I breathe a sigh of relief, a weight lifting from my shoulders. Having the matter resolved between us makes me feel better about the future. Optimistic.
Fingers crossed it works out.
Devon
The next day, we take the plunge with our first public outing, a hike up the Las Vegas Overlook Trail. Apparently she’s never done it before and it’s something we can do together without being scrutinized by everyone we know. To me, it feels like progress. It’s not quite where I’d like us to be, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Before we leave, I dress in shorts and a t-shirt, and slather on sunscreen. The sun beats down outside and only a few fluffy white clouds float across the sky. Harley wears a tank top that reveals miles of tanned skin and lean muscle. Coming up behind her, I skim my palms along her upper arms. She shivers and leans back onto my chest.
“Thank you for this,” I whisper.
She smiles up at me, and I’m definitely not imagining the affection in her eyes. “See if you want to thank me by the time we get back.”
“I will.” My lips graze over her temple and down to her mouth. She sighs, opening to me, and her body grows languid in my arms. My dick perks up, so I stop before I decide I’d rather stay here and get naked.
“Come on.” I twine my fingers between hers. “Let’s get going.”
“Just wait for me to get my shoes.”
She grabs her runners and we drive out to the start of the trail. I’ve done it a few times before, but I try to see it from a fresh perspective. The vegetation is scrubby, with nothing dense enough to cast shade, and the ground is dry and rocky. All in all, the desert around Vegas isn’t pretty or welcoming, but it is beautiful in a barren and ruthless way.
We start walking. The trail slopes steeply in places but our breathing remains steady. I watch Harley’s ponytail skim over her back as it sways side to side with each step. I let her take the lead, and it feels very much like a metaphor for my life right now.
Harley
If only every day could be like this one. The sun warms my back and except for voices in front of us, all I can hear is the crunching of our shoes on the ground and my own breathing. It’s perfect. I’ve missed the quiet. The outdoors. And, if I’m honest, Devon’s presence is also contributing to my good mood. We’ve hardly spoken, but he’s a reassuring figure at my back. Every time I look around, he’s smiling—and I don’t mean a casual “this is cool” smile, he’s full-on beaming like he’s having the time of his life, which makes me feel the same because he isn’t bored with me. He seems content to be here with me. Before this week, I’d never have guessed he was so easy to please, but I’ve made a lot of assumptions that haven’t turned out to be accurate, and honestly, I’m ashamed of myself for that.
“Do you go hiking often?” I ask over my shoulder, inhaling a lungful of fresh air. It doesn’t have the same texture as it does in Thailand, but it’s still better than what you get in the city. I grew up in a little town where both the air and night sky were clear, and sometimes I miss it.
“Every now and then,” he replies. “It’s not a regular thing.”
A smile teases at the corners of my mouth. I like that we’re doing something special together. “Have you done any overnight trips?”
“Yeah.” His tone is casual. “The boys and I go camping once a year. Get away from our lives for a while, you know.”
It surprises me that he needs to get away from anything. He seems to take it all in stride. In contrast, I’m a hot mess.
“Where do you go?”
“Out of state, usually. Jase likes Colorado. Gabe prefers Cali.”
“And you?”
“Anywhere we go, it’s a new adventure, so I don’t really care.”
“You’re full of surprises, Green.”
He snorts. “And you’re not?”
I pivot, hands on my hips, and cock a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
One of his shoulders hitches up, then falls. “You’re a badass muay thai princess who likes to cook, and sleep-talks in another language. Your glare could freeze a man’s balls off, but secretly, you’re a snuggler. You act as if you don’t give a shit about anything, but I think you feel so deeply that you prefer not to let anyone in. That way they can’t hurt you when they leave. You’re a walking contradiction. All surprises.”
My throat is drier than the desert warrants. He sees far more of me than I want him to, and it scares the crap out of me. I choose my next words carefully because my brain is screaming at me not to be stupid. To protect myself. To raise the drawbridge and arm the cannons.
“You’re more perceptive than you seem, and you’re not as… straightforward… as I expected, either.”
His teeth flash. “Is that your way of saying you like me?”
