There’s something so appealing about his chiseled, frowny face. The dark stubble that looks a little rebellious, and the tiny white scar on the bridge of his nose that I want to graze my finger over. Only once I’ve had my fill do I muster the courage to meet his piercing gaze. It’s both unnerving and exhilarating being this close to a virtual stranger.
I can see the wheels are turning in his head. He’s trying to figure me out. Good luck to him, because my family has known me my whole life, and they still don’t know who I am.
Idon’t even know who I am, so how would he?
I shake that thought away as I take a small step forward. The crunching footsteps and light chatter continue as people pass by, but it all fades away, as if Jack and I are in a vacuum. My chest rises with a deep inhale, and I’m wishing I didn’t have this stupid, giant backpack pulling me down into the earth’s core.
“If you’re American when you go into the restroom, and you’re American when you come out of the restroom, what are you while you’reinthe restroom?” I finally manage to say.
He scowls, every cell in my body lighting up when he does. “Are you always this forward?”
“Just answer the question.”
“I don’t know,” he grunts.
“European.”
It’s not the full-on grin I hoped for, but his response is still intoxicating.
Every muscle in his face softens with a fleetingsmile, one he instantly tries to hide by stepping back and looking away from me. But it still hits me like a kick to the stomach. My breath catches at the sight of that restrained grin, the force of it etching something into my soul.
His bottom lip juts out in a pout, his cheeks sucking in as he works to conceal the crack in his armor. I witnessed it, though. For one glorious second, he thought about laughing. His joywantedto break free.
Hands on his hips, he clears his throat before that freaking frown arrests his face once again, and only then does he give me his eyes.
“Are you done?” he demands.
“Yup. I got the information I needed.”
“And what was that?” he asks, his voice gravelly.
“The female population is much safer with you scowling at us, although those are pretty dangerous too.”
His eyes narrow in confusion.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s probably better for everyone that you don’t know the power you wield.”
He steps forward, aiming that glower at the straps of my backpack. He lifts his hands before he seemingly thinks better of it, keeping them frozen in the air as if he can’t decide whether to give in to an impulse.
“Your, um…” He huffs, appearing frustrated at himself and me. “You’ll kill your back with how you’re wearing that thing. There shouldn’t be any gaps between the bag and your back. The weight should sit on your hips, not your shoulders. Every strap needs tightening.”
My eyes fall to the straps, then ping back to his face. “You can tighten them. It looks like you really want to.”
He clears his throat uncomfortably. “I’d rather not.”
We stare at one another, silent, the breeze warm and sticky. He shifts on his feet, breaking eye contact and trying to hide hissudden discomfort. I reach up and tighten the straps of Marigold, instantly relieving my tortured shoulders.
Why the heck did no one tell me about this trick? It could have saved me the weeks of chiropractic care and retail therapy I’ll undoubtedly need to recover.
“Are you okay?” I adjust another strap, sharpening my gaze at the twitch in his fingers.
“Your friends are leaving.” He gestures behind me with a lift of his chin, ignoring my question.
I look over my shoulder to see Chad and Brandon making their way toward the path. My eyes return to Jack with a roll. “I’ve knownyoulonger than I’ve known Chad. And I only just met Brandon.”
Jack studies me carefully. He doesn’t believe me.
“You’re camping overnight?” he questions, hands back on his hips. His eyes track Chad and Brandon as they continue along the trail.
