Page 64 of Rookie Season
“Does it know we’re bears too?” he finishes.
A scuffling and snorting creature behind us cuts through the crowd toward the parking lot.
“Waffles, no!” Brooke calls too late.
The Frenchie rushes to the front of our group, pulling up almost comically fast. He tips his face up and yips.
The bear lowers its face.
“Waffles…” Brooke lunges for the dog, and Jay grabs her.
Another sound comes from the woods.
The bear turns and ambles away.
“Its mom?” I ask.
“It was too old for that. Too young for a mate.”
“So, who was it looking out for? Bears don’t travel in packs,” Jay insists.
Miles cuts him a look. “Whatever you say, Nat Geo.”
We all slump against one another. Brooke runs forward to collect Waffles, scooping him into her arms and telling him they need to have a talk.
I’m leaning on Ryan, his heart thudding under my ear.
A black car roof appears between the pine trees lining the drive, then a second one.
“There’s our ride. Everyone, finish packing,” Chloe directs. “Team will go in the two black cars. We can drive ourselves.”
“Too dangerous,” Clay says.
“It’s fine,” Chloe says. “I’ve got snow tires on my car and?—"
“You want to risk your neck, that’s your business. But my wife isn’t driving back herself. Ladies, take the other SUV.”
“It’s going to be a clown car with the five of you,” Nova warns.
“Worth it.”
The other guys nod in agreement, except Atlas, who knows better than to say anything.
Chloe relents, and we all disperse to collect our things. I load my stuff into the back of one SUV.
The adrenaline is still pounding in my veins from the bear when my phone rings.
“Dad. Hi,” I answer as I squish my duffel atop Brooke’s designer luggage.
“Sierra, honey. Got your message. Everything okay?”
I readjust the angle so the hatchback can close. “There’s been a ton of snow up here. We’re trying to get home.”
“If you won’t be back in time to open, I’ll go in.”
“No, I think I’ll be back.” I step back, admiring my handiwork as Ryan emerges and loads his bag into the other car. “It’s just… I have somewhere else I want to be tonight.”
I watch Ryan’s fluid movements, admiring. I can’t wait to watch him from the Kodiaks’ box, and after… we can do everything we did last night and more.
