Love Grows in Alaska (The Washington Triplets) (10 page)

MY ALARM BLARES THROUGH THE
dark room and I squint my eyes at the glowing blue lights stating it’s six-thirty in the morning. “Crap,” I mumble and roll over where my arm finds an empty spot next to me. Quickly scooting up, I reach over and fumble to find the light switch. I squint from the brightness of the lights that immediately fills the room. My stomach plummets and I pull my legs up to my chest as I zero in on the disheveled sheets next to me. Picking up the pillow, I smell the scent of Zach’s cologne, the only evidence that last night wasn’t a made-up fantasy in my head. Memories of his gentle hands exploring my body, leaving shivers in the wake of his touch come to the forefront. The romantic words he whispered along every inch of my body with each kiss. Taking his time with me, slow and tender until the very end. Then a half hour later, showing me his alpha side I already knew he possessed. Unable to hold himself back, grabbing my ass with his strong hands and prying my legs open for his taking. The image of my legs spread open and his sweaty body slicking along mine as he spouted explicit ways he would take my body ring in my head, igniting a pool of moisture between my legs again. Both his smooth technical and animalistic sides are ones I’ve never experienced by anyone before. I hate to admit it, but I only crave more of him because of it.

I was so spent after our last time, I’m positive I collapsed asleep immediately. Zach pulled me on top of him, wrapping me in his warm embrace. My dark hair lay on top of his hard chest and I honestly thought nothing could be better than his fingers absentmindedly running through my hair while I’m tight in his arms. How do we go from that to me waking up in an empty bed? Shaking my head, I refuse to release the tears pricking behind my eyes, while my throat constricts to hold it together. I thought Zach was different and his mannerisms gave the false pretense he cared for me. As usual, I put trust into someone, just for them to hurt me. That usual feeling of worthlessness washes to the forefront. Nate’s words sting me again. “No one will ever want you. You’re lucky you have me.” The two conflicting worlds of Nate’s words and Zach’s actions from last night whirl around in a tornado, mixed together, making me more confused. Was I just a one-night thing with Zach? I wasn’t expecting a long term relationship, well, I can’t say my mind never veered that way. But I at least expected a breakfast in the slightest as a thank you for handing over my body.

My phone rings, and the shock of the loud noise in a quiet room startles me. Scrambling to answer, it muddles in my hands before I can get a good grip. “Hello,” I quietly answer, even though there’s no one to wake up.

“Just wanted to make sure you were up.” Libby’s voice rings over the other end, too loud for the morning hour.

“I’m up.” I stand up, maneuvering to the bathroom.

“Well, after all those noises last night, I figured I better check. You’d think an animal was being trapped from your shrills.” She laughs and I hear a masculine laugh in the background.

“Who’s with you, Libby?” Her laughter stops and the line silences. “Libby,” I demand.

“Wes.” I can almost picture her scooting her glasses up her nose in a scared response. I’m half relieved it wasn’t Camden. I couldn’t even count how many times I stupidly went back to Nate after fights we had similar to last night. Of course, I wasn’t sleeping with my co-worker either.

“Oh, just so you know, we aren’t done talking about that,” I remind her, and a little giggle escapes. I’m not sure if it’s from my comment or that Wes is doing something to her, which makes me grossed out and a little jealous.

“I didn’t think so, but I didn’t think you’d want to be interrupted from your pleasure last night. Sorry if I woke up Mr. Alaska.”

“He’s not here,” I solemnly inform her and her breath releases on the other end of the phone.

“Why the hell not?” That cheery girl turns angry.

“I’m not sure,” I honestly tell her. Libby’s the closest friend I’ve got here and with the distance between my sisters, I need someone right now.

“Oh, Marisa. I’m sorry,” her concerned voice says. “Me and you tonight. No guys, okay?” I hear Wes’s protests in the background and Libby whispering for him to stop.

“That’s okay, Lib, I’ll survive. I’m going to go get ready. See you in an hour.” I hang up because I don’t want to continue this conversation when I know she’d rather be with Wes.

