Chapter5
Grady felt like a jackass.This wasn’t how this was supposed to goatall.
As they made their way down the build-your-own oatmeal bar, he tried to think about what he could do to reset the day and give Priya somespace.
She needed to make the next move, thatwas clear. He’d put his cards on the table. He wanted her. He was available in literally the next bed over if she wanted to work out some stress the old-fashionedway.
When Wyatt joined their cozy table-for-two in the corner—now a table-for-three, because Tegan was working—he saw hisopportunity.
“What are your plans for the morning?” he asked Priya as she sprinkled extra brown sugarover her hotcereal.
She gave him a careful look. “Heading back to the cabin to shower off the morning hike. Then I might check out the Arts and Crafts building. I think Tegan’s set up leaf imprinting stations for this morning’sactivity.”
The shower sounded tantalizing, and he burned a little at the thought of bubbles slicking down her body. But it was too soon to invite himselfalong for that, and he wouldn’t say that in front of Wyatt anyway. The leaf craft sounded incredibly boring, and he knew she’d picked it for that reason. Point, Priya. “In that case, I might head to the ropes course. Wyatt,youin?”
“Always.”
Priya sighed in relief, and he fought back a scowl. She needed some space and he could be a grown-up and give ittoher.
On the otherhand, his maturity had limits. “And then maybe we should hit the basketball court before lunch,” he added. “It’s going to be a hot one today. I callskins.”
Her cheeksturnedpink.
Point,Grady.
Damn it, he wasterrible.
But if she showed up to watch him shoot some hoops, it would beworthit.
Michael’snew additions to the rope coursewere apparently popular with the campers, so they were never alone. After spending the morning climbing and zip-lining, they signed out a basketball and headed to an emptycourt.
Wyatt didn’t waste any time in talking about the elephant in the camp. “What are you playing at withPriya?”
“I’m not sure that’s any of yourbusiness.”
“She’s my fiancée’s best friend. If you hurther, Tegan will bepissed.”
Grady shifted uncomfortably. “Hurt her again,youmean.”
Wyatt threw the basketball at his chest. Hard. “What didyoudo?”
“It’s a long story.” Grady threw the ball back.Harder.
“I’ve got all day.” This time Wyatt shoved the ball so hard it stung Grady’s hands as hecaughtit.
“We slept together last summer. We had an understanding,but…I pushed past those limits. And then I didn’t stay intouch.”
“Man, that’s notfuckingcool.”
“I realize that. I’m here to makeamends.”
“Looks like that’s going real well for you. And why didn’t you tell me about this plan before you leftCalifornia?”
Because he hadn’t been sure it would work. And he’d been right. “We may have missed our moment in time. I don’tknow. Maybe the extra long tour overseas made me see things differently than how they actually were inreality.”
Wyatt narrowed his eyes but didn’t sayanything.
Grady rocked back on his heels. “Come on. Let’splayball.”
