo commercial reject.
I sashay down the path towards our cabins. Or what I hope is the path to our cabins. I’m holding my head high, which unfortunately means I don’t see the rock sticking up on the path. I stub my toe and stumble, but I try to skip out of it so it looked to be purposeful.
“Careful,” Jonathan calls, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I won’t always be around to save you.”
My face burns.
There will be no peace as long as Jonathan’s here.
8
Jonathan
Kiara marches down the path towards the Inn, swinging her hips back and forth. The display reminds me of my ex-girlfriend, Isabella, trying to walk sexy.
I hold back a chuckle, knowing that this was probably not her intent. She stumbles over a rock and makes a quick save, walking with even more purpose. I roll my eyes and take a jab at her. We might not be in high school, but she still acts like royalty.
I gaze out over the huge, oval lake. The mountains frame its outline, and their reflection mirrors in the glassy blue water. It’s picture perfect — I can see why Kiara was out here taking photos. It’s a beautiful evening, calm and serene. I haven’t heard this loud sort of quiet in a very long time, and I haven’t been able to stop and enjoy it since I was a kid.
After unpacking my bag, a walk was the perfect way to unwind. The bare cabin with just a dresser and bed felt oddly comfortable after I’d moved in. Back home, my dad’s fancy car and my mom’s expensive jewelry come first. But this new minimalist lifestyle agrees with me.
I stashed my soccer gear deep in the bottom of my dresser. I won’t be looking at those or using them all summer. As I closed the drawer, my shoulders fell, and for the first time in forever, I felt myself relax.
I’m no stranger to lightly rebelling against my parents’ wishes, but I’ve never blatantly disregarded their plans for me. I have never straight up lied to them. But this might be my only chance to take control of my future. I told them I’ll be busy at Momentum and I won’t be able to contact them often. That should keep them off my trail. They wouldn’t dare risk hurting my chances at getting a scholarship.
I pick up a rock by the lakeshore and skip it into the water, disturbing the perfect reflection. Before the surface can still, I turn and walk back along the path to our cabins, my sense of unease steadily growing.
There’s a familiar object near the picnic table — a lone soccer ball, tucked beneath a bush, abandoned by an earlier set of players. I toe the ball out and mindlessly dribble, skillfully touching the top of the ball with my left foot, before turning and dragging the ball forward with my other foot, quickly turning again to finish. I had practiced this piece of footwork — the Maradona — thousands of times, until my execution was flawless.
Sure, Momentum felt like a dream come true, but I recently realized that the dream was not my own. So instead, I came here. And I can say, with confidence, that I’ve never felt so out of my depths. I’m nervous about what this summer will bring.
In soccer, the moves come like breathing. There’s no thinking, no doubting. It’s an instinct that lives within me, that’s part of me. At school, if I put my head down, I get good grades. I’m not the best in my classes, by far, but I do well. If I didn’t have soccer to carry me through to college, my grades would still get me somewhere. Sometimes, I wish I could apply to college without mentioning my soccer skills, without being the MVP of the state champion soccer team. But I also know how important this full-ride scholarship is for my parents.
I dribble the ball around the green patch of grass next to the picnic table. This summer is my chance to do something different. This is my opportunity to challenge myself, to feel something more than passive happiness when our team wins a game. For the first time in a long time, the stakes are high and I’m wondering: Can I do this?
I kick the ball a little too hard. It flies underneath the cabin next to mine, getting lost in the darkness. I sigh. I’ll have to grab it later. I duck into my cabin to get ready.
I throw on my slacks and a polo shirt before realizing that no one here will care what I wear to the Welcome Bash. I hesitantly put on board shorts instead, feeling happy with the change.
It’s now or never, Jonathan. I grab one last item from my duffel bag and make my way to the event room.
9
Jonathan
The Welcome Bash is a burst of catchy songs, colorful flowers, and beautiful string lights. Walking inside the Inn feels like walking into a folk music video. Whoever did the decorations did a brilliant job.
Staffers mingle and get to know the student workers. I recognize a few kids from school, but no one I know well. That’s by design — before asking for the job here, I made sure that none of my close friends or teammates would be working at the Inn over the summer. As far as they know, I’m at Momentum, just like I told my parents. Troy is the only one who knows where I am, but I haven’t told him why I’m here.
The scent of roasted garlic and freshly-baked cheese bread makes my stomach grumble. I may not be playing soccer this summer, but I still have the appetite of a bear. And working with the chefs today kick-started the hunger.
I make a beeline for the food table. But, before I can get my paws on a slice of cheese bread, Delia bursts through the crowd, her colorful dress flowing and her cowboy hat tilted on her head.