After the shower, I don’t bother doing my hair, but pull it to the side and braid it so it hangs over my shoulder. Putting on a pair of jeans, a sweater plus a jacket, I wonder how anyone could look appealing in Alaska. The only amount of skin that shows is my face and once I’m outside, that will be covered up as well. Maybe that’s why Zach said all those nice things to me last night; it isn’t often he sees bare skin. Quickly debating that, I shake it from my head. A man like Zach probably sees and handles more skin than I do paperwork at Henbrook.

By the time I arrive downstairs, it’s only me and Pete. He grabs coffee for both of us and sits down on the couch with me. “Hi,” he says and the hurt in his eyes as clear as the water that fills the glacier lake. Obviously, since Libby heard me and Zach last night, Pete probably did, too. It’s not even just embarrassment that comes over me, but regret now. Shows I shouldn’t venture out of my two-by-two good girl box … look at my track record.

“Hi. Thank you.” I blow on the coffee and watch the steam rise out of the cup, concentrating on anything but Pete.

“You’re welcome,” he responds and we sit there in silence for a few minutes. “So, are Wes and Libby, like together, together?” he asks and I giggle from the adolescent meaning of his words. Thankfully, he does too, breaking the tension.

“Yeah, I guess so.” I look over to him and we share a smile.

“Co-workers in a relationship? Never would have guessed those two.”

“Me either.”

“How long have you known?” he asks, leaning back in his chair, growing more comfortable with the awkward situation.

“I’ve suspected since we got here, but confirmed last night when Camden showed up.”

“Shit, really?”

“Yep.” I nod and his head shakes back and forth.

“I guess I missed some crazy shit last night.” He takes a sip of his coffee.

“You did. Where were you?” I ask, because usually Pete is in the thick of drama, but last night I didn’t see him once.

He glances over to me and waits a few seconds before answering. “I’ve kind of been talking a little to this girl from back home. You know we reconnected through Facebook and stuff.” He shoves it off as though it’s nothing, but it peaks my curiosity. If he’s been talking with another girl, I’m embarrassed to think I’ve misunderstood all his touches and chivalrous actions. Maybe Pete’s just a nice guy, and since I’m used to being with assholes, I couldn’t tell the difference.

“Oh. That’s nice.” I take a sip of my coffee and sit up a little straighter, showing I’m invested in his story.

“Well, we’ll see if it ever goes anywhere. She’s kind of like the one that I let slip from my grasp, but I don’t want to tell her that. I don’t want a repeat of high school.” Pete gives no explanation and I don’t blame him. It’s not as though we are close friends. But I definitely wouldn’t mind a guy referring to me as the one who got away.

“I wish you the best of luck.” I truly do, and not just because hopefully he won’t be pestering me anymore. Because Pete really is a good guy under that know-it-all persona and he deserves someone that will appreciate all of his quirks.

“Thanks.” He nods his head toward the elevators. “Here comes the new couple now.” I don’t have to turn around to hear Libby’s constant giggling. When they round the corner and join us, their smiles of new found love are enough for me throw my coffee in their faces to wipe the happiness off.

“Let’s go.” I stand up and walk out the rotating doors, where I spot our van outside for pick-up. Escaping through the doors first, I grab a seat in the front, because I will not be witness to Wes and Libby’s love-induced touchy feely shit for the entire drive up to whatever damn place is mandated I go today. Especially, after the morning of defeat I’ve had. Defeated by someone I want to fall in love with me because Zach gave me that feeling, but then squashed my dreams of finding an ever after with his vanishing act this morning.

“You know we’re going hiking, right?” Pete leans forward, taking in my inappropriate attire for a long hike up a mountain. I never even bothered to read the itinerary. Now I wish I would have worn yoga pants, but at least I have my sneakers on.

“No, but I should be good.” Staring back his way, I second guess myself, noticing he’s wearing a pair of athletic pants and a sweatshirt. Great. My phone dings in my pocket and I snatch it out quickly, hoping it’s Zach. But then again, we never exchanged phone numbers before his disappearance this morning.

Swiping my finger, it’s an email from Mikaela. Reading that she’s not sure if she’ll make it to our dad’s wedding takes my day from bad to worse. Both of my sisters’ attempts to not attend my dad’s wedding are driving me crazy. He’s our dad, we have to be there regardless of our feelings on if he cheated on our mom. But then again, maybe I shouldn’t go either. It’s always me doing the right thing and that would be the
good girl
thing to do– go to the wedding, walk down that aisle and keep my mouth shut. I can almost hear the gossiping whispers if I didn’t go.
Did you know, not even Marisa came back for the wedding? Her, the good one.
Maybe that’s what my dad deserves, to not have any of his daughters there. But I’ll never not go; I may be able to change myself to flirt a little with a hot guy like Zach Greer, but not being there for a member of my family isn’t an option. Even if I wish I had the guts like Mya and Mikaela to forget it all back home.

