Page 80 of Accepting Fate

I get so lost in the kiss I forget to kick, and we dip below the surface of the water.

We break apart and swim back up and I’m hit with a wave. Wiping the water out of my face, I see Logan laughing her ass off. She gears up to splash me again and screams as I dip below the water swimming towards her. I resurface in front of her, and I’m hit again with another wave of water. Logan tries to swim back to the rock but I’m on her.

“Oh, hell no, Angel. You wanna play games, let’s fucking play.”

She spins around in the water and sticks her tongue out at me. “Game on, Bear.”

I toss my head back, laughing, and get hit with another splash.

The cold water is forgotten, and we attack each other. We take turns splashing each other and almost fucking in the water. I don’t know how long we do this but when I notice Logan’s lips turning blue, I call it.

We are both shivering and covered in goosebumps when we get out. I dry Logan off with my t-shirt and then myself.

When we are dressed, I open the backpack and take out the long sleeve I have stuffed in there, and toss it to Logan. She quickly tugs it on.

“Better?” I ask while bringing her into my arms to warm her up more.

“Yeah. Thank you.”

We both look back out at the water and take in the scene before us.

Logan breaks the silence. “Hey, Bear. Can we take a picture?”

I’m surprised. Her minor freak-out made me think she wouldn’t want to take any at all.

“I know I freaked out, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want the pictures for myself.”

Reaching into my pocket, I take out my phone and open the camera. Logan rises onto her toes and smiles at the camera. I take a few and then kiss her, snapping a few more.

We make our way back to the bike hand in hand. On the ride back to her place, her arms aren’t as tight around me.

I knew I was right that this trip was going to be good for both of us.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Logan

Grayson: Hey beautiful. I have to go out of town with my brothers. I don’t know when I’ll be home. Call you if we get back before it’s too late. If not call me when you wake up tomorrow.

DisappointmenthitsmeasI read his text. The thought of not seeing him when I get home after working six days in a row fucking sucks.

It’s been a few weeks since Gray and I spent that first weekend together. When I’m not working, we are spending all day in bed or going for rides up to our favorite hiking spots.

I have loved getting to know him more every day and I find myself wanting to tell him everything. I’m still terrified thathe who shall not be namedwill come to find me one day. But being with Gray has made me realize that I need to stop living scared and live life.

We still need to have a make-up date and go places with other people, but my work schedule has been insane. I haven’t been to his place yet, but I want to. I think Gray hasn’t asked yet because he doesn’t want to push me out of my comfort zone. I appreciate that, but I don’t want to hide away in my house or on a trail anymore.

Noah has texted me a few times, hinting that his mom is wanting to meet me and that he wants H and I to have drinks at The Handle with him soon. I was sitting on the couch with Grayson watching a movie one night when one of Noah’s texts came through. I tried not to laugh at how possessive caveman he got, but I couldn’t help it. Grayson knows I only have eyes for him, and Noah does too. I think Noah just likes to see Gray freak out.

I break out of my never-ending thoughts about Grayson when I feel my phone vibrate. My phone screen shows a picture of us at the waterfall. He’s kissing my cheek and I’m laughing.

Answering, I know why he’s calling, and it makes me feel like shit all over again for pushing him away when he made an innocent mistake.

“Hi, Bear.”

“Hey, Angel, sorry to call you at work. I wanted to make sure you got my text.” He sounds like he’s in a rush.

I hate that he has had to do this a couple of times now. When he has to go off with his brothers and I don’t answer within a few minutes, he calls.