Page 270 of Exiled

I watch curiously as Nolan grabs our coats from the hall closet.

“Where are you taking me?” I say, slipping mine on.

He shrugs into his, leaving it unzipped. “It’s a surprise.”

We head for the front door and slip on our boots. With it being late March, it’s far less brittle out than it was. Much of the snow we got during last month’s storm has even melted, but it’s still thick and slushy in spots, so our boots are a must if we’re going to be out walking.

With it being winter, I’ve yet to see much of the property yet, save for a couple hikes here and there on milder days.

“Is that okay?” he says suddenly.

I meet his gaze questioningly.

“Do you need to know?”

Oh.

I shake my head. “No…no, I trust you.”

He flashes me a small smile, nods, and opens the door.

He was right in that he wasn’t taking me far. Just off to where the driveway ends, there’s a narrow path, one I’ve seen before, but haven’t gone down yet.

Our boots crunch softly against the ground on the path, the only sound to be heard out here.

I imagine what it must be like in the summer, with birds and crickets chirping from within the trees. Either way, it’s peaceful.

There’s a break in the trees just a few feet away. It’s a surprisingly clear night, with the moon and stars on full display, doubled by their reflection in the glittering black water appearing behind Nolan. Still frozen in spots, with snow creeping in around the sides. But there’s no doubt as to what it is.

I smile. “A lake?”

In my periphery, Nolan nods. He extends a hand, his face silvery where the shadows don’t touch.

I take his hand, and follow him down the small path leading to a wide, wooden dock. It’s still mostly covered in snow, mottled in spots where it’s seeped through the cracks in the wood.

Around us and the lake, pine trees form a sort of protective barrier, thick and green, with the exception of where heavy snow has clung on.

“It’s yours?” I find myself whispering, unable to tear my eyes away.

“Yep. It was my uncle’s land. He passed away a couple years after my dad did, and he left it to me.”

I nod, vaguely remembering him telling me this once.

“I was waiting for the water to thaw before I brought you down here. It’s even more gorgeous in the summer.”

“I bet,” I whisper.

“This dock?” he says, tapping his foot on the wood. “I built it when I came back from Black Diamond.”

I still.

And then, finally, I look at him. And he takes that moment to grab my shoulders, turning me so I face him fully.

“I wanted to go after you,” he says, and my eyes widen. “The second I got back, held Abby in my arms, and glanced over my shoulder to find Mel standing there…I knew.”

I shake my head. We already went over this, and I forgave him and—

“I knew you were it for me. But I didn’t think I deserved you. I didn’t think you could ever…” His voice trails off, seemingly failing him.