Chapter 67

sixty-seven

DYLAN

Four weeks later.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Alex asked, concern in his eyes.

I clenched my jaw and nodded, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I’m facing my fears and doing it anyway.” I’d been repeating these words to myself all morning, hoping they’d make a difference.

For the past month, I’d been tackling a list of things that scared me. After what had happened I’d decided life was too short to live in fear. So far, I’d cuddled a big black hairy tarantula, patted a snake, and watched two horror movies.

Falling in love with someone who enjoyed spine-chilling, heart-leaping scare-fests was a serious mistake. After enduring two of Alex’s favorite horror movies, I had to cleanse my mental palate with the latest Marvel movie.

Today’s excursion into my deepest, darkest fears involved sitting on the Eagle Bahn Gondola and riding to the top of the Vail Ski Resort.

Alex, of course, had no fear of heights. But for me, riding to the top of one of the most spectacular ski fields in Colorado felt like a nightmare.

We were taking one of the last gondolas of the day. To Alex’s credit, he was waiting patiently beside me, holding my trembling hand. Afterward, we’d join my family for dinner at one of the restaurants at the base of the mountain.

My brothers offered to meet us at the top, but if I was going to face my fears, I preferred doing it with the least number of witnesses.

“How do you feel?” Alex asked, his voice gentle.

I took a deep breath. “Like I’ve run three marathons in a row and still haven’t reached the finish line.”

“You’ll be okay. I’ll be right beside you the whole time.”

That’s what worried me the most. Our combined weight could have serious consequences on the stability of the gondola. One wrong move, and we could plummet to the ground. “Promise not to make the gondola wiggle.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “Do I look like the type of boyfriend who’d do that?”

“You might point something out and jiggle the seat by mistake.”

“I promise to keep all jiggling to a minimum.”

I checked his face to make sure he wasn’t smiling. Facing my fears was serious business, especially when I’d be hanging in the air for eight minutes.

If I didn’t move soon, the ride would close for the day, and I wouldn’t make it to the top of the mountain. Without second-guessing myself, I pulled Alex toward the pickup point .

“The worst part is getting on,” he murmured. “Once we’re in the air, it’s easy. Just hold on to me.”

“Is that supposed to be reassuring?” Four children ahead of us stepped effortlessly into a gondola, making it look so easy. My heart pounded as I stood on the red line, waiting for our turn.

Alex’s hand tightened around mine. “Open your eyes. You’ll need to see the door.”

I risked a quick glance to the left and nearly freaked out. A gondola was lumbering toward us, ready to scoop us up. It was just as well no one was behind us to witness my terror.

“That’s it,” Alex soothed. “It’s perfectly safe. Relax.”

I gasped as Alex practically lifted me into the metal box.

Before my knees gave way, I dropped onto a seat. The gondola lurched out of the terminal, heading toward what felt like an early death.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Alex’s voice was calm, but I wasn’t listening anymore.

He chuckled. “It’s not called facing your fears if your eyes are closed.”

“We’re a long way from the ground.” Sweat trickled down my spine.

“Just open your eyes a little bit. The view is incredible.”

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. Even with sunglasses, the glare from the snow-covered mountains made me squint. We were high—higher than I thought. I tightened my hold on Alex’s hand and prayed we’d make it to the top of the mountain.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Alex was in his element. He loved being outside with nothing but a line layer of glass and steel between him and the hard-packed ground.

I pushed myself into the back of the seat. “It’s great. ”

Alex kissed my cheek. “When you see the view from the top, it’ll be worth all this stress. You’re very brave.”

“I don’t feel brave.” If I had to describe how I felt, it’d be terrified. Sitting on the gondola felt like being inside a giant bubble that could pop at any moment.

“We’re almost halfway there. When we get to the top, stand up and hold my hand. The gondola will slow down, but it won’t completely stop. We can step off together.”

After the trauma of getting on, I wasn’t looking forward to getting out of the metal box.

Alex sent me a reassuring smile. “We should talk about something to take your mind off the ride.”

“My brain isn’t working very well at the moment,” I whispered. “Ask me a question.”

“Are you enjoying splitting your workweek between Boulder and Sunrise Bay?”

The gondola juddered, and I shrieked. Yes, shrieked . Grown men who were facing their fears didn’t usually shriek, but my life was flashing in front of my eyes.

“It’s all right,” Alex said. “It’s just the wind.”

I practiced my relaxation breathing technique. It didn’t help.

“Work, Dylan. Think about work.”

“I don’t know how long…” Another gust of wind shook our box. “…how long I can keep managing my team and working in two locations. But it’s okay for now.”

“Would it be easier if I moved to Boulder?”

“Probably, but I’m thinking about doing something different.”

Someone screamed. I held my breath, wondering if they’d fallen off the gondola.

“It’s just some kids being stupid,” Alex growled. “You’d think they’d have more respect for everyone else. ”

I would have smiled if I wasn’t so worried about splattering on the side of the mountain. “You sound like a grumpy old man.”

“Not so much of the old. I’m not forty yet.”

“It’s getting closer.”

“So is the top of the mountain. Are you ready to get off the gondola?”

“No.” My voice quivered.

“You’ll be fine. See…it’s slowing down. Take your hands off the seat and hold my hand.”

I gripped Alex’s hand as if I was hanging off the edge of a mountain. Which I was, but in a steel box, and I’d be okay. Really okay.

A few seconds later, I stood beside Alex and breathed a sigh of relief. “We made it.”

Alex wrapped me in a hug. “You did well. I’m proud of you.”

I leaned against him, absorbing his strength because my legs felt like rubber. “I guess we’d better look at the view before heading back to the resort.”

