by Kaia Knight
Heading toward the bathroom that Gabriel had pointed out earlier, she shed her clothes, wincing as she pulled her shorts over chafed skin. On the counter were a few folded towels, and she set the pile of Gabriel’s clothes on top. She shook the first garment out and held it in front of her; a white t-shirt so large it could be a dress. Bringing it to her face, she inhaled the sweet, linen scent with the faint hint of a cologne, stirring up memories of her face buried in his shoulder earlier that day. She grimaced, shaking her head as she stepped into the shower.
This wasn’t how I expected my first day to go, but I could definitely be in worse company.
Tilting her head under the cleansing warmth of the shower, a serene smile spread across her face.
Chapter 4
Gabriel
It was quiet and dark in the house when he returned. Did she take off while I was out? He had been gone several hours, and the first colors of sunset began to emerge. The steep hike back to the summit had taken longer than anticipated on his worn-out legs, and he had to make an extra stop at the fire station to pick up Kailani’s backpack.
He leaned his bike against the entry bench and searched the cabin, relieved to find Kailani curled up on the large suede sectional, buried beneath a pile of blankets. Tiptoeing back to the entryway, he hoisted his bike up on the wall mount, wincing as his helmet clattered to the floor. He set down the bag, and its leather drawstrings relaxed as it sagged on the bench. He leaned closer, curious. She showed up to Eugene with just a small backpack?
A cursory look showed him a few folded up outfits, a leather wallet, and bound books. Reaching in the bag, he ran his thumb over the smooth leather of the first book, and opening a corner, he saw slanted script and worn pages. A journal. Reaching for the next, he felt laminated pages. Easing it out, he flipped it open to the first photo. It was old and worn, the color fading and the rounded corners were crinkled. A sunburnt, pale-eyed man knelt and hugged a young, dark-skinned girl with the same light eyes. Gabriel smiled. This must be her.
“Looking for something?” A voice drawled behind him. Gabriel whirled around, snapping the album shut. Kailani continued, “I promise I’m not a criminal, if that’s what you’re trying to find.”
“I—uh…I was just…” His face reddened. “I got nothing. I’m sorry for snooping.”
She gave a small smile, waving a hand in dismissal; the relief on her face was evident as she stepped forward, rifling through the contents of the bag. “It’s okay. I may have done some digging myself while you were gone.” She shrugged sheepishly. “Had to make sure you weren’t a serial killer and all that.”
He laughed. “Oh yeah? Find anything good?”
“Only that someone’s girlfriend has really expensive taste in shampoo.” Her gaze met his, and she tilted her head to the side.
Gabriel shook his head, biting down on a smile. Is this her way of asking if I’m single? “Ah. So you found Eli’s stash. He even has a ‘date drawer’ in the bathroom with spare toothbrushes, razors, and hair products, so help yourself if you need anything.” He rolled his eyes. “He’s a piece of work, but I know he has a heart under all that—” he waved, trying to find that right word.
“All that what?”
Gabriel was stuck. “All that...Eli.”
Kailani’s broad cheeks lifted in a smile. Her dark hair spilled across her shoulders in tumbling waves down to crossed arms that clutched her—his—oversized shirt. Its fabric hung almost to her knees, but her tanned, muscular legs were bare.
Is she not wearing anything underneath? Quickly looking away, he cleared his throat.
“No one told me it was no-pants-Wednesday.”
She raised an eyebrow and lifted the hem of the white shirt, revealing short black spandex.
He threw his hands up with a grin. “Hey, I’m not complaining.”
Stepping down into the living room, she plopped on the couch, cocooning up her legs in the soft blanket once more. “Better?” That drew a chuckle from him, and he nodded.
She looked so at ease, radiating a self-confidence that made it feel like she might have been here his whole life, just two friends hanging out. She sighed, looking out the grand windows.
“I can’t get over this view. I would never leave if I lived here.”
“This is nothing, let me show you the back patio. Our guest bedroom, so to speak.”
