ChapterThree
The hardest part is coming
After Lilly had gotten a trunk load of supplies, she headed over to Riley’s house. She’d gotten the balls to call him when she’d gotten to her parents’ cabin, and he’d invited her over for dinner.
Tallin would be there, and even though she’d known these men her entire life, seeing them again after three years made this whole situation feel so strange.
The truth was she didn’t know what to say, and even though she’d have to figure that out pretty damn fast given that she would be seeing them shortly, everything in her seemed like it was at a standstill.
Even though the weather forecast hadn’t called for snow for a couple more days, there was a light flurry blowing in the air, covering the ground, and making the visibility sketchy ten feet in front of her.
The higher she drove into the mountains, the more ominous the sky appeared, and the more her nerves rose with the idea that she’d be seeing her guys again.
She just wished they were in different circumstances.
Finally seeing Riley’s massive cabin up ahead, she breathed a content, yet apprehensive sigh. It had been so long since she’d been up here, since she’d seen him.
But seeing the cabin brought back so many wonderful feelings that she couldn’t help but smile at the memories that played through her mind.
She pulled into the driveway and parked next to Tallin’s truck, her heart beating hard and fast and her palms sweating. He had an emblem and insignia of the Marines on the back of his truck, and as she tightened and loosened her hands on the steering wheel, she thought about what she would say to them.
Knowing the boys planned on making dinner and wanting to contribute something, she grabbed the bottle of red wine she’d picked up at the store.
As she made her way toward the door, the wind picked up and blew snow in her direction. She picked up her pace and got to the front door, breathing heavily not because she’d rushed or because of the weather, but because she was so damn nervous.
Once she reached the porch, it shielded her slightly from the weather onslaught.
Although she could have just walked right in, knowing they wouldn’t have cared, she hadn’t seen them for three years, and the thought of just bursting into Riley’s home seemed obtrusive.
She took hold of the icy brass knocker in the center of the rustic wood door and brought it down. It took a few seconds, but then the door was opened, and there, standing in the entryway, was Tallin.
Standing at six and a half feet tall, his big, imposing frame had her craning her head back to look him in the face. His dark hair was short, his blue eyes a contrast to his golden skin and dark colored hair.
His expression was stony at first, but it was as if seeing her had changed that to one of happiness.
“Lilly,” he said her name in that steely, deep voice, one that had a shiver racing up her spine. He broke into a smile, all straight and white teeth, his tattoos peeking out from under the collar of his shirt.
He reached out and pulled her inside, and the heat and scent of him slammed into her.
When the door shut she was left standing there, so close to him, knowing that she should feel guilty for being happy to see him given the circumstances, but not able to help how good it felt.
“Damn, it’s so good to see you, especially because of…” He didn’t finish, but she knew what he was going to say, knew he was going to mention Christian.
He pulled her against him and wrapped his massive arms around her. She rested her head on the center of his chest, closed her eyes, and just absorbed how good it felt to be held by him.
“God, I missed you, Lilly.”
His voice was deep and rough, a husky timbre as she heard him inhale against her hair. She could have cried right then and there from the sound of his voice alone, but a spark of willpower gave her the strength she needed to carry on.
“I missed you, too.”
They stayed in that embrace for a suspended moment. They broke away, and Tallin moved back, just staring at her.
“What?” She laughed at the expression that crossed his face. His dark hair was disheveled, and he regarded her solemnly with his forest green eyes.
“Nothing. I just really missed you.”
She smiled, not about to let herself get wrapped up in her emotions. She was already feeling stretched and worn down with the feelings bombarding her over Christian’s death. Letting herself cry now would only mean she wouldn’t be able to stop.