Page 85 of Nothing But Air

Trusting God.

She pulled over the top onto a small plateau, and the view stole what little breath she had left.

The canyon spread out below in layers of ancient stone. The evening light painted everything in shades of burnt orange and brick red. The brook wound through the rock, catching the sun and throwing it back in fragments of gold.

Worth it.

The climb had been scary and hard, and it had pushed every boundary she’d built around herself—but it had been worth it.

Eden settled onto a flat rock, letting her legs dangle over the edge. Something inside her chest that had been clenched tight for two years finally loosened its grip. It wasn’t the climbing. It was leaning again into her faith. Trusting the God who created her to do this. She didn’t have it all figured out. But it was a start.

She’d come out here to protect Teague. To keep him safe, to prevent another tragedy.

But there was no way to be safe enough. Careful enough.

Life happened. Equipment failed. Rock gave way under weight it should have held.

She couldn’t control any of that.

But she could trust the true Rock.

Unmovable. Unshakable. Strong enough to bear any weight, answer any question, hold any doubt.

She’d anchored herself into the sand for too long. Worse—she’d tried to be the anchor herself.

But that wasn’t her job.

God was the anchor.

She just had to trust Him to hold.

Teague pulled himself over the edge, breathing hard but grinning despite the obvious pain in his ribs. He settled beside her—close enough that their shoulders touched. “Not bad.”

“Says the guy who just climbed fifty feet with bruised ribs.”

“I’ve had worse.” He stretched his legs out, wincing. “One time in Red Rock, I fell on this 5.11 and cracked my tibia.”

“Let me guess. You still finished the route.”

“Seemed important at the time. And I could maneuver most of it on one leg.”

“You’re insane.”

“Determined. There’s a difference.” He glanced at her, his green eyes warm. “How are you feeling?”

Eden considered the question.

That tight knot of fear and guilt had loosened enough that she could almost breathe around it.

“Better.”

Teague turned toward her, his expression shifting. More serious. More intent. His eyes searched her face. “I know you nodded the other night. But I don’t want to read too much into that. A lot has happened, and if?—”

“I’m okay if you kiss me.”

He bit the corner of his lip. “Okay then.”

“Oh.” Heat flooded her cheeks. “Maybe that isn’t where you were going with this. I mean, you obviously didn’t want to kiss me down below, and?—”