“Bedroom? Don’t tell me you’re like one of those frat guys that tosses a couch or mattress on their front porch.”
It was his turn to roll his eyes and laugh. “Something like that.”
Leading her down a hallway hidden by an unassuming entrance, Gabriel slid open a glass door and waved Kailani through. She stepped down into the atrium below, a smile spreading across her face.
On the covered patio, a suspended bed hung from thick, nautical rope anchored into the overhead beams, swaying in the slight breeze. French doors opened to a few shallow stairs that hovered over a creek just below.
“Wow, this is amazing. Do you sleep out here?” She gestured to the unmade bed with pillows strewn around haphazardly.
Gabriel strode forward, smoothing out the sheets as heat rose to his face, as if she could see the nightmares etched in the wrinkles of the linen. “Yeah, sometimes it gets hot inside. It’s easier to breathe out here with the fresh air.”
Kailani ran her hand along the curtains that ballooned with the next swell of air. She sat down on the bed, smiling as it swung in response. Laying back into the pillows, she sighed. “This is the life.”
“Well, I’m long overdue for a shower.” Grimacing, he raked his hand through his hair, stiff with salt. “Do you need anything while I’m inside?”
She shook her head, eyes now closed. “I’m fine, thank you.”
The whir of the sliding door woke Kailani, and she turned to see Gabriel with damp hair falling in his eyes, two steaming plates in his hand.
“Hope you’re okay with leftovers, I’m seriously spent for the day. Chicken parm, one of my specialties.”
“Thank you.” She reached for the plate and wafted it towards herself, giving him an approving nod. “Man, this smells great. If you keep feeding me like this, I’m never going to leave.”
Sitting on the steps while the creek pattered below them, they kept talking, lightly joking as the soft, pink sunset slowly retreated behind the trees.
“So, you said your internship starts tomorrow? What kind of work is it?”
She set down her fork and covered her mouth while she finished chewing. “It’s a work-stay program at a local farm. I’ll do basic upkeep and labor in exchange for room and board, as well as a stipend on top of it. They said they’ll teach me beekeeping, gardening, and how to run the business. It’s a lot to learn, but I’m excited.” She was gesturing with her hands, more animated than Gabriel had seen her yet.
“That sounds awesome, what farm? I might know it.” When she didn’t answer right away, he looked at her and met her guarded eyes. Bad move, don’t ask a girl you just met where she lives! He backpedaled, steering the conversation away. “Sorry, I only asked because my dad owns a small ranch on the other side of Eugene, and I worked on a family friends’ farm a few years ago. It’s definitely a different kind of life. Things run slower on farm time.”
She laughed dryly. “I could use a little slow. I’m really looking forward to catching a break.”
“What, today wasn’t a break?” He teased, bumping her shoulder with his own. “Seems like trouble has its way of following you.”
“Welcome to my life. I swear you wouldn’t believe me if I told you half the things that happen to me. Today alone, the airport lost my luggage, a chipmunk stole my food, my internship got postponed a day, and some guy shoved me off a cliff.”
He chuckled, ignoring her last comment. “I was going to ask about the bag thing, I was wondering what kind of mysterious girl skips into town with just a few items to her name.”
“No mystery here, just me. I moved here fo
r a fresh start, but Eugene doesn’t seem to like me so far.” She shrugged, looking away. Sensing she wasn’t about to spill her life story, he tried to keep the conversation light.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I could use the excitement. My life has been a whole lot of work-sleep-repeat lately.”
She laughed and brought a finger to her lips. “Don’t tempt fate. You might get what you ask for.” She stood, gesturing for his plate. He started to rise, but she shook her head with a smile. “You’ve done so much today, let me do something in return. I’ve just been laying around. Do you want a drink while I’m up?”
Gabriel leaned back against the step. “Actually yeah, a beer sounds great right now. We have some in the fridge.”
When she returned from the kitchen a few minutes later, she had one bottle in each hand and set them on the table beside the hanging bed. “I hope you don’t mind if I move up here, I’m kinda cold.”