“Jonathan! Thank you for your help in the kitchen. The food smells wonderful.” Delia kisses her fingertips as though she’s straight out of Italy. “Fernando was raving about how you lifted two gigantic bags of flour with one arm.
We might have you help out around the kitchen, my boy!”
“Happy to.” I smile. Poor Fernando almost threw his back out lifting the first bag of flour.
“That’s the attitude I want to see!” Delia tips her cowboy hat and swoops away.
With Delia gone, I return to my mission: Food.
Nath stands near the foot of the table, plate in hand. She’s talking to a girl from Edendale High — Stefanie?
“Jonathan? And he’s not on the field or wearing cleats? Something must be wrong.” Stefanie looks at me skeptically and pretends to rub her eyes as if she can’t believe what she’s seeing.
Nath laughs. “Nice to see you, Jon — can I call you Jon?”
“Oh, Jonathan’s fine.” I say with a smile. Only my teammates call me Jon.
Nath nods, smiling. “Jonathan it is. Stefi was telling me that you were the MVP for the state championship? That’s very exciting! Go Eagles!”
“Thanks, totally a team effort,” I say, laughing sheepishly. I wish that star label wouldn’t follow me around. “How’re you doing, Stefi?”
Stefi runs with the high-achieving crowd at Edendale High. I don’t know the group well, aside from when we share the occasional group project.
“Good, excited to work here this summer,” Stefi says, looking around the room. “We’re lucky to have these positions!”
“Definitely.”
Nath takes a slice of cheese bread. “What kind of work will you be doing at the Inn, Jonathan?”
Stefi and Nath look at me expectantly and I freeze. I’m racking my brain trying to voice my answer when I’m saved by Vin. He’s motioning from across the room for me to meet the guy he’s speaking with.
“Oh, ya know, just helping out,” I say as I step away. “Anyway, guys, it looks like I’m being summoned. I’ll catch up with you later.”
I’m filled with relief as I make my way towards Vin. It’s not that my job here is a secret, but I don’t feel ready to see their faces and deal with the confusion. The older staff here at the Inn won’t be a problem, but the kids from school? They’ll have questions. And I’m not ready to answer those yet.
In the corner of my eye, I see Kiara enter the event room, bringing a late spring frost with her. She wears shorts and a hoodie, her hair tied into a strict ponytail. It trips me up to see her in shorts. It implies that she enjoys something other than photography — maybe she actually likes summer.
If only I’d properly checked the list of students coming to the Inn. There wasn’t much holding me back from coming here, but Kiara the Queen? I would’ve stayed away from her palace to avoid the chopping block.
10
Kiara
The Welcome Bash is well underway by the time I set off from my cabin. I’m not exactly punctual at the best of times. But for a party? My arrival time hedges between fashionably late and not bothering to show up at all.
Ava and I attend the odd party at Edendale High, but it’s a very different scene. Those gatherings consist of a small group of art students discussing life, politics, philosophy and other high-minded topics. The more musically inclined take up their guitars, harps, flutes or other instruments to provide a soundtrack for the evening. The gatherings are chill. A guy like Jonathan Wright would never come to one of our parties.
I’ve heard the big blowouts put on by the Eagles get crazy. Jonathan and his group of friends seem bent on destroying their livers and having the most fun possible, regardless of the consequences.
The Welcome Bash won’t be anything like those big blowouts, but it won’t resemble the small art gatherings I’ve attended, either.
The event room is exactly as I envisioned it. Fairy lights rise and fall between wooden beams on the ceiling, casting the room in a delicate glow. Lanterns and paper flowers hang from hooks and make everything feel like summer. A fresh mountain breeze flows through the space, courtesy of the propped open balcony doors.
I’m enjoying the scene right up until Jonathan crosses my path. He glares at me, so I glare right back. I will not let him distract me from my goals this summer.
On that, I lift my camera and start taking photos of the event as it unfolds.
“You must be Kiara,” a warm voice says. I turn to look into the brown eyes of the lady from the garden. “I’m Nath, it’s a pleasure to meet ya.”
“Me too,” I say brightly, and then immediately regret my choice of words. I give her a sheepish smile and unclasp my hand from my camera, extending it to her. She laughs and shakes it. Nice one, Kiara.
She eyes my camera. “So, you’re doing photography this summer?”
I reluctantly release the camera and let it hang from the neck strap, awkwardly placing my hands on my hips. I smile. “That’s right.”
