3
Noah
“We’re miles away from civilization. Who the hell could you be texting, right now?” Brad asks over his shoulder. He’s a few paces ahead of me as we walk along the narrow trail. He insisted on showing me a nearby watering hole he loves out here, and when he threatened not to feed me later if I didn’t come, I didn’t exactly have a choice.
“I’m not texting anyone. Solitaire doesn’t need service,” I call back.
Brad stops in his tracks and looks back at me, dumbfounded. I hide the smirk playing on my lips. I’m finding it a little too fun rousing him up. It’s just so easy.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Solitaire?” He strides over to me, and before I have a second to register what he’s doing, he snatches my phone out of my hand.
“Hey! Dude, what the hell!?” I reach for it but Brad pulls back, just out of my reach.
“Dude,let’s make a deal. No more phones for the rest of the weekend, and I’ll leave you alone forever.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I say, reaching for it again. I’m getting way too close to his chest, and in a moment, I’m going to hurt him.
“What’s so hard about hanging out with me, huh? You don’t even know me.”
“You just answered your own question.” I smack him in the stomach, which results in him curling into himself instinctively. I successfully snatch my phone back from him and snicker. “Idon’tknow you.”
He straightens up and lifts his hands in surrender, even though I can see the tensing of his jaw. “Fine. Keep your precious phone. You can pout all weekend while I enjoy the great outdoors. I no longer care,” he says, turning and stepping off the trail into the forest. “Good luck finding your way back to the campsite.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. Who just…walks offinto the forest?
I glance behind me at the path we came from. My throat goes dry as I try to retrace our steps. I know we took a couple of turns to get here, but he’s right— I have no clue how to get back on my own.
Like some cruel joke, a sudden rustle in the distance startles me, making me jump out of my skin.
Shit.
As much as I’d love to make a whole show of marching back and waiting for him by a fire, I think I’ll get lost or eaten by a bear before I manage that.
I need him.
I follow his footsteps through the trees and twigs in the direction he went until I get to a clearing.
The space is almost unreal, like something straight out of a camping brochure. It’s not quite a lake, but bigger than a pond, and at the far end, a waterfall cascades over huge grey rocks, spilling into the water below.
The water is crystal clear, reflecting the sunlight in this annoyingly peaceful way. Trees surround the whole area, tall and quiet, like they’re guarding a secret.
It’s… a really beautiful spot. Not that I’d admit that out loudto him.
Okay, truth be told, I’m glad that I didn’t miss this.
My eyes find their way to Brad, who’s standing at the edge of the water, taking in the scene like I am. He slides his backpack off his shoulders onto the ground and slips out of his shoes and socks.
My brows pinch. “What are you doing?” I shout.
He doesn’t take a look at me, but I can see a small smile appear on his lips from here. “Look who decided to join us. Tired of your phone already?”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t know how to get back.”
He nods his head before gripping the back of his shirt and dragging it up and over his head.
Holy shit.
Brad has an insane body… like,criminallyinsane.