“That’s what you get for not wearing pants.” Gabriel laughed when she stuck her tongue out at him, feeling younger and lighter than he had in years.
She perched on the edge of the bed, pulling a blanket over her legs. She reached for one of the bottles, inspecting the label. “When you said you had beer, I imagined a bulk box of something skunky. This is nice.”
Gabriel snorted and walked through the french doors with his hands in his pockets. “Is it because I live with my brother that you assume I’m a frat bro? I’m glad to say my college days are behind me, so I can afford the good stuff. I love trying out local microbrews and ciders, so my fridge is like a sample flight.” He chuckled. “Some of them can be hit or miss with the flavors, though, so watch out.”
“So, you already graduated? Mind if I ask how old you are?”
“I’m twenty-five. You?”
“Twenty-two.” She glanced up at him from under her lashes and smiled; something in her expression made his heart pound faster.
Gabriel turned and pretended to fumble with the latch as he shut the french doors to buy some time, trying to read the situation. Do I just head inside now? Does she want to be alone? Probably. He turned back towards the bed, trying to appear more collected than the chaos in his head.
Kailani looked at him expectantly, a smile hovering on her lips. She extended one of the bottles toward him and patted the mattress next to her.
Ding ding ding! Green is go. Relieved, Gabriel reached forward, his fingers brushing hers as he took the bottle.
“Thanks.” He sat on the floating frame beside her, making the bed swing. He took a swig of his beer to keep it from spilling.
Kailani took a tentative sip of her drink.
“Woah, woah!” He sat up straighter as a thought struck him. “I completely forgot. You probably shouldn’t be drinking if you have a concussion.”
She gave him a withering look. “I’ve had a concussion before, and this feels nothing like it. Now that I’ve eaten and slept, I feel better than I have in a long time. Besides, it’s only cider.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, still uncertain.
Kailani smiled, nudging him. “Do you ever let your guard down, or are you always in rescue mode?”
He chuckled, shaking his head as he took another pull of beer. “It’s hard not to. Sometimes I’ll see kids running in public places and have the urge to yell ‘walk!’ from my lifeguard days.”
“Well, it sure came in handy today. Rescuing me, I mean.”
“I’m just glad I did. I froze….at the top. I didn’t know if I could jump.” He frowned as the words spilled out of him. Why did I tell her that?
Kailani placed her hand on his, its warmth spreading through him. “But you did. Thank you.” She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before pulling away, tucking her free arm under the blanket, and taking another sip of her drink. “Did you always know you wanted to be in surf rescue?”
Gabriel nodded. “I grew up on the coast, so I couldn’t help but fall in love with the ocean. My first job was as a waterfront lifeguard, but I always saw the rescue patrol guys out on the water, going out to dive, and knew I wanted to be like them.”
“So, you’re a rescue diver now?”
“Uh, no. I was a rescue swimmer for a while and started training for the diving courses, but…you know, stuff comes up.” His voice grew quieter by the end and he looked away, his throat tightening.
Kailani must have sensed his change in mood because she began chattering to break the silence. “I took a scuba diving class one time to try and get certified, but it was honestly awful. I couldn’t stand having to breathe in through my mouth. I started hyperventilating and had to resurface. So, I failed the course.” She continued with a story of a similar snorkeling experience, laughing as she spoke.
Gabriel finished his beer as he listened to the cadence of her voice, a slight accent that punctuated certain words when she spoke quickly. He stretched out on the bed and folded his hands behind his head, closing his eyes.
“Oh, sorry,” she said. “I’m just rambling, looks like I put you to sleep.”
His eyes flew open and he gave her a rueful smile. “No, I was just listening. I like the way you talk.” He expected her to say something about where she was from or explain her accent, but she sipped the remainder of her cider in silence, then lay down beside him so close that he could feel the heat emanating off her body.
“So, how long have you been mountain biking?”
