Chapter Thirteen
A drive, a night at the hotel, and our dream climb up Sentinel Rock later, I was in the shower trying to relieve my ultra-sore muscles. I loved to climb but hadn't been able to do much of it in the past few months, and man was my body paying now. Climbing caused me to use muscles that usually sat dormant, and they were not happy at being awakened.
But the sore muscles were worth it because of the climb and subsequent view we’d experienced. There was something incredible about the partnership it took for Easton and I to get to the top, the liberation of doing something so beyond what a human can usually do. I'd debated for like two seconds about taking on El Capitan, but in the end I’d opted for the smaller Sentinel Rock. It had still pushed me to my ultimate capacity, but I wasn't as fearful about losing my life.
The hot water pounded on my back as I tried to rub between my shoulders, but I wasn't having much luck.
The luxury suite I'd booked didn't lack any amenities. My large bathroom boasted a glass-walled shower that had three different shower heads. The countertop had two sinks which I would have to use on my own since Easton had his own bathroom in his room of the suite. And the mirror even had a TV in the middle of it. Somehow the mirror would give way to a TV screen as soon as it was turned on, and I had no idea how it worked. It was witchcraft, if you asked me.
I'd splurged a bit more on the suite since I’d wanted us to each have our own bedrooms. I’d thought about bringing all of Easton's camping gear and making a go at the outdoorsy type of vacation Easton often endured for work. But I figured he deserved sleeping on a bed instead of on the hard ground for once. And I didn't mind the luxe mattress either.
After too long under the water and realizing I would probably enter my golden years with some of these very same knots in my back, I got out of the shower. I brushed my hair, threw on my PJs and called it good. I loved that I never had to try for Easton. I could if I wanted to, but he somehow always made me feel beautiful. Even though we'd never dated. I never felt more special than when Easton gave me his satisfied Easton smile, the one that said he was so pleased with his life just the way it was. One I knew he gave out infrequently, yet I'd been the recipient of a number of times.
I went into the living room of our suite where Easton sat on the couch in a pair of swim shorts and without a shirt. After living with the guy for ten years, I'd never gotten used to the sight of his bare torso, even though I'd memorized every contour and ridge of his hard chest that gave way to splendid abs. It was like asking a person to get used to living under the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It would never happen.
"I think we need to celebrate our last night here," Easton said as he glanced out at the balcony of our suite, which boasted a hot tub.
I glanced at Easton's bare chest and realized it probably wasn't a good idea. Especially since I was still working on finding the right time to tell him what Priscilla had said, and I needed my wits about me to do so. Easton's bare chest tended to make me lose my wits.
"Um," I said as I rubbed a sore spot on my shoulder.
"Couldn't your body use it after that climb? I know mine could," Easton said, and I didn't have it in me to lie. I could use the time in a hot tub. And maybe I could withstand Easton's chest. But I knew that was a lie before I could even finish the sentence. Easton's chest drained me of all rational thought. But I was still going to join Easton. I could tell him the truth in the morning ... when he had a shirt on.
"Just let me put on my suit," I said as I hurried back to my room and rummaged through my backpack to find the bathing suit I'd packed. I had learned early on in my friendship with Easton to always be prepared for any kind of adventure. That meant having the right clothing on hand at all times.
Easton gave a friendly whistle as I came out of my room and joined him again in the living room. "Looking good, Jos," he said in a way that made me feel pretty but also let me know that his observation was a purely friendly one. Man, didn't I wish it were more.
The bubbling of the hot tub hit my ears as soon as I opened the balcony doors, and I realized Easton had already turned the thing on. The evening had gotten chilly in the Northern California mountains, and I ran from the doorway of our suite the few steps to the hot tub and quickly sank my body into the warm water.
I let out a sigh of relief as my muscles thanked me.
"Told you," Easton said with a grin as he got into the hot tub and took the seat right next to me.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin that had nothing to do with the chilly night air, and I slyly shifted myself away from the shirtless Easton. How could he not see the affect he had on me?
"Thanks for this," Easton said sincerely as he waved a hand toward the suite, and I knew he was including the climb we'd gone on that day.
"You're not disappointed we didn't take on the Capitan?" I asked. Easton was known for taking on the biggest and hardest adventure anywhere he traveled.
"How could I be? I got to spend the day with you," he said, and I worked hard not to sigh or give any signs that I was melting. Why did he have to be so sweet? Why couldn't he love me the way that I loved him?
He erased the space I had made between us and put his arm around me, pulling me into his bare chest.
I wasn't sure I was going to survive. My body went weak, and my brain went haywire. How good would it feel to be romantically adored by Easton Price?
He kissed the top of my head, and I knew I was a goner. Nothing that came out of my mouth, nothing that my body did while I was in such a precarious position, could I be blamed for.
"Easton?" I asked, and I knew what was going to come out of my mouth. Some sane part of my brain begged me to stop, but the words were going to come. I had to do this now. He had to know the truth. I had always known the end of the trip would come to this.
So many words came to mind of what I could say next. Priscilla is only using you for your money. She's not who you think she is. But I realized I didn't want it to come down to that until it had to. I wanted to tell him the truth about my feelings and have that be enough. I wanted to say choose me, not her. Marry me, not her. We would be so good together. We like the same things. I make you smile, and you make me laugh. Start a life with me. But I decided if I wanted him to know my truth, I had to keep it simple by laying it all on the table in just a few words.
"I love you," I said, and I felt Easton's arm stiffen behind my back.
"I love you too," he said lightly. But he had to know the flippant I love you he gave me wasn't what I meant, right? The friendship love we'd always had was the base of what I felt, but it went so far beyond that now.
"No, Easton," I began, and Easton dropped his arm, struggling to sit up straight beside me.
"Jos," he said, and I heard the warning in his tone. But I had to say it. I’d said too much to just pretend what was happening wasn't. I'd already taken a step too far. I was finally going to be the brave woman I'd craved being. Even though, judging by Easton's reaction, my feelings weren't going to get a warm reception. But I had to keep going, even as tears pricked my eyes. I had to finally be true to me.
"Choose me, Easton," I said as I turned my body to look at him. But that was a mistake. Even under the moonlight, I could tell that his skin had gone too pale and that his eyes held none of the warmth I'd hoped they would.