For the first time since leaving Boulder, Alex seemed nervous. “There’s a viewing platform over here.”

Riding the gondola at this time of day was a great idea. Most people who came up didn’t stay to look at the view. They moved off to one side and skied down the slippery slope to the bottom.

The closer we got to the platform, the less sure I was about standing on it. I pulled on Alex’s hand. “We don’t need to stand on the platform. It’ll be just as romantic if we enjoy the view from here.” I peered over the top of my sunglasses, hoping he got the hint.

“You wanted a photo of us standing on the viewing platform. ”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Alex seemed distracted, looking nervously toward the café.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“I need a hot chocolate.”

“That sounds good to me, too.” I was all for delaying the inevitable photo on the platform. My only worry was that drinking hot chocolate might not sit well with my nervous stomach.

As we walked toward the café, I smiled. “Look over there, Alex. Can you see the skiers?” I pulled out my cell phone and took a photo of some people zig-zagging down a trail. Their brightly colored jackets looked like multi-colored polka dots scattered across white satin. “Do you think that’s enough evidence to prove I’ve been here?”

Alex studied the photo. “It could have been taken anywhere. Why don’t I take your photo inside the café? Luke and Steve will recognize the building.”

“Does this mean I don’t have to stand on the platform?”

“You can stand wherever you like.”

I did a fist pump. No platform, no plunging to my death on jagged rocks. All I had to do was travel down the mountain on another gondola. Yippee.

I had to remind myself that I wasn’t the only one stretching my comfort zone. Alex and my brothers had made lists of things they were afraid to try. We were keeping a scrapbook of our adventures to give to our parents for their wedding anniversary.

So far, we’d all checked off at least three things on our lists.

“I wonder how Steve’s figure-skating class is going.”

“I’m sure he’ll have lots of photos to show us.” Alex opened the café door .

I took off my sunglasses and stared, open-mouthed, at the people sitting in front of us. “I thought we were meeting everyone at the base of the mountain?”

My mom smiled. “Alex invited us here for dinner.”

Luke and Steve were sitting opposite our parents. Everyone seemed slightly stressed.

“It’s okay,” I reassured them. “We made it up the mountain alive. I’m just not sure if going down will be any easier.”

“You could always ski to the bottom,” Steve said.

I hadn’t thought of that. I looked at Alex, hoping he’d see the merit in changing our plans, but he shook his head.

“You told me to remind you that this is about facing your fears, not opting for an easy way out.”

“There’s nothing wrong with going down the mountain another way,” I told him with a hint of desperation in my voice. “Steve’s idea is great.” I looked at my family, hoping for a little moral support, but they all looked worried. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Alex cleared his throat.

“I’m not hang gliding off the mountain,” I told them quickly. “I don’t care how many spiders I have to hold, I’m not strapping myself into a harness and throwing myself off the mountain.”

“No one’s hang gliding down the mountain,” Alex said softly. “I wanted to ask you something.”

Before I realized what he was doing, Alex kneeled on one knee.

Everyone in the café stopped talking. The waiters paused in their movements between tables. Even the coffee machine emitted a final hiss of steam into the air.

And my heart nearly stopped beating.

“I love you, Dylan,” Alex began, his voice trembling with emotion. “I never thought I’d find someone to share my life with, someone who loves me as much as I love them. You’ve always accepted me for who I am and helped me become the man I’d like to be. I can’t imagine living my life without you, and I hope you feel the same way.”

My eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too, Alex,” I choked out, barely able to speak through an overwhelming wave of emotion.

Elena pulled out a tissue and blew her nose loudly, the sound oddly comforting in the intense silence. Ted wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

If it weren’t for Steve and Luke’s encouraging smiles, I’d probably be a nervous wreck by now.

Alex took a small black box out of his pocket.

The collective sigh around the café made my heart clench tight.

When Alex opened the lid, my eyes widened. Nestled against the black satin lining was a wide gold wedding band.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“I’m glad you like it,” Alex said, taking a deep, shaky breath. “I’ve waited my whole life for you, Dylan. I don’t want to wait a minute longer. Dylan Holmes, will you marry me?”

I held Alex’s hands, feeling the warmth and love radiating from him. “I would love to marry you.”

“Yes?” Alex asked, his eyes searching mine for confirmation.

I nodded and smiled through my tears. “Yes.”

My mom burst into tears. “Oh, my goodness. I’m so happy for you both.” She rushed across to us and hugged us tight. “Just promise me you won’t cancel your wedding at the last minute.”

“Oh, Mom!” Luke dropped his head into his hands, but there was a smile on his face.

Steve patted his back. “It’s okay. No one can be perfect all the time.”

Amid the claps and cheers from the other people in the café, Ted joined my mom. “Congratulations you two.”

Elena grinned through her tears. “You’ll be so happy together.”

Alex held onto my waist, pulling me closer. “I can’t wait to share the rest of my life with you.”

Apart from saying he wanted six children, Alex couldn’t have said anything that would make my mom happier. She gave him another hug and wiped fresh tears from her eyes.

As my brothers congratulated us, I felt incredibly blessed. My family meant the world to me. Having them here, at the beginning of one of the most amazing journeys of my life, was very special.

“Do you want to hug your fiancé again?” Alex whispered from beside me, his breath warm against my ear.

I grinned, my heart full. “As long as I don’t have to hang glide down the mountain, I’ll do anything for you.”

“No hang gliding. I promise.”

“In that case, I’d love to hug you.” I wrapped my arms around him and held him close. He was my beginning, my middle, and my end. And I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.

THE END