The gentle hum of alcohol made him sink deeper in the sheets, smiling languidly. “My whole life, really. Road riding was the gateway, but once I popped one tube too many from going off into the woods, my parents gave me a mountain bike for my thirteenth birthday. There’s really nothing like the rush of adrenaline, the burn in your legs, and the feeling that you alone are the reason you made it to the top. Pure victory.”
Kailani turned onto her side, propping her head up on her hand so she was facing him. Enthusiasm lit her cool, grey eyes. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s like I have this itch that won’t go away, and the only thing that eases it is the sense of progress. That’s why I love running. You’re always moving towards something, not just physically, either.” A smile was playing at her lips. “Plus, it makes for some pretty crazy adventures.”
“Yeah, like what?”
A laugh bubbled out of her in surprise, making him jump. “What? Does today not make the cut for you?” She laughed, “Six miles of jungle terrain, a waterfall oasis, attacked by a reckless biker—”
She crinkled her nose as Gabriel shoved her shoulder lightly, but continued, “Plummeting to my death, rescued by my assailant—hey!” She shrieked as he ripped the blanket from her, firmly tucking it around himself, leaving her legs out in the cold. She tried to tug the blanket back from him, but it did not budge.
Gabriel laughed at her incredulous expression as she continued to pull. The suffocating weight that always perched on his chest was momentarily lifted, the buoyancy of joy pushing it away. Laughter felt like a muscle that had gone unused for too long. In pure bliss at the sensation, he let himself go, and laughed until his abs burned.
Who is this girl, and what is she doing to me?
Abandoning her struggle, Kailani reached across Gabriel, her face close to his. She leaned in towards his lips and took a small breath in, closing the distance between them. He immediately grew somber, his stomach dropping in anticipation as her eyes met his. He stilled, growing warmer as she drew closer to him.
Her mouth parted, and Gabriel gave in to the beckoning of her lips. Before their lips met, Kailani yelled “HA!” and ripped the blanket from over his unguarded body and rolled away, cocooning herself and laughing harder than before.
Gabriel’s mouth was agape in disbelief. Is she teasing me? He growled playfully as he pivoted over Kailani. He leaned in and said huskily, “That was cruel.” Shaking his head, he murmured, “I see your arms are preoccupied, and I can be cruel, too...”
He traced his fingers gently along her cheekbone, brushing her hair
away from her face. Her curls spilled out of his hand, and her lips parted as her eyes searched his. Feeling emboldened by the burning in her eyes, the lick of her lips, and the buzz of alcohol burning through him, he reacted instinctively. He ran his thumb gently across her bottom lip and felt her hold her breath. He leaned in and kissed her, reveling in the warmth of her lips and the sweet smell of lavender.
She responded hungrily to his embrace. Her breathing was ragged, filling him with longing. He stirred and kissed her deeply, intertwining his tongue with hers and pulling her hips against his through the blanket.
He felt the moment when her kiss faltered, like the flicker of a flame before it is extinguished. She began to draw back, and his heart sank. He knew what she was going to say.
Her expression was conflicted; she blushed and didn’t meet his eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s just...this is all a little fast. We hardly know each other.”
“No, I’m sorry.” Gabriel sat up, adjusting his clothes as he put space between them. Shame pulsed through him. “I didn’t mean to take advantage...I don’t want you to think I planned this or something.” He raked his hand through his tangled hair and searched her face, wishing he could find answers there. She didn’t respond, and words kept spilling out of him, desperate to fill the sting of silence. “I just got caught up in the moment, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay.” Her eyes finally met his and she smiled hesitantly, but the spark in her eyes had dimmed. Her walls were back up.
Gabriel stood, scratching the back of his head. “Well, it’s getting late. I should head to bed…feel free to stay out here or the couch if you prefer. Is there anything I can get you?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Thanks for everything today, Gabe.”
“You’re welcome.” The words felt odd as they left his mouth. He felt like he should still be apologizing. He hesitated, wondering if she would say anything else. “Uh, good night.” He turned and walked towards the sliding door, releasing his breath as he closed it behind him.
What the hell just happened? Disgusted with himself, he threw himself on his bed, fully dressed.
