Day 10:
Idyllwild
2,471 Miles To Go
Belle
The small mountain community of Idyllwild seems like it was built between the trees instead of clearing a space. It’s quaint and reminds me of a few places up in the Cascade Mountains close to home.
We only have a half dozen miles to get into town, arriving midmorning with plenty of time to find the post office and grab our next resupply boxes. We head to a nearby laundromat, getting our laundry started while we swap out garbage for fresh supplies. Halfway through the spin cycle, Grinder announces, “I’ve booked us rooms.”
I pause my identification of some flowers for my research project. They’re of Gilia ochroleuca and Mimulus diffusus, or volcanic gilia and Palomar monkeyflowers. It’s a picture Nova took of a patch mixed with soft lilac and deep purple flowers. He’s hoping I’ll post it on my Instagram feed like Rachel asked me to do. My eyes dart between the guys. “Who am I . . .?”
Grinder holds up a hand and answers before I can finish my question. “You have your own room.”
His answer relieves me of one worry, but not another. I’m on a tight budget for this trip, and we passed several resorts that looked outside my price range on our way into town. “How much is the room?”
Grinder shrugs like it’s no big deal, looking at his phone instead. “Don’t worry about it.”
I flinch at the casual answer. “Excuse me?”
Grinder pauses his scrolling. “I said don’t worry about it. It’s covered.”
With confusion written all over my face, I turn to Nova. “We budgeted for two rooms everywhere we plan on stopping, and a few nights extra, just in case,” he explains. “Don’t worry about it. Of course, if you want to share a room—” Bats cuts him off with a loud smack to the arm.
I snicker, but I’m not done with this discussion. “I need to know I’m contributing somehow. At least let me pay for one night. A quarter of the total, right?”
Grinder sighs like I’m being impossible, pulling on his patience like the taffy machine in the window of the candy shop we passed. “How about you pay for dinner tonight, and we call it even?” He stands, turns toward the door, and announces with a groan, “I need to call home.”
Once he’s outside, I turn to Bats and Nova. “What’s that about?”
Bats shakes his head. “Nothing,” he says, but his expression says it’s clearly something.
“So where are we on those flowers?” Nova asks, steering the conversation away from whatever is bothering Grinder.
I turn back to Nova and my tablet, but my curiosity stays on Grinder. I shouldn’t care what’s bothering an asshole who’s always annoyed. And yet, I can’t help wanting to know.
***
The rooms Grinder booked are at an inn down a short trail from the town square. It’s a rustic lodge building with rooms in an adjacent building, as well as a smattering of smaller cabins that overlook a small creek. The kind woman at the desk excitedly points out the dot of the inn’s map that indicated the new hot tub they put in for this year’s hiking crowd. I eye the dot, tempted to go jump in it right now, but it will have to wait until tomorrow night. I want sleep more than I want relaxation.
We hit a local brewpub for dinner, where the burgers are juicy and the beer cold. Even Grinder enjoys himself, if only a bit. He’s been in a mood after his phone call home. Bats knows why, but the big guy won’t say. I let it go for now. If I need to know, Bats will tell me.
By the time we get back to the lodge, I can barely keep my eyes open. My mattress could be a stone slab for all I care. Instead, it envelops my tired, aching body in warm, fresh linens, and I’m done for. The San Jacinto Fault Zone running under us could let loose, and I doubt it would wake me up.
The next thing I know, bright sunlight streams in through the curtains of my room, and I lie there all warm and snug in my bed. My phone dings nearby, and I frown. It’s too early to break the peace. But it dings again. I pick it up, intent on silencing it for disturbing my bliss.
NOVA: Heading out for crepes in a few minutes. Want to come? I’m sure Grinder won’t mind.
I groan as my stomach overrides my desire to sleep.
BELLE: You had me at crepes. Front of the lodge in ten?
NOVA: We’ll see you there.
I throw on a pair of pants, then glare at my sports bras with apathy. I’ve wrapped my breasts into one of them for twelve to fourteen hours a day, every day, for the last nine days. They need as much a break as the rest of my body. Digging into my pack, I pull out the two pieces of yellow fabric Rachel insisted I bring. I toss the bikini bottom aside for later, perhaps. No, the hot tub is definitely calling my name. The top proves to be a much needed change from the sports bras. I take a moment to check my reflection in the mirror while I adjust the straps. Rachel did a good job finding me a suit that gives me a little extra cleavage. Not that it matters, right? Because it would only matter if I wanted Nova to notice them. Or touch them. Or play with them . . .
Pulling my head out of the gutter, I throw on a T-shirt and grab a rubber band, pulling my hair into a ponytail as I leave the room. When I arrive out front, I pause when I notice the guys staring at me. “What?”
Nova smiles. “You look great, Belle.”
Like a gentleman, he offers me his arm. I take it, blushing at the compliment. I got compliments from Bryce, but only when he wanted something. Most of the time, it was something sexual. While Nova, or the little voice in the back of my head, wouldn’t be opposed to sex, that’s not his motive. At least, I hope it isn’t. Nova seems great, but I’m not certain if I’m ready to go that far yet. Until then, he’s doing a damn good job of being the kind of nice guy I need after the asshat.
We head down the path to the town square, listening to birds chirping overhead in the branches. Grinder and Bats walk ahead of us, talking quietly. I catch a few snippets, but if they don’t want to share, then I don’t want to know. At least, not for the moment. I’m enjoying this morning too much. And that’s the point of this trip, isn’t it? Let assholes be assholes and find my own enjoyment in life. For the time being, that’s what I’ll do.
There’s a brief wait at the small restaurant until we settle in at a table. It doesn’t take long to figure out what I want, opting for pancakes with a mix of local berries, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a hot cup of coffee. Pure bliss. I add some creamer and three packets of sugar, and soon the heavenly nectar is rolling across my tongue and down my throat. I hum with satisfaction. “Fuck, I missed you,” I tell the cup.
Grinder scoffs. “Oh please. It can’t be that good.”
I level a glare at him. “Are you speaking ill of coffee?”
Nova and Bats share a knowing glance, but I ignore it. My focus levels on Grinder. He levels his back at me. “Far from it. I love a good cup of coffee, but I highly doubt that’s good coffee.”
I lock my gaze on Grinder as I slowly bring the cup back to my lips, tilting it back and savoring my drink. I let out a little purr of enjoyment, licking every drop from my lips. I notice the three sets of eyes watching me. No, watching my mouth. Crap. That might have been a bad idea. But I’m too far into whatever this little game is. I let out a long, drawn out “Delicious” as I place the cup down in front of me. As soon as my hand is free of the mug, Grinder snatches it, takes a drink, and returns it. “What the fuck?” Dude messed with my coffee. The asshole.
He gulps, then reaches for his glass of water. “If you call that delicious, you don’t know coffee.”
“And I suppose you do?”
Grinder smirks. “I could make you a far better cup than this sludge.”
“Oh? Prove it.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “And how am I supposed to do that?”
“You said it yourself. Make me a better cup.”
He scoffs. “I don’t have the equipment. Or the grounds. Or the desire. You can live with your subpar coffee fantasies.”
“Bullshit.”
Grinder starts at the challenge. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I call bullshit.”
Grinder leans in. “I can have everything I need to blow your taste buds off at the next supply stop, princess. But I’m not adding a pound to my pack to prove you wrong.”
“And what if I make it worth it? Let’s bet.”
Grinder leans back in surprise.
Nova leans in toward me, placing a warning hand on my own. “Belle, it’s all good. Grinder’s a coffee snob, is all. Let it go.”
“What’s the bet?” Grinder demands.