The Birthday List(68)

Every agonizing step up this mountain had become so much more than just marking a box on Jamie’s list. This was a chance to prove to myself that I had the strength Cole saw in me. To prove I could overcome any pain.

That no matter what life threw at me, this was my chance to prove I could handle it all. Blistered feet, shattered heart—I could survive it all and keep marching on.

“I can do this.” I held my breath, ready for the inevitable pain as I stepped past Cole. He let me go this time but I felt his eyes on my back as I took one step, then another. My hopes soared when the pain didn’t bring me down.

I’d almost convinced myself I could make it this last stretch when I took another step and my foot slipped again, forcing me back to my hands and knees. “Damn it!” I cried. “I’m so close.”

Cole’s hand came to my back as he knelt by my side. “Let me help.” Gently, he positioned me so I was sitting on the narrow trail for an overdue break.

“I just need a minute, then I’ll be okay.” I sniffled and wiped away a fresh batch of tears.

He sighed, but instead of taking a seat next to me, he knelt by my outstretched feet as he started untying the laces on my boots.

“What are you doing?”

“Assessing the damage.” With a tender touch, he tugged off my boots.

Even though he’d taken care, I winced as they pulled free. Just as I’d suspected, my socks were spotted with blood. My heels were the worst, nearly the entire area covered in red, with my toes a close runner-up.

“Fuck, Poppy.” Cole shook his head. “Those boots are not going back on.”

“But—”

He held up a finger, cutting me off. “I want to take these socks off too, but it’s going to hurt.”

“Okay.” I sucked in a huge breath and held it as Cole’s fingers stretched my socks wide, peeling them away from my raw skin. The cotton stuck in a few places, and as it pulled free, a pained cry escaped my lips. Blood rushed to both feet, causing them to swell immediately.

My feet were wrecked. There was no way I’d be able hike up any farther and I had no idea how we’d get back down. The soles of my feet were surprisingly unscathed. Maybe I could pull back on my socks and just go down in them. Because at this point, anything was better than the boots.

I opened my mouth to tell Cole my plan, but he talked first. “Can I see your backpack?”

“Sure.” I stripped it off my shoulders and handed it over. There wasn’t much in it, just my canteen and a couple of granola bars.

Cole shoved my boots and my socks into the backpack and then loosened the straps before putting it over his own shoulders.

“I’m going—”

—to need those socks. But before I could get the words out, he scooped me off the ground, bouncing me a bit as he situated me in his arms.

“Cole! What are you doing?”

“Carrying you.”

“You can’t carry me.”

He looked down at me and smiled. “Sure, I can.”

“I’m too heavy.”

“You’re light as a feather, besides, it’s not much farther.”

Not much farther? “It’s miles.” Four point two miles, to be exact.

“It’s just up this incline.” He took a step in the wrong direction. Instead of turning and taking me back down the trail, he started marching forward, carefully navigating the rocky trail as he carried me toward the peak.

“Where are you going?” I squirmed, trying to get down but he just gripped me tighter. “Cole, no! You’ll hurt yourself. It’s too steep.”

He paused and considered my words. “You’re right.” He set me down on my bare feet and unslung the backpack. “Put this on for me, would you?”

“But—”

“Now, Poppy. I want to get back before dark.”

I didn’t argue—I just strapped on the pack. With him carrying me, our descent would be much slower and I didn’t want to delay us getting back on the trail. The last thing I wanted was to be out here at night with the bears.

He tapped his back and crouched. “Climb on.”

“Okay.” With a tiny jump, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his waist. He boosted me higher so his arms were cupped underneath my knees.

“Are you good?” When I hummed an uh-huh, he took a step, again in the wrong direction.

“Cole, what are you doing? We need to turn back.” I swung an arm behind us, in the direction we were supposed to be going.

“Hold still, Poppy.” He took another step. “And clamp tight with your legs.”

“Cole,” I pleaded. “It’s too much. Turn around.”

He ignored me, moving forward on the trail without so much as a backward glance or a labored breath.

“Please?” I whispered into his hair.

“Not a chance. Just hold tight.”

No amount of pleading or begging would change his mind so I stayed quiet, doing what he’d asked. I clamped my legs tight and did my best to hold still, making it as easy as possible for him to get up the trail.

Which he did. He carried me up the trail and right to the shore of the icy mountain lake.

Cole set me down on my bare feet and stepped behind me to open the backpack and dig out my canteen. As the cold from the ground seeped into my aching feet, dulling some of the pain, he took a long drink of water. Then he put the canteen back and stood at my side, staring out to the lake.