Kiara
“Girl, that was crazy!” Bree says as we hurry out of the staff room. Stefi and Anaya have already rushed back to work.
“It was all you! You were my inspiration,” I say. My stomach hurts from laughter.
Bree hushes away the compliment. Always so modest.
“Okay, but seriously,” she says. We descend to the garden. “What’s next? What’s your master plan?”
I stroke a pretend beard and gaze out over to the lake. “I have a few things planned — assuming that golden boy doesn’t immediately wave the white flag of surrender. I have a feeling he’s got a couple pranks lined up himself, so I’m going to lie low. But when he strikes, I’ll come back even harder.”
Bree and I snicker wickedly, plotting his demise.
“Garcia.” A familiar voice calls and Bree and I jump apart. Speak of the devil.
“Nice move.” Jonathan says, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He’s got a tiny speck of white at the corner of his mouth and some absurd part of me wants to wipe it off.
“I’ll accept your surrender now, if you want,” I say, smirking.
He leans in close. So close I can smell his aftershave. He whispers, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re right, you know. I do have a couple things lined up for you.”
I hold my breath, frozen. He’s so close, his chest is almost touching mine.
“Sleep with one eye open.” He straightens and steps out of the garden, looking back at me and gesturing with two fingers to say, “I’m watching you.”
“Dude’s intense.” Bree’s voice breaks the spell. She squeezes my arm. “See ya later, Ki. I gotta get back.”
I’m still standing there in the garden a moment later, holding my camera. Something very weird is happening. Some familiar, but entirely unwelcome, stirring is happening in my stomach. Dare I say… a lone butterfly?
No. Kiara, no. You’re being ridiculous. Jonathan Wright does not give you butterflies, just a case of mild nausea.
Ugh. I roll my eyes and breathe through the sensation. No point in dwelling on it.
I turn and skip out of the garden, trying to regain the happy feeling I had but moments ago.
24
Jonathan
A musical tone intertwines with my dream, and I come rushing out of my peaceful sleep. My alarm might be on its quietest setting, but it feels like it’s blaring.
“Rawwg!” I grunt as I hit snooze. I roll over, blinking my tired eyes open. “I thought I’d have a break from this over the summer.”
It’s 5:30am, and the world is just waking up. In a matter of minutes, I’ll be wide awake and ready to go — my body has been trained to fare well with early mornings. But I’m not used to doing early mornings in combination with late nights.
It’s been a week since I arrived at Legacy Inn and the last few days have been hectic. To keep up with Kiara, I’ve been staying awake with the last of the guests, hanging around in the evenings to take advantage of any photo ops. But, in keeping with Kiara’s crazy schedule, I’ve also been up early a few times to capture the guests’ sunrise paddles or breakfasts in the garden.
It’s exhausting. Kiara could give my coach a run for his money.
I’d never tell her this, but I admire her dedication. She’s so intensely committed to photography. She’s not at all afraid to be honest and open about her dream. She’s just unapologetically… herself.
I walk out to the bathroom block to brush my teeth, looking for light over the horizon. It’ll be sunrise soon, my chance to capture the next photo for the Inn’s social media accounts.
I’ve had fun this week competing with Kiara to get the most photos posted on social media. She’s two photos ahead of me, so the photo posted today needs to be one of mine.
I look in the bathroom mirror, rub my hands over my stubble — there’s been no time to shave — and smile.
Kiara is unlike any girl I’ve known. She roasts me almost as badly as Troy does, but it always makes me laugh. Her face breaks into this cute little half-smile when she thinks she’s really got me. And she’s so witty, her intelligence challenges me.
So, as you’d expect, our pranks this week have only escalated.
After her prank with the cookie, I knew I had to hit back harder — and fast. I hijacked one of her morning bagels and put a healthy layer of horseradish under her cream cheese. She took a big bite and her face practically glowed from the heat.
Meanwhile, I almost fell off my chair laughing.
