CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Emily
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Emily
“A
what ?” I say, squinting as I try to make sense of the words coming out of Bon’s mouth. The sudden call to meet up in front of her new place was already surprising enough, and my brain is still in a fog after staying up late with endless client emails. And champagne. And thoughts of Joshua Santiago, but that one happens every night, so no need to point it out!
“A hiking trip!” Bon repeats, practically bouncing with excitement. Her gaze shifts between me and Joshua, as though she’s already decided we’re on board with her wild plan.
I stare at her, hoping I misheard. “Can you say that again? Because I swear I keep hearing ‘hiking trip.’” We’re all gathered in Bon and Ryan’s living room. Well, what will be their living room after they unpack all these boxes. Honestly, I’m so confused as to why they didn’t do it earlier. If it were me, I would’ve spent my wedding night making sure all the things were in the right places. To be honest, I wouldn’t let the unpacking reach my actual wedding day, because I would’ve already fixed and decorated the home by then.
“She is saying hiking trip,” Ryan chimes in as he comes down the stairs, looking a little embarrassed. “Our honeymoon is supposed to be in Europe, but... I might have booked the wrong dates. So we have a week of pre-honeymoon free time.”
“Which is why,” Bon jumps in, “before you two head back to New York, we should all go on a hiking trip!” Her face lights up as she loops her arm through Ryan’s, as though the idea itself is a gift she’s giving us.
Joshua raises an eyebrow. “And you thought of this, how?”
Bon gives him a pointed look. “We need a final group bonding experience! You two are leaving, we’re heading to Europe, Haley’s off to a new stage production, and Kate’s going to be buried under lesson plans with her new class. This might be our last big hurrah for a while!”
Before I can retort, Haley and Kate barge in. Haley holds her phone up and says, “What does ‘ hjkong trup’ mean?” She’s referring to the excited text Bon sent us fifteen minutes ago, which prompted me to sprint here.
“Hiking trip. As in, tomorrow,” Bon says with a mischievous grin.
“Ooooh, I’m in,” Haley exclaims, but Kate frowns.
I groan, leaning against the stack of boxes. “So you think that’s a better way to spend your weekend than to, I don’t know, unpack all these boxes?” Seriously, though. I’d volunteer to unpack these.
“Yup. Half my clothes are in suitcases, ready for Europe anyway.” Bon shrugs.
I glance over at Joshua, who just shrugs too, clearly not planning to argue. Kate narrows her eyes at me, already challenging me silently to come up with a good reason to bail, but I know Bon—if she’s made up her mind, we’re doing this.
Kate suddenly comes into view, waving her hand. “I’m sorry, hi, good morning,” she interjects. “Hiking? Do we look like a group that hikes? Need I remind you, Bon, that you’re the type of person who’d rather endure her thirst than go back down a flight of stairs.” Bon sticks her tongue out.
I point to Kate and look at Bon. “She has a point. We do not have hiking experience.”
“I do,” Joshua says. I glare at him.
“Okay, but did we think this through?” I say, crossing my arms. “What trail are we taking? Do we have gear, tents, the right shoes? And the weather—what if it rains? And bugs! There’s a whole lot you didn’t mention, Bon.”
Bon waves a hand dismissively. “Okay, Mama Em. How about let’s just try to be excited?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t be thrilled about what may or may not be the day I die.”
The room falls quiet for a second, and then Ryan, trying to suppress a laugh, says, “Come on, it’ll be fun. A little nature, some exercise—it’s not a death sentence.”
“Oh, it will be,” I mumble, picturing myself struggling up a mountain, probably covered in bug bites. I catch Joshua’s amused look. He’s looking at me with a smirk, and I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t look so pleased, hiker-boy.”
“Anyway,” Bon says. “We have the tents. I have shoes I can lend you, the weather will be a bit cloudy, and we can always buy bug spray. Come on, be spontaneous, you guys!”
Kate sighs, already defeated. “Fine.”
“Kate!” My mouth drops, and it looks like I’m the only one left who’s still not on board. Which probably means that I already am.
Bon cheers, already setting plans in motion. “Perfect! We’ll leave first thing tomorrow!. I’ll bring snacks. Ryan and I mapped out this beautiful trail. It’ll be unforgettable!”
I’m not sure if ‘unforgettable’ is quite the word I’d use, but one glance at everyone else’s reluctant smiles, and I know I’m not getting out of this.
“Alright,” I say. “But I’m allergic to dust, so if I die, it’s on you.”
“I’m not gonna let you die, Em,” Joshua says beside me.
“Whatever,” I roll my eyes, but I feel slightly better.
The extra pair of hiking shoes that Bon so generously offered turned out to be broken. Completely useless. So I’m currently at the mall with Joshua and my sister Lila to look for something functional for tomorrow.
“No, really,” Lila says as we wander through the endless maze of shops, trying to locate a hiking or sports store. Or whatever you call the place they sell those boots. “What did you even like about Ate?”
My hand immediately flies out to swat her arm, and I widen my eyes at her in warning. “Shut it,” I hiss under my breath.
Joshua, ever unfazed, just chuckles. He peeks over to my right side, since I’m walking between the two of them. “What’s not to like, Lila?” he says, his tone light but warm enough to send an annoying flutter through my chest.
“Umm…” Lila pretends to think, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “She’s a control freak? She’s stubborn? She always has to be right? She—”
“—also pays for everything you want and need, so you might want to rethink that next sentence,” I cut in, raising a brow at her.
My sister shrugs, unbothered, and sticks her tongue out at me. “Just stating facts.”
“Don’t worry, Li,” Joshua says, his voice laced with humor as he steps closer. “I’ll buy you anything you want today. Just finish that sentence.”
