She nodded and hightailed it out of there. She didn’t look forward to that conversation. The last thing she wanted to do was bring trouble on anyone, even Lenny.

Not to mention once again spilling the beans out of turn …

Back at her place, she changed her clothes and grabbed Ashley’s scarf and went up the mountain. Not even close to being in the right mind-set to attack Dead Man’s Cliff, she hiked Heaven’s Peak instead, visiting some of her favorite haunts, looking to prove to herself she could start and finish something at least.

She stopped for pictures when the mood struck, sat on a rock outcropping and drank her water when she got tired, and when her second wind hit, she headed home.

Inside her apartment, she walked straight to the framed pic of herself and Ashley that her mom had sent. Removing the scarf from around her neck, she set it next to the frame. “I went hiking again today,” she told her sister, and had to draw in a deep breath. “I’m not climbing. It’s not fear, I want you to know that. It’s not regrets either. I just … I had to grow up, you know?” She paused and had to swallow the lump in her throat. “I really thought we’d be doing that together, growing up,” she whispered. “I really did.”

A stupid tear slipped out, and she swiped it away. “I hiked Heaven’s Peak,” she went on. “And it felt good. Actually, it felt great. I forgot how much I missed being out on the mountain. But I promise you, Ash, I’ve never forgotten how much I miss you.”

She had to swipe another damn tear, but that was the last one. “I won’t ever forget you,” she whispered to her sister’s happy face as she ran a finger along the cashmere. “But I think I need to forgive myself. I’m having problems with that,” she admitted softly. “I’ve been trying and can’t seem to do it on my own.” She paused again. “Maybe you could help me there.”

Oh, how Ashley would have loved that, Lily needing her help. And at just the thought Lily was suddenly able to smile through her tears.

“See,” she managed. “You’re helping already.”

Aidan was in the main office, playing Ruler of the Universe for Gray, who was out on the mountain overseeing a biking event.

After working all night at the fire station, Aidan was tired and feeling out of sorts because he hadn’t had a chance to see Lily again. He’d been thinking of her though, plenty, as he flipped through the files, like how he felt when she smiled at him. How soft her skin was. How she tasted …

Lenny stuck his head in the door. “Finished the shelving unit at the salon yesterday,” he said. “Thank Gray for me for getting me some work.”