Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
But especially as we arrived at Big Rock Cove—a tucked away little waterfall in the trees that came down in a gorgeous rush onto a clear, natural pool of water below—I realized that I’d loved every single thing about being in Jade River, too. It was a scary, but very real, realization.
“Got to love him, right?” I said to Tristan’s siblings as I watched Tris jump into the water, right as we got there. “I’ve always wished I had his energy.” I was still convinced Tristan had the heebie jeebies after our hookup last night, but the sun was high overhead, the weather was perfect, and I wanted to try to have a good time here.
Lindsay gave me a quick glance, smiling. “I can tell,” she said.
“We all love him, too,” Nathan said, gathering our coolers and chairs from the back of the van. “I don’t think Tristan really realizes how much we actually missed him.”
I nodded once. “He doesn’t always realize how wonderful he is,” I said.
In a lot of ways, Jade River, Colorado was a lot like Amberfield. A small town, away from all the clamor and smog of the city. But here, Denver was just an hour and a half away—less, if traffic wasn’t bad that day. As we were driving out this morning, we’d passed through the Jade River town center, which was only a few blocks but seemed to have tons of cute little shops, bars, and restaurants, as well as a hardware store that looked shockingly impressive.
And Big Rock Cove, from what I’d seen so far, was a slice of paradise, as far as I was concerned.
“Everything here looks like it could be on a postcard,” I said as I walked over to the clearing on top of the cliffs with all of Tristan’s siblings.
“I’d bet Big Rock Cove probably is on a postcard, in some touristy shop somewhere,” Nathan said.
We set up our chairs and a big picnic blanket in the shade of some trees above the water. From here, I could see half of the rushing waterfall, and I saw Tristan below, wading around in the pool of water, glistening.
“I’m taking a picture for the bartenders back at Red’s Tavern,” I said, pulling out my phone to snap some shots. “The Big Rock Cock is actually a sculpture they have sitting in the center of the place. Big Rock Cove is a little tamer, but I think they’ll get a kick out of it.”
“Sounds awesome to me,” Lindsay said.
I sent out the photos to the Red’s Tavern group, and within thirty seconds Sam had already responded.
>>Sam: I don’t see a single penis-shaped protrusion in those rock formations, so it’s nowhere near as good as the Big Rock Cock.
>>Perry: That’s gorgeous, Jack. Ignore Sam.
>>Red: Jealous. Have a good one.
I grinned at the screen. “I’ve been told there’s not enough phallic shapes in these rocks already,” I said.
Shawn snorted. “I’m sure if you go to the public restrooms you’ll find graffiti of a dick somewhere, even here.”
“Are you and Tris close with the people at that tavern?” Lindsay asked. “I know he said he’s going to miss a lot of things about Kansas, but most of all, you.”
“I’ve only been a regular there for a little while now, but the people are kind of magical,” I said. “It’s one of the best bars I’ve ever been to.”
“We’ve got a good pub around here too, I promise,” Shawn said. “Maybe it wouldn’t compare to Red’s Tavern, but I think you might like it. We can go sometime in the next couple of days.”
“Oh, now you’re on the convince-Jack-to-move train, too?” Nathan said, smiling as he kicked back in his camping chair.
Shawn shrugged. “So what? I like the guy. He can do whatever he wants, but sure, I’d love it if he moved here.”
“Shucks,” I said. “You all are going to make me blush.”
“Really, we just love seeing Tris so happy,” Lindsay said. “And I’ve never seen him as happy as he is around you.”
I didn’t tell her that after last night, I wasn’t so sure Tristan wanted to be around me anymore.
Tristan had been slowly making his way back up the step-like rocks at the side of the swimming hole, and now he was walking back over to us, dripping wet in the sunlight. He looked like some sort of fallen angel, dark-haired and sultry, with his tattoos on full display.
“How’s the water?” Nathan asked.
“Jump in and find out,” Tristan said, a slight smile coming over his face. “It’s perfect, guys. You coming in already, or what?”
“I’m going to sit up here and read my book,” Lindsay said. “You guys have fun down there.”
“I’ll swim, but I’m definitely not cannon-balling it like Tristan does,” Nathan said. “I get in water slowly, thank you very much.”
“Blue?” Tris said, eyeing me with his brows raised. I wanted to pounce on him, but I decided to channel my adrenaline into a little cliff dive.