I glance over at Valentina, still smiling, and there’s a spark in her eyes I haven’t seen before. It’s making me curious, maybe even a little bold. She seems different, more open, as if she’s holding back less. I wonder if there’s more to her than I thought.
“So,” I say as I put the note in my pocket. “If you’re not a hiking girl, what kind of girl are you?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Valentina teases, a mischievous grin on her face.
“Yeah, actually, I would.”
I step closer to her, trying to act like I’m confident when I can actually feel my knees trying not to buckle from the weight of my nervousness. I can almost see her eyes light up. I swear she’s looking at me in a way she’s never looked at me before. It’s hard to pinpoint what it is. Amusement? Disdain?
“Oh, well, I don’t think you’re ready for that,” Valentina coos.
“Try me,” I say, way too confidently. I immediately regret it.
Valentina starts walking toward me, and I take a few steps back, which completely ruins how cool I just looked. She laughs softly, and I know full well she just called my bluff. What the fuck am I doing? This is Valentina Garcia. I hated her for so long. Now I’m…flirting with her?
“I’m just the kind of girl who prefers to go shopping, eat at nice restaurants with electricity and an amazing chef, and spend time at home in my condo with a view of Manhattan in the distance. Camping is…blech. I’m only here for Sofia and, well, to ruin her entire wedding.”
I nod slowly, listening to every word. Or trying to, anyway. I’m still replaying her walking toward me just now.
“Well, it’s unfortunate.” I shrug.
“What is?”
“That you’re such a Grinch about camping. We have all these outdoor activities planned while we’re here. On top of us having to share a cabin. And a kitchen. This will be a hellish week for you, isn’t it?”
“You know it. So let’s hurry up and get it started, so it can be over faster.”
She signals me out the door, and we head to the far end of the camp, where the rest of the guests await instruction.
“Good morning, wedding guests! I hope everyone slept amazingly and got their beauty rest,” Daniel begins. “I will be guiding the hike this morning. We have about two miles to the top.”
A few guests groan. Some are still yawning as if they just woke up. Or perhaps they never went to bed.
“I know, I know. But I promise the view and the brunch will be worth it. And we have changing stations and portable showers ready, so we can all look our absolute best for the bridal brunch. You may notice a few people missing, like Abuelita. Obviously, we won’t be forcing our sweet grandma up the hike, but don’t worry. Sofia has assured everyone that if they don’t want to partake in the hike, they can stay behind and enjoy any services she’s hired for the week. There’s a massage therapist on site, two estheticians, a manicurist, and waiters bringing bottomless drinks to guests by the lake.”
I almost regret not just staying behind and enjoying those amenities, but I have a mission—today, we need to figure out if the lipstick print on the note matches Maritza’s.
“So let’s start hiking and get to the top. Everyone ready?”
A few guests cheer. Luciano and Sofia are at the front of the group, with Maritza and Silvana near the middle. I can’t get a good look at Maritza’s lips, which is the strangest thought I’ve had about my aunt. Valentina, Maria, and I are hanging back, the last of the group. Everyone else could be models for a specialty outdoor store where a simple rain jacket costs $600. I look down at my corduroy pants and sigh. I should have changed.
Our hike begins at the trailhead closest to the lake. The sign at the front of the path says the route is four miles long, out and back. I’m not exactly sure how long that is, but it sounds like it will take forever. I groan at the thought. Despite how badly I want to be here, I’m not exactly what someone would describe as “outdoorsy.” It’s comical I even decided to go on this hike, but that doesn’t mean I’m not unbelievably excited. I wish I could just run to the top of the mountain and cheer at the peak.
I also wish I could have trained for this to look less like someone who has never stepped foot on a mountain before in her boring life.
“I can’t believe I agreed to go to this,” Valentina grumbles.
As we begin our trek, my footsteps crunch on the carpet of fallen leaves and twigs. The dappled sunlight filters through the trees overhead, casting a warm glow on the forest floor. I inhale the fresh, earthy scent of the forest, noticing the smell of damp soil and pine. I hear the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, the occasional bird chirping, and the soft gurgling of a nearby stream.
As we continue through the trail, I’m thankful I wore my waterproof boots. Some areas are incredibly muddy, and the last thing I want is to get my shoe stuck in it. Valentina, on the other hand, is, unsurprisingly, a bit unlucky. She walks awkwardly around, looking for the driest spots, hoping the mud won’t touch her ankles. Her logic is that the more awkwardly she walks, the less weight will be pressed into the dirt. Is it sound logic? No. Is it hilarious and slightly satisfying to watch her move like a marionette? Yes, absolutely.
“You’re doing great, sweetie,” I shout behind me as Valentina slows down during a particularly muddy section.
“Can you waddle any faster?” Maria complains. “We’re losing the group!”
“Listen. I’m going as fast as I can. You two go on ahead. Leave me to my demise. I can only hope my death by mud drowning will be quick and painless.”
I wave to Maria to go ahead and catch up with the group while I wait for Valentina.