Her retaliation came sooner than expected. That same evening, I returned from the garden party, opened my door, and there was a loud blare that gave me a minor heart attack. I checked behind my cabin door, and sure enough, she had rigged an air horn so that it would sound off when the door opened. Once my hearing returned, all I could hear was Kiara’s incessant snickering from her tiny balcony.
Stefi and Cooper Monroe, son of the famous actor Kade Monroe, aided my next prank. They passed along a stack of his dad’s headshots, and while Kiara was out taking photos, I strategically covered her entire cabin with them. The shot was perfect, too — it was Kade Monroe, topless, carrying an anaconda over his shoulders, with a look of pure intensity on his face.
I lingered in my cabin until I heard her climb the steps to hers. Kiara opened the door, and a scream punctuated the silence.
I stepped out onto my balcony. “Something on your mind?” I drew out the “s”.
She was already on her balcony, glaring towards my cabin. Her face was red, and I could see she was holding back a smile. She grumbled under her breath and returned to her room before her angry face broke into laughter.
But, while I was celebrating my victory, she was scheming. And her last prank? It was a doozy.
We were taking photos in the garden as the guests went in for lunch.
“Wow golden boy, your photos are blown out. Haven’t you tried adjusting the exposure?” She had my camera in her hands.
“Yes?”
She gave me a skeptical look and her brown eyes met mine. I couldn’t keep a smile off my face. Kiara has a weird effect on me these days.
“Hey Jonathan, mind giving me a hand?” Randy called to me from across the garden. I turned to find her trying to lift a keg by herself.
I jogged over to the bar to give her a hand while Kiara adjusted the settings on my camera.
Randy, who it turns out is the outdoor bartender, needed the help. She had not one but three kegs that she was trying to lift and fit into their proper positions at the bar.
“Wow, Jonathan, you’ve got a knack for setting kegs up.” Randy gave me a high-five.
“Don’t ask.” I laughed before walking back over to Kiara.
She’d finished experimenting with my camera.
“Here.” She handed the camera back to me. “And, check it out, it’s the perfect time to get photos of the flowers. Nath’s done such a magnificent job.”
I took the camera and fit the neck strap over my head before following her to a different area of the garden. Kiara raised her camera and began taking photos.
I lifted my camera to take a few shots when I found myself staring into the bulbous eyes of a small, slimy, purple snail.
“Agh!”
I immediately dropped my camera, and it fell heavily into the neck strap. Somehow, the snail survived the ride, clinging onto the top of the camera for dear life.
Behind me, Kiara erupted in laughter.
I glared, carefully urged the snail onto my finger, and placed it comfortably into the grass.
“You might want to be careful with your camera,” Kiara said, her eyes tearing from laughter. “They’re pretty expensive.”
She thinks she’s so funny. I grin, check my reflection in the mirror one more time, and then pack up my toothbrush and walk out from the bathroom block. I can’t wait for the next prank.
Kiara stands a little ways from the cabins, looking out over the lake. She’s wearing shorts and a hoodie, and her hair i
s in a high ponytail.
She looks good with her hair up. I noticed it immediately when I saw her at the first garden party earlier this week. Her shorts and hoodies look great too, but I couldn’t believe how hot she was in the black dress. She just seemed… effortlessly confident. I’ve never seen that side of her before.
I rush into my cabin and grab my camera. The sky is already starting to lighten and I need to get my head in the game.
“The Queen’s up early this morning,” I call out as I approach her.
She sighs dramatically. “It’s the price I must pay for being a royal, I’m afraid.”
I’m about to spend another day with Kiara, and as much as I’m loath to admit it — I don’t hate the idea.
25
Kiara
How is the water so still?
The calm surface of the lake reflects the mountain peaks perfectly. In fact, everything around me feels quiet and unmoving this morning. I freeze, barely breathing, pretending that I’m one with this still image.
