Page 83 of Nothing But Air

“‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.’” Teague’s voice took on a different quality. Reverent. “‘My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.’” He paused. “‘Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.’”

Eden stared at where her hand met stone. Formed at the dawn of creation, compressed by time into something she could touch.

“After Chip died, I had so many questions.” Teague kept his hand over hers. “Doubts about my faith. All the whys wouldn’t leave me. Why him? Why that day? Why couldn’t I have done something different?”

He was quiet for a moment.

“But God compares Himself to a rock for a reason. He’s strong enough to handle any question I have. All my anger. All my fear. And He’s unmovable.” His thumb traced across her knuckles. “That’s why I love climbing. It reminds me how big the God we serve is.”

“But the rock wasn’t strong today.” Eden’s voice cracked. “It failed. You almost died.”

“Sometimes life throws us for a spin.” His green eyes held hers. “But the rock held when it mattered. That second cam caught me because I was anchored into the rock.”

“Barely.” A tear slipped free. “Maybe I should have stayed away from climbing. I can’t?—”

Teague’s thumb brushed across her cheekbone, wiping away the tear. The touch sent a shiver through her that had nothing to do with fear.

“Why did you agree to climb again?”

The question hung between them.

“To keep you safe.” The admission was like opening a wound. “And I failed at that.”

Teague caught her hand and brought it to his chest. Held it there, over his heart.

The steady beat pulsed against her palm. Strong. Alive.

“You feel that?” His voice was low. Intense. “I’m alive. I’m okay. The rock did hold. We use more than one anchor for a reason. The system worked exactly how it was supposed to.”

His heart continued to thump against her hand—regular, reassuring.

Another tear escaped.

Maybe he was right.

She kept saying her life was shifting sand—unstable, ready to give way at any moment. But maybe that was the point. Maybe life was always going to throw the unexpected at her. Jobs. Family. Loss. It came at everyone.

And maybe the difference wasn’t found in changing the circumstances.

Maybe it was found in anchoring into the One who was unmovable.

She met his eyes. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.” A hint of a smile.

She shifted to face him more fully, her hand still pressed against his chest. “Really. You would be justified to send me packing. To?—”

“What are you talking about?” His finger turned her face toward him. “What kind of monster do you think I am? I wouldn’t even send Marcus packing, and he’s about as useful on a rock face as a chocolate teapot.” Something flickered in his expression. “You mean…you thought I would just abandon you? Do you really think that little of me?”

“No. I…” Eden exhaled. “I’m sorry. It’s just…my father left when I was eight. My friends in high school chose parties over me. My prom date even left me at the dance to go home with another girl.” Her voice dropped. “Landon just had to do one more climb…”

She swallowed hard. “I’m used to being left. But I shouldn’t put you in that category.”

“No. You shouldn’t.” His hand landed gently on her jaw. “First of all, I would never leave you behind. Second, your father, your friends…Landon…That was about them and their issues. Not you.”

He paused. A smile tugged at his mouth. “And third? Your prom date had to have been the dumbest guy in the world. Did he not have eyes?”

Despite everything, Eden’s lips curved. “Apparently not.”