Chapter 124

Elio's face softened with worry as he watched Lucie, clearly exhausted and pale. He quickly handed her his water bottle. "Here, Lucie, drink some water."

"You tired? Want a leg massage?" he offered with a half-grin.

Lucie took the bottle, took a few sips, and then sank down onto a rock to catch her breath.

Meanwhile, Elio was the complete opposite-full of energy, almost bouncing on his feet. His mom had apparently taken every supplement under the sun while pregnant, so he'd been a hyperactive handful since birth. As a kid, it took a whole squad of nannies just to keep tabs on him. And when he got older, he was a walking disaster zone. Elio needed to stir up chaos at least three times a day just to feel alive.

Their twenty-minute break had barely ended when dark clouds rolled in, heavy and gray, and the wind started howling through the mountains, bringing the sharp scent of rain.

Ruby suddenly jumped up, pointing at the sky. "Ms. Anderson! Oh no, it's going to rain. We need to find cover fast!"

Lucie glanced up, unfazed. "Relax. Mountain rain comes and goes before you know it."

"I think there's a pavilion up ahead. We can wait it out there," Ruby said.

"Alright, let's go."

Elio immediately switched from joking to serious. He snapped open his umbrella and held it over Lucie. "Careful, Lucie. The path's getting slippery. Let me help you."

"We're almost there," Lucie said, picking up her pace, clearly trying to keep some distance between them.

"Don't get wet or you'll catch a cold," Elio insisted, hustling to keep the umbrella over her.

"I'm fine. My jacket has a hood. Worry about yourself." She tugged her hood up and kept moving.

"Still, let me hold your arm. The trail's—" Before he could finish, his own foot slipped out from under him and he went sliding down the muddy slope.

"Elio!" Lucie's heart jumped to her throat as she watched him tumble.

"Agh!" he yelped as he slid a few meters down, finally grabbing onto a thin tree to stop himself.

His backpack, though, wasn't so lucky. It went bouncing down the path and then flew right off the edge of the cliff.

"Damn it, my bag!"

There went his water, food, and, worst of all, the compact inflatable raft they were counting on. All gone.

"Fuck," Elio groaned, dizzy from the fall, and realized he'd scraped his arm pretty badly. Blood was already dripping down.

Lucie hurried down after him. "Elio, are you okay? Let me see."

Trying to play it cool, Elio struggled to his feet, though his face was burning with embarrassment. "Uh, yeah, I'm fine. No big deal," he said, forcing a laugh.

"I knew I should've worn those hiking boots," he muttered.

Lucie shot him a look that was equal parts annoyed and worried. "You're bleeding, and you're telling me you're fine?"

She turned to Ruby. "Ruby, hurry, get the first-aid kit."

"It's really nothing. The rain's getting heavier-let's just get to the pavilion. I don't want you catching a cold," Elio tried to protest.

"Stop talking. I need to take care of this first."

Ruby rushed over and held out her umbrella, shielding both of them from the rain while Lucie grabbed the first aid kit and started cleaning up his arm.

Under the tiny umbrella, their faces were just inches apart.

Elio's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't take his eyes off Lucie as she focused on bandaging him her hair wet and sticking to her cheeks, looking both a mess and absolutel beautiful.

"Lucie..." he started, but the words wouldn't come out.

Regret crashed over him like a wave. If he hadn't made that stupid joke back then, they'd probably be married by now. Four years apart, and he still hadn't found anyone else

could make am feel likeshe

did.

"Shhh. This is as good as I can do for now," Lucie said, quickly wrapping his arm

and securing it with gauze.

"The rain's letting up. Let's keep going."

Just like Lucie said, the mountain rain stopped almost as fast as it started. Ten minutes of downpour, and then it was gone, leaving the trail even muddier than before.

Without another word, the four of them pushed on.

By five-thirty, they finally made it to their destination.

Ahead was a wide reservoir, and the only way across was by raft. They had planned for this. There were two inflatable rafts, each big enough for two people.

But now, thanks to Elio's little accident, they only had one raft left.

"Ms. Anderson, what should we do?" Jean asked, looking helpless as he finished inflating the lone raft. "It only fits two."

Lucie thought for a second. “Jean, you come with me. We'll cross first."

"Ruby, you and Elio wait here for us."

“Uh, okay,” Ruby said, her cheeks pink as she snuck a glance at Elio.

Ruby had always thought Mr. Heath was the most handsome man she'd ever met, and never imagined anyone could top that until she saw Elio. He was even more striking than Steven, though his mouth could be vicious and he was way too much trouble sometimes.

Elio frowned. "Wait, you're leaving me here? No way. Let them stay. I'll go with

you."