“There’s a twist,” Ava continues. “We need to pair up, and each pair competes against the others. Winning team gets a special prize tomorrow—a private hot springs experience.”
Zara perks up. “I am extremely competitive and great at puzzles,” she announces. “So whoever teams up with me better be prepared to win.”
My eyes seek out Slade, hoping for…something. Some acknowledgment. Some sign that we should pair up. His gaze meets mine, then shifts away as he turns to continue his conversation with Bryce.
The dismissal stings more than it should. Just an hour ago, he had me spread out beneath him, coming apart at his command. Now he won’t even look at me. The whiplash of his behavior ignites something rebellious in my chest.
“I’ll team up with you, Zara,” I hear myself say, my voice louder than necessary. “I’m not half bad at puzzles myself.”
Zara’s face lights up. “Perfect! Team Unstoppable is officially formed.”
I chance a glance at Slade. His expression hasn’t changed, but I notice a tension in his jaw, the way his fingers tighten aroundhis water glass. Good. Let him see that I’m not just waiting around for him to acknowledge me.
“Awesome!” Ava beams. “Bryce and I are obviously together. Maia and Jace. Naya, you’re with Slade. Any objections?”
Slade offers Naya a polite smile. “None from me.”
“This is going to be so fun,” Naya gushes. “I have great intuition.”
As the group buzzes with competitive energy, I slide my chair closer to Zara, leaning in as she outlines her strategy for victory. From the corner of my eye, I see Slade watching us, his gaze dark and unreadable. A small, petty part of me feels satisfied by his attention, even as confusion and hurt churn beneath the surface.
“Each team needs to grab a lantern and a clue packet,” Ava explains, pointing to a table where a staff member is setting up. “First clue takes you to your starting point, and from there, it’s a race to the finish.”
Zara stands, tugging on my arm. “Come on, partner. Let’s grab our stuff.”
I follow her to the table, positioning myself so Slade can see us—our heads bent together, Zara’s hand touching my arm as she points to the clue sheet. When she laughs at something I say, I make sure it looks more intimate than it is, leaning into her space.
The teams form around us, everyone collecting their materials. Slade and Naya stand a few feet away, and though he appears focused on their clue sheet, I catch him glancing our way.
“Ready to kick some eco-friendly ass?” Zara asks.
“Absolutely,” I reply, my eyes still on Slade. “Let’s win this thing.”
6
Slade
THAT LITTLE FUCKER.
I watch Owen lean closer to Zara, his laughter ringing through the air like a direct taunt aimed at me. His hand lingers on her arm, fingers splayed in a casual gesture that makes my teeth grind. She whispers something, and he throws his head back, golden hair catching the sunlight filtering through the trees. His eyes—those cerulean eyes that were wide with pleasure just hours ago—now avoid meeting mine across the clearing.
“Slade? Are you listening?” Naya’s voice breaks through my fixation.
I drag my attention back to her. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
“I was explaining how Mercury’s current retrograde is affecting communication. It’s why we’re having trouble with this clue.” She taps the paper in her hands, unaware that our lack of progress has nothing to do with planetary alignments and everything to do with my inability to focus on anything but Owen’s performance.
“Right,” I mutter, scanning our surroundings. Other guests and friends are scattered among the trees, lanterns swinging from their hands as they search for the hidden clues.
The scavenger hunt is the kind of activity I would normally find tedious but tolerable. Tonight, it’s torture—especially with Naya beside me, waxing poetic about cosmic alignments while Owen puts on a show with Zara not twenty feet away.
“The clue mentions a natural object that points north,” Naya says, studying the paper. “Maybe it’s referring to moss growth on trees?”
I nod, my attention drawn like a magnet back to Owen. He’s bent over their clue sheet now, pointing at something while Zara leans in, her shoulder brushing his. His mouth curves in a smile I want to bite off his face.
The rational part of my brain knows I have no right to this possessiveness. What happened between us was new, unexpected. We’ve barely discussed it. Yet the sight of him performing this flirtation burns through me like acid.
“Oh! Maybe it’s talking about a compass plant,” Naya continues, oblivious to my inattention. “Those align their leaves north-south to maximize sun exposure. I read about them in the lodge’s nature guide.”
