Page 2 of The Firefighter's Angel
“You’re unbelievable, Lenny!” Mom says with a loud scoff. “I can’t believe you booked a place so far from civilization! And why is it so enormous?” She slams the passenger door.
“I told you I booked it for six people in case your family wants to visit!” Lenny fires back.
“I said it was just the four of us! Why would I want extra people here?”
“Maybe because you change your mind every five seconds?”
I sigh, pressing my forehead against the cool glass of the window for a moment before dragging myself out of the car. While Mom and Lenny continue to argue, Lyle slinks past me, bumping my shoulder like it’s a game.
Inside, the tension grows even thicker. Doors open and close hard, bags are dropped with too much force. Lenny’s voicebounces off the walls, sharp and bitter. Mom’s tone gets thinner and shriller by the minute. They do this—fight like crazy one minute and then go back to pretending like everything is alright.The perfect little family.
We were supposed to hike today. There’s a waterfall not far from here, and I’ve had the trail saved in my notes for months. But no one’s in the mood for it now. The air in the cabin is so tight it feels like I’m breathing through gauze.
I grab my daypack from the hallway, stuff a water bottle and granola bar inside, and head for the door.
“I’m going for a hike,” I call over the noise.
Mom barely glances up. “Don’t go far!”
“I’ll come with,” Lyle says from the living room, hopping up like a damn golden retriever.
My whole body tenses up. “You don’t have to,” I murmur.
He shrugs, already grabbing a hoodie. “I want to.”
“I’ll be fine. I just need a little space.”
“I don’t mind.”
I swallow nervously, ignoring the urge to run my sweaty palms over my shorts. Saying no again would only start a thing, and I don’t need another fight. Maybe he’ll stay quiet. Maybe he’ll take the hint. Maybe I’m being paranoid.
But I feel it deep in my gut…this is a bad idea.
***
Two hours later, we’re deep into the trail. My legs are starting to ache, and sweat clings to my neck, but the sound of rushing water up ahead keeps me moving.
The trees grow thicker here, sunlight filtering through in golden shards. It’s beautiful. Peaceful. And yet…I can’t relax. Not with Lyle pacing too close behind, too quiet.
I keep glancing back, hoping to catch some normalcy in his expression. Boredom, maybe, or disinterest, but he’s watching me. Not the trees. Not the trail. Me.
A chill crawls up my spine.What the hell?
When we finally reach the waterfall, it’s even more breathtaking than I imagined. White water tumbling over black stone into a sparkling pool, mist rising like steam into the afternoon light. I step closer, almost forgetting everything else for half a second.
And then I hear Lyle behind me. Too close.
“Gorgeous,” he says. His voice is low.
I nod, trying not to give him anything. “Yeah. Definitely worth the hike.”
There’s a pause—a stretch of uncomfortable silence. Then he speaks again. “You know, you’re really pretty. I’ve been thinking about doing stuff to you.”
My stomach turns. “What?”
He steps forward. “I’m just saying. We can be more than siblings…we’re not really related, you know?”
I whirl around. “Stop it.”