It’s 5:30 in the morning and I’ve resolved to climb the mountain beside the Inn.
Jonathan and I were packing up last night when the idea came to me. We were down at the gazebo, and the last guest had disappeared for the night. It was just he and I, under the fairy lights I’d so carefully strung up days before.
“Well, Garcia, I’ve got to hand it to you, you’ve got the fairy lights down,” Jonathan said, staring up at the doily shape.
“They almost came down when I was trying to put them up.”
I immediately regretted my words. We hadn’t talked about our first encounter at the Inn. I was holding my breath, wondering if Jonathan would clap back with a snarky comment.
“You’re lucky I was here to save the day!” His denim eyes danced.
“Lucky, was it?” I laughed as I put my camera away.
He chuckled as he took a stand at the end of the gazebo, looking out over the lake. “So, what’s your top bucket list item while you’re here this summer?”
I paused. What should I tell him? Jonathan and I were on slightly friendlier terms this week. I was getting to know this new Jonathan, and to my surprise, he was actually funny. And almost cool.
But I wasn’t sure I was ready to trust him yet. I didn’t want to divulge the full truth behind my being here — I was still sore from Lucas’ words all those years ago.
“Kicking your butt,” I said, deciding to hedge. I went to stand at the opposite end of the gazebo floor. “Shouldn’t be hard.”
Behind him, the moon was shining brightly over the lake. The lights in the gazebo threw a warm glow on his face while he laughed, so he looked even more carefree than usual. With his blonde hair, chiseled features and lovely smile, it would’ve been a really nice photo. I fingered my camera bag, wondering if I should take it out.
“No, honestly.” His eyes caught the moonlight and sparkled. “If you tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine.”
Was he serious? I chuckled, stalling for time. “I want to climb the mountain next to the Inn. Preferably for sunrise.”
The words tumbled from my mouth without consideration. I hadn’t thought about the mountain in days, but now that the words were out of my mouth, I realized how true they were.
“Then let’s do it,” he said, his voice low. “Tomorrow. 5:30am. Let’s do it.”
Another challenge. I can’t say no to a challenge put forth by Jonathan Wright.
I smirked and narrowed my eyes. Was he teasing me? I’d never done something so spontaneous before. Usually, I planned something like this to prevent disasters.
But Jonathan was looking at me expectantly, and his smile made me feel surprisingly calm about the whole thing.
“Deal,” I said as a smile broke out over my face. “Now, your turn.”
“Okay, so, my top bucket list item—”
He walked towards me, and his eyes bore into mine. My heart sped up.
Get a grip, Kiara.
He stood in front of me, and I straightened instinctively. My legs felt numb, and I leaned back on the railing of the gazebo. He smelled nice, like shampoo and pine trees. He reached an arm beside me as though going in for a hug, and I realized I wasn’t breathing.
“If you want to know, you’ll have to catch me first.” He flicked off the light switch for the gazebo, conveniently right next to me.
Laughing, he darted away.
I stood still, my heart racing. What just happened?
I chased after him, but he was already at his cabin.
“Bright and early, Garcia.” He saluted me, ducked into his cabin, and locked the door.
I rolled my eyes, out of breath, as I made my way into my cabin.
I tried to convince myself the run had made me breathless, but I wasn’t entirely sure that was the truth.
The sky slowly lightens towards dawn. I stand alone and look over the lake, feeling nervous.
Are we actually doing this? Are we going to try to scale a mountain in the dark? I don’t like hiking at the best of times, but now it feels even less likely. What types of animals mill about when the daylight hits? Coyotes? Bears? Mountain lions? What if we run into one of them?
And what if Jonathan doesn’t show up?
What if this is all just a big prank? Maybe he’s watching from the bushes right now, snickering at the girl who thought they might actually be friends.
Should I go back to the cabin and forget this ever happened?
I don’t want to bail, but I don’t want to look like a fool, either. Or be eaten by a bear.