I glare at both of them, rolling my eyes so hard it’s a miracle they don’t get stuck. “Traitor,” I grumble to Joshua.
He smirks. “Just trying to help her express herself.”
Lila grins triumphantly, but before she can respond, we finally spot the store we’ve been searching for. “Thank goodness,” I mutter, speeding up to get inside before they can gang up on me again.
As soon as we enter, Lila darts off to look at colorful sneakers, leaving me and Joshua in the hiking boot section. I sift through the rows of sturdy boots in various shades of brown, gray, and black. “Why are there so many options but they also look exactly the same?” I ask him.
“Because hiking is serious business,” he says. He’s holding a box of boots he already picked out for himself, his confidence in his choice evident.
“ How have you already decided on one? We’ve been here for two minutes,” I say.
“These are the exact ones I have in New York. Tried and tested,” he replies. “Anyway,” he steps beside me, picking up a pair and turning it over in his hands like he knows exactly what he’s looking for. “These should work.” He hands me the pair.
“They’re fine,” I say dismissively, grabbing a random pair. “But what about these?”
He glances at them and immediately shakes his head. “Those are nice, but they’ll wreck your feet halfway through the hike.”
A sales associate approaches, and Joshua waves him over, showing the pair in his hands. “Can we get these in her size?”
“Excuse me, I can pick my own shoes,” I protest, crossing my arms.
Joshua raises a brow. “Sure, but do you want me to let you suffer tomorrow when I know these are the better choice?”
I don’t argue, because as stubborn as I am, I also know that I have no knowledge of hiking boots to counter Joshua. The associate returns with the shoes, and I reluctantly sit down to try them on. Joshua kneels in front of me, taking the boot from my hands before I can do it myself.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Making sure they fit properly,” he says, removing the sneakers I have on. “You’re not hiking in bad shoes on my watch.”
I watch him work, my heart doing a weird little flip. “You know, you’re kind of bossy,” I murmur.
“Says the control freak,” he shoots back without missing a beat, glancing up at me with a smile.
And not just any smile. It’s one of those rare, genuine ones—the kind that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners and sends an annoying, fluttery warmth spreading through my chest.
Oh, boy . My little parasites are back.
Sometimes, I think I’ve built up immunity to Joshua’s charm. I’ve spent enough time around him to know his arsenal of looks, quips, and flirty comebacks. But then, he gives me one of these real smiles, and I’m reminded—unfortunately—that he’s really, really attractive.
Joshua takes my foot in his hands, the warmth of his palms seeping through my sock, and slides it into the boot. His fingers brush against my ankle as he adjusts the fit, sending jolts of electricity up my leg.
He works methodically, tugging the laces tight and tying them with practiced ease. “Stand up,” he says, motioning for me to test the fit.
I do as he says, reluctantly impressed by how comfortable they feel. “Okay, not bad,” I admit.
“Not bad?” He smirks, standing up to his full height. “You mean perfect.”
“Don’t push it,” I mumble, sitting back down to take them off.
Joshua crouches in front of me again, reaching for the second boot. Our eyes meet for a brief moment, and he smiles subtly. And then a voice cuts through the moment.
“Wow, Ate, you’re really milking this princess treatment,” Lila teases, appearing out of nowhere with an armful of brightly colored sneakers. “Should I leave you two alone?”
“What’s that ?” I ask, ignoring every word she said.
“Kuya Josh said he’d get me anything I want today,” she says with a shrug. “I’m gonna ask you to choose the best one from this pile.”
“Get it all, Lila,” Joshua replies casually, not even glancing her way.
Lila squeals, clutching the sneakers dramatically to her chest. Then, in true little sister fashion, she looks at Joshua and says, “You know, you kind of look like you’re about to propose down there, Kuya Josh.”
I brace myself, expecting Joshua to stiffen or maybe crack a joke to deflect. Even Superman has his kryptonite, and Joshua’s, as far as I know, is the mere mention of a lifelong commitment.
But to my surprise, he doesn’t flinch. Instead, he winks at her, completely unfazed. “If I were, you’d be the first to know, Li.”
Lila cackles, skipping off with her ridiculous pile of sneakers, leaving me alone with Joshua once more.
I shake my head, watching her go. “If you spoil her like that, you’re going to have to keep it up. She’ll pester you to death.”
Joshua stands, brushing his hands off on his jeans. “I’m no stranger to pestering little sisters,” he says with a grin.
He doesn’t realize what he’s done. That simple act of buying Lila those sneakers? It’s more than just indulging a teenager’s whims. She’s been asking me for things—sneakers, bags, a new gadget—all things I used to say yes to without hesitation. But lately, I’ve had to deflect, to make excuses, because I can’t afford to be as generous as I used to be. And I couldn’t bear to tell her that.
I glance at him, standing there so effortlessly. “Thanks,” I say softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
“For what?” He looks at me with genuine curiosity, as if he has no idea. Maybe he really doesn’t. Maybe he’s just really a kind person. Because, apparently, attractiveness and humor are not enough to make a girl swoon.
“For…” I hesitate, searching for the right words. But instead, I just smile. “Never mind.”
Joshua raises a brow but doesn’t press. Instead, he flashes another grin. “Come on. Let’s see if these boots can survive a test walk before tomorrow.”
Everything I know about Joshua Santiago paints him as a dangerous player, the kind of man you guard your heart against. And yet, there are moments like this, where he unknowingly eases my burden, where he holds my hand to stop my anxieties, where he helps me in stressful situations. Moments where he does something quietly kind, achingly tender. And those moments rewrite the story.
Now how do I protect my heart from that?