Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“I’ve got you,” Cael said quietly, when my boot slipped once more on the icy ground, and I tried to find my balance. His voice sent shivers down my spine, ones that had nothing to do with the freezing temperatures and everything to do with the closed-off boy from Massachusetts who held me tightly in his arms.
And I felt he did have me. In his arms, I felt safe.
My racing heart began to slow as Cael righted my feet and steadied me on the step above him. I closed my eyes and managed to ward off my panic, then turned to face Cael. It took me a moment to realize that his hands were still on my waist. I swallowed deeply when I met his eyes. I was a large step up from where he stood, and he was still considerably taller than me. He was wearing a black beanie, but a few strands of his dark, messy waves escaped to fall over his striking silver-blue eyes.
“Thank you,” I said, and Cael searched my face. I didn’t know what he was looking for, but I felt my cheeks begin to burn under his attention. This time, my heart was racing for an entirely different reason. A feeling I wasn’t used to.
He cleared his throat. “Are you hurt?” he asked. His New England accent was strong—thick enough to rival my Georgian. I was so struck by him talking to me softly that I didn’t answer him.
But then he pushed. “Savannah?” Cael speaking my name brought me back from my wayward thoughts and grounded me again.
“Savannah? Are you okay?” Leo rushed to us and stopped beside Cael. Cael never took his eyes off me.
Dylan rushed to my side, and I caught everyone watching. I felt Cael’s hands on my waist tighten slightly as the others pulled my focus.
Feeling my face burn from all the attention, I said, “I’m fine.”
Cael began to bend down, and I swallowed as a strand of his dark hair brushed over my cheek. It smelled of mint. He checked my ankle, his large hands wrapping around my boot, testing the flexibility. There was no pain.
Embarrassment seemed to be my only injury.
“That okay?” he asked gruffly as he bent it left and right, making slow, careful circles.
“Yes,” I said, voice hoarse.
“You sure?” Leo asked, concern on his face. I wouldn’t be the reason the group couldn’t carry on.
“I promise,” I said. It was true. I had been too caught up thinking of Poppy and lost my footing. Thoughts of Poppy often made me lose concentration.
“Okay, then let’s keep going,” Leo said.
Cael released my ankle, and I felt a cold breeze wrap around me at his absence. He stood again then, rocking on his feet, like he was debating something in his head. Then he offered me his arm. “Do … do you need help the rest of the way up?”
I didn’t answer with words. They escaped me at that moment. Instead, I carefully threaded my arm through his and let him walk beside me as we caught up to the others, who were waiting for us at the top. I tried to ignore the light fluttering of wings in my chest that his offer brought.
Dylan flanked my other side. When I felt his stare burning into me, I turned, only for him to subtly nudge his head in Cael’s direction and gave me a bewildered expression. I knew Dylan only liked me as a friend; he’d given me zero romantic vibes. And he clearly found Cael helping me as surprising as I did.
I hadn’t had many friends in my life. My sisters were always my everything. But I had felt an instant connection with Dylan. He was sweet. And funny. And I was pretty sure he was a complete lost soul, just like me. Only his bubbly personality awarded him a better facade, and his suffering was successfully disguised.
Cael’s arm was strong under mine. He didn’t say anything as we climbed. But our shared silence didn’t feel strained. It was … nice. Peaceful. I’d always been quieter in nature. I didn’t need noise to fill any kind of void.
But this, to be serenely silent with another person, was a blessing I wasn’t expecting on this trip. People always wanted to talk. It seemed Cael shared my preference for silence.
When we reached the top step, any cold I had been feeling from the harsh wind and low temperatures had vanished, and a sheen of sweat covered my forehead.
I fought to cool down, to catch my breath, my thighs screaming in exertion.
“Are you okay?” Lili asked me. Jade and Mia listened in too.
“Yeah, I promise. I just slipped.”
My head was lowered in embarrassment. But then I felt Cael’s arm tense underneath mine, a sharp breath escaping his lips. I looked up. I exhaled a quick breath too at the sight before me—the view that had captured Cael’s attention. A green patchwork quilt of English countryside stretched before us. Trees of all shades of green and browns, stone walls, and snow-covered bare branches made an oil painting from the view. A mist roiled over the ground, like the sky had lowered to join with the earth for a few sacred hours.