“What’s so bad about it, huh? Me marrying your mom?”
“I’m trying to help—”
“Well, it’s annoying. If you’ve got something to say, say it. Stop with the cryptic shit.” He shakes his head, firelight dancing across his face.
I pause. My jaw tightens.
Do I really want to be the one to pop their little love bubble? I’m leaving soon anyway. Let them figure it out.
“Forget it.”
He nods slowly. “Yeah… how about we do just that?”
I set the poker down beside me, once I know my hot dogs are done. Pulling my hair back, I try to push it out my face, even though the strands always fall in my face anyway. Brad watches me quietly, then looks back at his own skewer.
“How about we…” he starts, clearing his throat. He clasps his hands in front of him, searching for the right words. “How about we just… forget about your mom for the rest of the weekend? We can focus on getting to know each other. Not as her fiancé and her son. Just as Brad and Noah.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. I’ve been having fun riling him up, but… maybe I could try to at least get to know him at the same time. Pull back the layers, and all.
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
His shoulders ease just slightly. For the first time, I see the stress I’ve been causing him.
“You shouldn’t internalize so much,” I say. “It’s not good for you.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re such a little shit.”
I grin.
Maybe beingjustBrad and Noah won’t be so bad.
4
Brad
It’s been a while since we finished our hot dogs. I don’t want to make any sudden movements in case I scare him off, but I’m fairly certain Noah is actually starting to enjoy my company.
“You can’t be serious. You’re telling me if a bear came out of the forest right now, you’d be perfectly fine?” Noah’s brows lift high, disbelief flashing across his face.
I roll my eyes and lean back, stifling a laugh. “Not my favorite scenario, but there are only black bears out here. They just want your food. As long as you don’t panic, you’ll be fine.”
I lean forward again, bracing my forearms on my knees. “It’s the grizzlies out west you’ve really got to worry about.”
I lower my voice, just enough to sell it.
Noah shakes his head. “No way.”
I raise my eyebrow. “Watch it. You’re beginning to show weakness. You wouldn’t want that.” I can’t help the smile pulling at my lips.
Noah rolls his eyes and scoffs, but his restless hands and constant glances over his shoulder betrays him. I can tell he’s nervous.
It’s actually kind of adorable.
I look down at my shoes in the dirt, immediate shame swallowing me whole. I shouldn’t think like that. Not that it’s weird. He can be adorable and itnotbe weird. Dammit, why amIbeing weird?
I scratch at the back of my neck. The sun is starting to go down, and before long, we’re going to need to bring out the bug spray and get ourselves inside the tent.
I’m not sure why, but I’m feeling a little anxious about that part. The tent isn’t as big as it needs to be and there’s only so much distance I can put between us.
