Page 59 of Nothing But Air

But his smile must not have been convincing because she pushed on. “Are you upset about not going out with the teams tomorrow?”

Noah opened his mouth, completely lost for words. He couldn’t exactly say, “Actually, I’m upset because I was going to propose tonight and now the sunset is ruined and the ring is just sitting in my pocket and I love you so much it terrifies me.”

“It would kill me to stay behind too,” Liam jumped in. “But with Eden on one of the teams, I’m glad you’ll be on the other end of the radio.”

Thank you, Liam.

Meg’s expression softened. She checked her watch, then glanced at the windows where the last traces of the colored sky were fading. “It’s getting late. Do you want to leave?”

Noah looked at Meg’s face, still flushed with happiness. At Nimue trying to convince Liam to do a duet.

The proposal could wait.

This moment—Meg happy and relaxed, surrounded by friends, having the kind of fun she deserved after weeks of stress—this mattered more than his carefully laid plans.

“Let’s stay.” He pulled her closer, dropping a kiss on her head. Her hair smelled like lavender. “You’re having fun. I’m having fun watching you have fun. As long as you don’t try to get me up there.”

Meg’s grin turned wicked. “Challenge accepted.”

She kissed his cheek, then stood, already scanning the song list.

Noah slid his hand in his pocket and touched the ring box one more time.

Then let it go.

The timing would come. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but it would come.

Forever could wait one more day.

Seven

Teague couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed this hard.

The lodge held a fraction of its usual summer capacity, but everyone who’d remained after the closing seemed to be here—both climbing teams, remaining park staff. Even Virgil had shown up for the spontaneous karaoke night. But where the room would normally be packed wall-to-wall with visitors and seasonal workers, tonight there were empty tables. Dark corners. A hollowness that made the laughter echo differently.

Teague stood near the back with a Dr Pepper he’d barely touched, his gaze sweeping the half-empty space. Its massive log-beam ceiling disappeared into shadows thirty feet overhead. Warm light from the iron chandeliers cast pools of amber across stone walls and white tablecloths. The last traces of sunset were gone, leaving the floor-to-ceiling windows dark and ominous.

The scent of pine logs and old wood mingled with something sweet from the kitchen that Teague hoped would make an appearance soon.

This place had been the heart of the park every summer for years. Full of life and music and people who loved this canyon.

Now it was a ghost of itself.

Eden and Xander took a dramatic bow and exited the mini stage after an incredible duet of “I Got You Babe.” The karaoke machine’s speakers crackled with age. Most of the performances tonight had been tolerable at best—enthusiastic but pitch-challenged—but no matter what Eden had hinted atearlier, she could not only carry a tune but, paired with Xander, also give a quality impression of Sonny and Cher.

Xander’s six-foot-three height hadn’t exactly worked for the vibe, so Eden had stood on a chair for the finale. Her chin still hadn’t reached above his head, but the crowd had loved it anyway.

“I don’t think there’s anything going on between them.” Noah appeared beside Teague, leaning back against the wall. His breath carried faint peppermint from the gum he was chewing.

Teague glanced over to where Eden and Xander were downing water by the song list. Xander pointed to something in the book. She shook her head, laughing—the sound bright and unguarded in a way that made Teague’s chest tighten.

But something about it didn’t strike that chord of jealousy like it might have right after the rescue.

For some reason he couldn’t quite name, he didn’t get the impression she was interested in Xander.

Kyle definitely hadn’t gotten the same message. He sat at a round table in the middle of the room, third beer in hand, glaring at the pair. The bottle made a hollow sound when he set it down too hard. His jaw was tight. Shoulders rigid. Teague didn’t like the way he was looking at Eden, which was exactly why he’d been counting the guy’s beers.

Teague just nodded at Noah.