A half hour later, I’m thankful when we arrive at the base of the Portage Lake. It frees up my mind to think of things other than back home in Chicago. Swarms of people are filing out of the line of buses in the parking lot. All dressed in their warmest clothes with cameras leisurely hanging from their necks, they follow in a straight line up to the Visitor’s Center. I stuff my phone in my pocket and open the door fully aware all those unsettled problems will be waiting for me after this team hike. Pushing Zach from my mind is hard, but a must if I’m going to survive the rest of this week.

“Your tour guide should be here shortly,” the driver tells me and I nod, hoping like hell the outdoors washes my memory clean. Don’t people say a good dose of nature can be healing? To see the beautiful things that magically occur to give you appreciation of what your future holds.

“Thank you.” The four of us follow the masses to the log cabin-looking center, until Pete points forward to a white sign hanging off of the edges of the roof.
Reckle’s Guide Tours
in black lettering. Figuring that’s where our guide will be, we all make our way over there.

I lean against the wall while we wait. Pete reads the facts about the park and any animals we may spot. Continuing to spout dimensions of the glacier and how it’s retreated over the years, I quickly zone out. Not fully paying attention, I examine my nails, since this is the last place I truly want to be. Buried in my bed, away from everyone sounds better. “You ready?” a deep voice whispers in my ear and the smell of his soap overtakes my nostrils. Panic quickly rushes through my veins that he’s here now, whispering in my ear, when he left me alone in my bed this morning.

Turning his way, my eyes read the embroidered name on his windbreaker–
Reckle’s Guide Tours
. Shit, of course he’s my tour guide for the day. “What are you doing here?” I sneer, my eyes narrowing. Stepping back, breaking any distance from him, his smile turns down.

“I’m your tour guide. I had to pull a lot of strings to make this happen.” He steps forward, but I back up further and he cocks his head to the side. No concern that maybe he hurt me this morning, only assumption that I should be jumping into his arms.

“So, I should kiss your feet for it? Maybe I should thank you for last night too?” I surprise myself when the hurt I’ve concealed this morning comes out in venom anger.

“What’s wrong, Marisa?” He closes the distance like he always does with me, breaking the barrier of personal space. “I thought—” We get interrupted by a group of four boisterous girls.

“Hi, we’re here for the tour,” the one blonde, with enough eye make-up you’d think she was a Vegas showgirl, announces. The four of them practically bounce on their toes in their skin tight spandex pants and tight fitted t-shirts with vests over them. Clearly having something I don’t, the body to make a man fall to his knees, automatically becoming devoted to them.

“Um … hi.” Zach’s head turns to look at them and then back to me. His eyes are torn; he’s the guide and needs to excuse himself from me to introduce himself. “Hold tight,” he tells the group and backs me up around the corner, away from everyone. “I’m not sure why you’re upset, but I have to start the tour. We can talk about this at dinner.” He grabs my hand and entwines our fingers, clasping them together. That damn spark is still there, zinging me to the core. “Okay?” He patiently waits, even with everyone’s distraught behavior of having to wait and I nod. He tosses his head over his shoulder to make sure no one can see us and then bends down to kiss me. After the briefest brushing along my lips, he pulls back. “Is it crazy that I missed you in only a few short hours?” I melt, literally puddle with his words. I’m starting to think with these over romantic things he’s saying, there was some mix-up to why I awoke in a hotel room this morning alone, but I’m not ready to completely let go of my concerns.

I don’t respond and he fixates on me before reluctantly retreating back to the group. “Hi, everyone. I’m Zach Greer and I’ll be your tour guide today. Let’s make some quick introductions.” When I appear around the corner, Libby leaves Wes’s side and comes to mine, linking her arm with mine in solidarity, as though telling Zach, don’t mess with my girl. Amazing how certain people just click and that was Libby and I. I had her back last night and she’s paying me back this morning.