“We have guns.”
I roll my eyes, trying hard not to watch his muscles flexing beneath the shorts with every step he takes.
He’s wearing different shorts now. These are dark green and slightly shorter than the ones from earlier, because his thighs are more visible. Add the black shirt, and I feel like I’m fighting for my life not to ogle him.
“Did you seriously wear hiking shoes?” I ask in an attempt to distract myself.
“Yeah, since we’re in the mountains and all.”
“But we didn’t come here to hike.”
“Then what do you call this, genius?” He stares at me as if I’m the most stupid idiot he’s ever met. “You of all people should have them, considering your daily trips to the mountains.”
“Very funny. Humor so dry, I’m choking.”
“I wasn’t trying to be funny.”
“Good, because you’re the most boring person I’ve ever met. Humor’s not for you.”
He glares at me.
Which is curious because Vaughn doesn’t really glare. He usually has this completely uninterested look, so when he glares, you can tell the hate is at its peak.
And I kind of like it. The way his eyes hood, how that pulse in his neck throbs.
I want to see more of this.
“Bet you bore girls to tears.” I slam my shoulder against his jokingly.
“Actually, I have a lot of girls crushing on me.”
“Because of your looks and money, maybe even your intellectual abilities, but definitely not for your personality.”
“That’s not true.”
“Think about it. What do they say to you? You’re sosmart and you’re so handsome, right? Did any of them say you’re so funny?”
His lips fall open, but then he purses them again.
“Ha, told you! My condolences, Mishka. Girls prefer funny guys over stuffy intellectuals like you.”
He punches my side. “I told you not to call me that.”
“Aw, hit a nerve?”
He slams his entire body into me, flattening me against a tree as he grabs my collar in a tight fist. “I’ve been trying to ignore your provocations all day, but you’re so annoying and should learn when to shut the hell up. Stop trying to make me fight you.”
My lips part.
That wasn’t what I was trying to do, though.
Yes, I wanted to get a reaction out of him—not sure why—but I haven’t really thought about fighting him.
But now that he mentioned it…
I grin, about to throw the first punch when the sound of gunshots echoes in the forest.
Then I see it.
