Page 6 of Marrying the Guide
“Gerard—my ex—had this way of making me feel small, almost invisible. I’m trying to find who I am without him.”
Bingo. I’d been right. A protective surge barreled through me, and I itched to pull him into a hug and tell him everything would be okay. “Sounds like a tough journey, but you’ll find your way again.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. And you? Do you have a partner?”
“Also divorced, coming up on five years now. We were together for ten years, and as cliché as it sounds, we grew apart. No drama, no harsh words, no fights. She saw it before I did, but we split amicably. Six months ago, she remarried, and I was at her wedding. Her new husband is a wonderful guy.”
“That’s great. And how it should be.”
“Sure, but it’s all but impossible when someone hurts you the way your ex did. You’re allowed to have hard feelings.”
He chuckled. “Oh, trust me, I have lots of feelings. Sorting them out is gonna take time, I’m afraid.”
“So take that time. There’s no set schedule for such a betrayal. I imagine it’s a lot like grief. That only subsides over time as well.”
Onno slowly nodded. “Yes. You’re right. There you go with the excellent life advice again.”
“You’re welcome. All part of the service. Now, tell me, do you have any clue where we are on the map?”
He laughed, the sadness evaporating. “If I say no, does that mean I have to go on another hike with you?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Yup.”
I couldn’t wait.
The forest, which usually held my attention, faded into a mere backdrop as we continued walking side by side. With every word exchanged, every shared laugh, every dry joke, my attraction to Onno grew, unfolding like the petals of a flower reaching for sunlight. I hadn’t felt like this about another man since college.
Not so straight after all. Be still my beating heart.
3
ONNO
The moment consciousness took hold, I wished it hadn’t. My body hurt like I’d survived a battle, each muscle screaming its tale of defeat from yesterday’s hike. Moving was a challenge, a protest staged by every cell in my legs as I tried to sit up. My throbbing feet would probably look worse than the day before when I’d inspected them once I was home. And that had been…not pretty.
I carefully lifted the covers, revealing the sorry state of my feet. The sight was almost comical—if it wasn’t so painful. Clenching my teeth, I forced myself into a sitting position and swung my legs over the side. If I allowed myself to stay in bed, I’d be there all day. On the night table stoof a small bottle of ibuprofen next to a glass of water and a tube with antibacterial cream. Bless Brianna.
“Ah, the foresight of a saint.” I downed two ibuprofen eagerly, hoping they’d offer some respite soon. I’d have to wait to apply the cream until after I’d showered.
After throwing on a T-shirt and sweatpants, I hobbled into the living room, where I sank into a reclining chair. Putting my feet up sounded like an excellent plan.
Brianna came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. Whatever she’d been baking smelled delicious.
“How are you doing, honey?” Brianna patted my shoulder carefully.
I let out a deep sigh, and even that made my body ache. “Everything hurts. Who knew a beginner’s hike would be so strenuous?”
“Well, breaking your boots in probably would’ve helped.”
“If I had known boots needed to be broken in, I would have.”
Brianna winced, her hands coming to rest on her hips. “Oh, Onno, I’m so sorry. I should’ve mentioned that. It’s common knowledge around here, but I forgot you’re new to all this hiking business.”
“Don’t worry about it. I learned this lesson the hard way, so I won’t make that mistake again.”
She bent over and studied my feet. “Yikes, those are some impressive war wounds. Try to stay off them today, okay?”
“Wasn’t planning on running a marathon, trust me. And thanks for the cream you left for me. I’ll put some on after I shower.”