Nate, unfortunately, is the first person to reply. “It really is beautiful,” he says, looking pointedly at Ethan. “Stories about men who honor their commitments are few and far between these days.”

I pinch Nate’s leg under the table, while Ethan looks like he’d love nothing more than for the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

AFTER DINNER, Nate and I stand side-by-side at the sink. He’s washing the dirty pots and pans, and I’m arranging the dinner plates into neat rows in the dishwasher. I’ve been stewing over the comment he made to Emily about commitment since he said it, trying to figure out whether or not I should say something to him about it. But Nate has his shirt sleeves rolled up, and I keep getting distracted by his forearms, watching them dip in and out of the suds, all soaking wet and strong and beautiful.

I really should splash myself with some of that dishwater to get my mind right before I open my mouth, but the two of us are alone and with a house full of people and a wedding on the way, who knows when that will happen again? I need to take my chance while I have it.

“Listen,” I say as I rearrange a few coffee cups to make room for another one to fit on the rack. “I don’t need you to stick up for me.”

“What do you mean?” Nate asks, turning off the water and drying his hands with a dishtowel.

“I mean that I don’t want this week to be uncomfortable. I don’t want to have to worry about someone bringing up the past and throwing it in Ethan’s face or throwing it in mine.”

Nate turns to me, and for some strange reason I want to reach up and smooth over the crease between his furrowed brows. “I wasn’t trying to throw the past in anyone’s face, Callie.”

I sigh, not really sure if I’m explaining things so that he’ll understand where I’m coming from. “Maybe that wasn’t the best way to put it. It’s just that what happened between Ethan and me, it happened between Ethan and me. And now I’m in this awkward position of being here and trying to keep my distance while he’s still a part of things because his friends are my friends. It’s difficult, and I don’t want to worry about it more than I have to. I don’t want to worry about you saying something that’s going to bring all of that out into the open. Maybe it’s just better to let it be.”

Nate’s arm grazes mine, and it sends a shiver through my body that makes my stomach flip. “I know we only just met and I don’t know all that much about you, but…” When our eyes meet, he takes a deep breath and purses his lips, seemingly reconsidering whatever it is that he was going to say. That, of course, makes me entirely too curious.

“But what?”

Nate’s eyes search mine, and it’s so easy for me to get lost in that deep, expressive blue. He shakes his head, and the corner of his mouth quirks up in a half-smile.

“Nothing,” he replies, and turns his focus back on the dishes.

AFTER NATE and I finish cleaning up the dinner mess, he goes upstairs and reads Madeline a bedtime story. Once she’s all tucked in and sound asleep, Nate, Ben, Gabby and I all head over to the patio that’s connected to the guest house. It’s a beautiful outdoor space with a roof and open sides. There’s a grilling area that’s nicer than most of the kitchens I’ve been in, and a large stone fireplace on the side of the patio that’s opposite the house. Two love seats are positioned in front of the hearth; Ben and Gabby are all cuddled up in one, while Nate and I sit in the other, maybe an inch or so between us.

I’m settled into the cushions and my eyes are closed. I love the tickle of the wind blowing strands of hair across my face, and I take long, deep breaths. I can’t remember the last time I’ve ever breathed like this. Like it’s something I want to do rather than need to do.

“You really love this place, don’t you?” Ben asks.

Gabby asked me the same thing yesterday, and I realize that I should probably be a little less obvious about it, lest one of the Wrights get worried that I’m going to want to stay forever. But tonight is not the night that I’m going to do that.

“Yes,” I breathe, tilting my head toward the breeze before I open my eyes. “How did you guys ever leave it?”

“It’s easy to leave a place when you know you can come back to it whenever you want,” Nate replies with a grin. The small size of the love seat doesn’t leave either of us much room, but I welcome the warmth from the close proximity of his body as I fold my legs underneath me, trying to keep out the chill.

“What Nate said.” Ben wraps his arms around Gabby and she snuggles against his chest. I feel the familiar prick of jealousy beneath my skin. Not because I want Ben, but because I miss the feeling of being wrapped up in someone like that, completely trusting them with my heart, my life…my everything.

“Colorado, though,” Nate says, looking over at me. “This place has nothing on Colorado.”

“What made you choose to live there?” I ask.

There’s a far-off look in his eyes, like he misses the place already. It’s a look that makes my heart twist. He’s too beautiful for that kind of longing, and I have to press my hands into fists to keep from reaching out for him. What is it about him that just draws me like a magnet?

“I went to CU on a scholarship for lacrosse, and the moment I stepped off the plane I just knew I was supposed to be there. It felt like home. I loved all the mountains, the lakes. Everything,” Nate says.

Ben interjects with a little bit of brotherly teasing. “Nate’s always liked to climb things just to jump off of them. Colorado’s got plenty of things to jump off of.”

“That’s crazy,” I say, laughing. I can’t even wrap my mind around the kind of hobbies Nate must have. Rappelling, mountain climbing. Personally, I like having my feet firmly planted on the ground at all times. I don’t really like taunting gravity by throwing myself off tall things.

“No.” Nate looks over at me, his eyebrows scrunched together. The reflection from the firelight dancing on his face makes his expression very warm. “What’s crazy is knowing there’s so much beauty in this world and not actively seeking it out.”

“You don’t have to climb a mountain in order to appreciate how beautiful it is,” I tell him.

“That’s true, but the view is so much better from the top.” Nate leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I like to hike in this place called Willow Lakes. Get up really early and walk the trails when the air is still crisp, and the water is so still the reflections are like you’re looking at the mountains through a mirror. It’ll change your life.”

He says that like he wants to take me there. Like one day he thinks he will.

“Callie can use a life change,” Gabby says. “Maybe you could show her sometime.”

“I could show you lots of things,” Nate replies, his voice very soft and low. He’s looking at me like I’m the only person in the world.

Unable to break his gaze, my breath catches in my throat and I have to work very hard to swallow it down.

“Callie doesn’t do so well in nature.” Typical Ben, breaking the tension. This time I’m grateful for it.

“I do fine in nature,” I argue. “As long as nature leaves me alone.” I can tell this is the beginning of Story Time with Gabby and Ben, featuring the tales of Callie vs. Mother Nature. There are so many stories to choose from.

Gabby looks over at me and rolls her eyes. “Nate, you’re lucky you even got her out on the river the other day.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it.” He’s talking to Gabby, but he’s looking at me. The corners of his mouth tilt up into a sly grin that makes my stomach flutter.

I want to reach over and clasp my hand over Gabby’s mouth to get her to shut up. I want to tell her that it wasn’t luck that got me out on that river, it was her stupid scheming. I can’t believe she’s being so obvious in her quest to set up Nate and me. Not that it really matters that much considering both of us are on to her. But I don’t want him to be uncomfortable, and, more importantly, I don’t want to be uncomfortable either.