Nath and I stand in silence. I’m not sure what to say next, or if anything needs to be said at all. Small talk is a skill I have no desire to master. My eyes linger on Jonathan and I glare as he speaks with people at the far end of the room. They laugh at something he says.
Must be nice to be able to charm your way through everything.
“You go to Edendale High, Kiara?” Nath asks, drawing me from my thoughts.
“Unfortunately, yes,” I say, smiling slyly. “I’m excited to graduate.”
Nath laughs, “I know a couple of Edendale kids pretty well. I just met a lovely girl — Stefi. And there’s the boy over there, Jonathan. Are you friends with either of them?”
My smile falters. The golden boy strikes again, charming everyone with his act. I’ll give him this — he’s very good at putting on a front. I suppose it must be easier to act charming when you have everything you want given to you on a silver platter.
“Stefi seems sweet,” I respond, my eyes back on Jonathan. He’s chatting to a couple of guys with a big smile on his face and not a care in the world. How I’d love to paste a “kick me” sign to his back. “But Jonathan and I are definitely not friends.”
Nath chuckles and her voice drops low, her next words an afterthought. “I remember when my husband and I were definitely not friends. Which reminds me, you should come and meet Vin.”
She drags me across the room, and if it isn’t just my luck, Vin is one of the people Jonathan is speaking with. I don’t recognize the other guy, but he looks about my age.
“Vin, this is Kiara. She’s the last of the Edendale summer students.” Nath positions me in front of Vin. He’s a slight man with kind eyes and a big smile.
“Welcome to Legacy Inn, very happy to have you here.” Vin shakes my hand. “I was getting caught up with Jonathan and Wes here. Wes’ll be going to Edendale High in the fall.”
Wes’s tanned face crinkles into a smile. He has clear turquoise eyes and blonde, sun-bleached hair.
“Surprise, surprise, you still have your camera.” Jonathan’s voice drips with sarcasm.
“Almost as surprising as seeing your face without Isabella attached to it,” I reply.
“We all make mistakes,” Jonathan says. “But, now that my face is unoccupied, figure I’ll go stuff it with some of that cheese bread. You in, Wes?”
They say their goodbyes and stride across the room. Vin and Nath seem nice, so I spend a few minutes chatting with them. They’re long-time staffers at the Inn and they actually met here years ago.
“Can I take some photos of you guys?” I ask on a whim. They’ve both got a dreamy, romantic look on their faces as they rehash how they met.
“Only if you get my good side,” Vin says.
Nath pats his arm. “Oh, honey, that photography trick only works if you have a good side.”
Vin frowns. “But dear, I thought that you were my good side?”
Nath rolls her eyes and sighs. “Ever the charmer.”
They look into each other’s eyes and giggle like they’re school kids with a secret crush. It’s the perfect moment to capture.
We part ways and I circulate, taking more photos as the crowd unwinds. It’s a beautiful setting and I’m incredibly inspired.
I can’t wait to take photos of the events and other special occasions happening here over the summer. Double feature in Glacier Journal, here I come!
As I move about the periphery of the room, I avoid Jonathan. He’s in the heart of it all, meeting and chatting with everyone. He has this undeniable charisma — this charm — that captivates everyone around him. I can only imagine how easy life must be for a guy like him.
I consider my own past, such a contrast to Jonathan’s. When my father left, we fell on hard times and we had to buckle down and save every penny we got. My mom finally got a job with Echo as a project manager and she quickly worked her way to the top.
It’s pure luck that working in construction has always been her dream. But it sure wasn’t an easy path to get there.
Delia claps her hands, bringing everyone’s attention to the front of the event room. She stands on the lip of the fireplace, a friendly smile on her face. Her colorful flowing dress, black vest, and black cowboy hat accentuate her long, white hair.
“Good evening, everyone!” Her voice carries easily through the room. “And welcome to another summer at the Legacy Inn!”
Small whoops erupt from the crowd.
Delia tips her cowboy hat. “We’re delighted to have you here this summer. Vin and I have been hard at work planning this Welcome Bash, and we couldn’t have executed it without all of your help! So thank you, one and all, for making this event such a success.”
More applause. I drop my camera for a second to clap along.
“The guests arrive tomorrow. There’s nothing like summer at the Legacy Inn. This is going to be a busy, hectic, wonderful three months. I can’t wait to experience it with all of you.”
Delia explains some ground rules for the summer, but I tune them out. Jonathan is standing just ahead of me and I can now see that he’s holding a little black bag with a white label. The bag looks familiar and my stomach churns uneasily.
Chasing Sunrise: A Sweet YA Enemies-to Lovers Romance (Inn for the Summer) Page 3