This is stupid.
I should just go back home.
“The Queen’s up early this morning.” Jonathan’s voice brings the relief of lotion on a sunburn.
I fake a dramatic sigh. “It’s the price I must pay for being a royal, I’m afraid.”
Jonathan jogs over.
“Golden boy.” I put my hands on my hips and feign impatience. “Late again.”
He punches me playfully in the arm as we set off. But instead of going towards the lake, he heads towards the forest.
“Think you can keep up?” he asks, smiling over his shoulder. “I found a shortcut, but it might be too tough for your Majesty’s delicate feet.”
“You could always carry me. Like a good peasant.” I grin.
He still calls me Queen and makes jokes about my royal lineage, but now that I’ve gotten to know him better, they don’t feel mean. They’re actually kind of fun, it’s a little game we play. I’m relieved he’s here — it means I don’t have to climb the mountain alone.
We jog across the grounds towards the forest and I finally see what he’s referring to. There is a break in the trees with a dirt path leading upward.
“Legacy Viewpoint,” I say, reading the sign next to the trail. “Fantastic!”
Jonathan lets me go first, stopping whenever I need a break to catch my breath. Ava was right. Nature is not my thing, and gaining elevation is the bane of my existence. The things I do for photos.
Meanwhile, Jonathan practically jogs in circles around me.
“You’re annoying,” I say at one point, too exhausted and out of breath to come up with anything witty.
“So, is it time for me to carry you now?” Laughter twinkles in his eyes.
I glare and try to hold back a smile. Classic golden boy, being the best at everything.
Jonathan leads me through the last section of trail. The birds have started their maniacal morning song and butterflies flutter about. The sky lightens, and soon, the sun will peek over the mountains. Despite the burning in my legs, I walk with renewed purpose.
After what feels like the hundredth switchback, we reach a flattened piece of earth with a wooden platform.
I fall dramatically to the ground and take a deep breath. “We made it.”
Jonathan laughs. “You know we have to go back down, right?”
“I’ll roll.”
I catch my breath, then sit up to enjoy the view.
>
It’s perfect.
The sun hasn’t peeked over the mountains and the sky is still a muted shade of dark blue. I whip out my camera, snap photos, check the results, and adjust for the eventual sunrise.
“This view is amazing,” I say.
Jonathan, however, isn’t looking at the view. He’s turned towards the mountain, looking up. I follow his gaze and see what he’s looking at. We aren’t far from the summit of the Legacy Mountain and there’s a rough trail for hikers far more daring than me.
On one hand, any photos taken at the summit will be better than photos taken here. On the other, it means more hiking. And it’s not the clear dirt path we followed to get to the viewpoint. The trail is rough and overgrown with thorny shrubs.
“Are you thinking...”
“Scared?” He turns towards me with a challenge in his eyes.
How could I back down?
Jonathan leads the way up the rough trail, holding back branches and brambles as we go so I don’t get scratched. It’s a suspiciously kind move and I narrow my eyes every time he does it, expecting him to let go of a branch so it smacks me in the face. He never does, though.
We reach the summit and look out over the panorama. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.
From up here, we can see the Inn and the garden, along with the surrounding forest. Behind us, the mountains of the National Park are dark, unmoving masses. The lake reflects the white-capped peaks ahead of us, and a ripple makes them disappear into oblivion. The sun is just starting to rise, and the sky is now shades of pastel. The air is brisk and fresh, smelling of morning dew. It’s colder up here, but that’s not the reason I have goosebumps.
This view. This absolutely perfect view.
I whip the camera to my face and urgently take photos. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Snap. Snap. Snap. I watch the sunrise from the screen of my camera. It’s unbelievable. I hope the photos do it justice.
Jonathan, however, is silent. He took a couple of photos, but he’s now standing still, eyes on the horizon. His camera hangs from his neck.
The Complete Legacy Inn Collection: Four Sweet YA Romances Page 56
