Chapter 5
It was our last full day in Yosemite, and the trip had been a mix of everything — fun, chaos, drama, laughter, healing. The kind of trip that leaves you a little sunburned, a little tired, and a little changed.
And somewhere in the middle of all of it, I’d started falling for Finn.
It still felt strange, the idea of liking someone who used to be friends with my ex. Awkward, messy, complicated. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized something important:
I’m allowed to choose what makes me happy.
Chase and Evelyn had no place in my life anymore. I’d set my boundaries. I wasn’t going back.
The wind picked up outside, brushing against the cabin walls as we all hung out inside. Brianna was talking to Nicholas on the couch, Angela was curled up with Jacob, and Natalie was napping in her room. I was in the dining‑kitchen area with Finn, just talking, just existing in the same space — and somehow that felt easy.
“You ready to head back to town?” He asked.
I sighed. “No, not really. But we have to at some point, right?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I don’t want to go home either. Maybe we can come back here again. Just us.”
“That’d be fun,” I said, smiling before I could stop myself.
People had noticed how much time we’d been spending together, but honestly? It wasn’t their business.
Finn gently tugged me aside, lowering his voice. “I want to ask you something… When we kissed… did it mean something to you?”
I felt my cheeks warm. “I felt sparks between us.”
His whole face lit up. “Really? That makes me happy. I felt that too. I just don’t want you to think I’m rushing anything.”
“You’re not,” I said softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
He smiled — that warm, boyish smile that made my stomach flip — and I said, “Since it’s our last day here, we should throw a little BBQ. A mini party before we leave.”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
Apparently, the others agreed, because they immediately jumped up.
“We’ll start the grill!”
“We’ll get the food!”
“Me and Finn will grab ice and drinks!”
And just like that, the prep began.
By evening, the fire pit was glowing again, music playing from Natalie’s portable speaker. The air smelled like grilled food and pine trees. It was one of those nights that felt like it should last forever.
“It’s 9:45 p.m.,” Finn said after checking his phone.
He glanced at mine next — the screen lighting up nonstop with messages. Chase. Again.
He didn’t say anything at first. He knew I didn’t want to deal with it. But eventually he leaned in close, his breath brushing my ear.
“Chase has been blowing up your phone,” he whispered. “I know you don’t want to deal with it, but I wanted to let you know.”
I kept talking to one of the guys, but I leaned toward Finn and whispered back, calm and steady, “Thank you. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
No one else heard us.
I turned to Angela instead. “So… what’s going on between you and Jacob, hmm?”
She blushed immediately. “When we get back into town tomorrow, we’re going on a date.”
Jacob smiled, proud, and a little shy.
Finn grinned. “Jacob’s one of a kind. He’ll treat you like a princess.”
Angela’s face lit up, and Jacob nudged Finn. “Thanks, man. That means a lot.”
I chimed in, “You better treat her like a princess. She’s loyal, protective, and she loves hard. She’s one of my closest friends.”
Jacob nodded. “Good to know. And I will.”
We finished eating, talking, laughing — letting the night settle around us like a warm blanket.
Eventually, we cleaned up. Cups, plates, bottles — all tossed into the trash. I grabbed the speaker, Natalie folded the chairs, and Nicholas carried them to the trunk of his car.
We headed inside, closed the door behind us, and called it a night.
And as I crawled into bed, I realized something:
Tomorrow we’d go home.
Tomorrow, real life will start again.
But tonight?
Tonight, I felt light.
Hopeful.
Ready for whatever came next.