Chapter 3 Noah
Noah
“We’re miles away from civilization. Who the hell could you be texting, right now?
” Brad asks over his shoulder. He’s a few paces ahead of me as we walk along the narrow trail.
He insisted on showing me a nearby watering hole he loves out here, and when he threatened not to feed me later if I didn’t come, I didn’t exactly have a choice.
“I’m not texting anyone. Solitaire doesn’t need service,” I call back.
Brad stops in his tracks and looks back at me, dumbfounded. I hide the smirk playing on my lips. I’m finding it a little too fun rousing him up. It’s just so easy.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Solitaire?” He strides over to me, and before I have a second to register what he’s doing, he snatches my phone out of my hand.
“Hey! Dude, what the hell!?” I reach for it but Brad pulls back, just out of my reach.
“Dude, let’s make a deal. No more phones for the rest of the weekend, and I’ll leave you alone forever.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I say, reaching for it again. I’m getting way too close to his chest, and in a moment, I’m going to hurt him.
“What’s so hard about hanging out with me, huh? You don’t even know me.”
“You just answered your own question.” I smack him in the stomach, which results in him curling into himself instinctively. I successfully snatch my phone back from him and snicker. “I don’t know you.”
He straightens up and lifts his hands in surrender, even though I can see the tensing of his jaw.
“Fine. Keep your precious phone. You can pout all weekend while I enjoy the great outdoors. I no longer care,” he says, turning and stepping off the trail into the forest. “Good luck finding your way back to the campsite.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. Who just…walks off into the forest?
I glance behind me at the path we came from. My throat goes dry as I try to retrace our steps. I know we took a couple of turns to get here, but he’s right— I have no clue how to get back on my own.
Like some cruel joke, a sudden rustle in the distance startles me, making me jump out of my skin.
Shit.
As much as I’d love to make a whole show of marching back and waiting for him by a fire, I think I’ll get lost or eaten by a bear before I manage that.
I need him.
I follow his footsteps through the trees and twigs in the direction he went until I get to a clearing.
The space is almost unreal, like something straight out of a camping brochure. It’s not quite a lake, but bigger than a pond, and at the far end, a waterfall cascades over huge grey rocks, spilling into the water below.
The water is crystal clear, reflecting the sunlight in this annoyingly peaceful way. Trees surround the whole area, tall and quiet, like they’re guarding a secret.
It’s… a really beautiful spot. Not that I’d admit that out loud to him.
Okay, truth be told, I’m glad that I didn’t miss this.
My eyes find their way to Brad, who’s standing at the edge of the water, taking in the scene like I am. He slides his backpack off his shoulders onto the ground and slips out of his shoes and socks.
My brows pinch. “What are you doing?” I shout.
He doesn’t take a look at me, but I can see a small smile appear on his lips from here. “Look who decided to join us. Tired of your phone already?”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t know how to get back.”
He nods his head before gripping the back of his shirt and dragging it up and over his head.
Holy shit.
Brad has an insane body… like, criminally insane.
I watch his muscles ripple as he tosses his shirt aside. He stretches his arms, and my eyes trace the hard, defined planes of his back.
“Are you getting in, or is it uncool to go swimming?” he laughs, already wading into the water. He turns back toward me, then dunks his head under.
When he resurfaces, he slicks his hair back, water trailing down his face and over his chiseled chest.
I lick my suddenly dry lips, and look away.
It is really hot out here. The sun is at its peak, and the water looks refreshing.
Slipping off my shoes and socks, I take my shirt off, exposing my own body.
I’m no Hercules, but I’d say I have a pretty fit body. Not that I care what he thinks.
I just…
My gaze flicks up, colliding with his. He hasn’t looked away once. He treads water silently, eyes locked on me as I make my way to the water’s edge.
“Get in,” he says at last, cutting through the silence.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” I answer. I poke my toes into the water, feeling the coolness rush through my body, immediately cooling me down.
Slipping in, I take my time acclimating my body to the water's temperature.
“There you go,” Brad smiles, floating onto his back. “See how good it feels when you listen?”
My stomach swoops at his choice of words. Okay, I’m going to have to correct whatever that is.
I don’t want him to start thinking he’s the boss here. We’ve played by his rules this far.
Well, it’s my turn.
With only the soft babble of water crashing over the rocks, I swim closer to him. Quietly. Stealthy as a baby otter.
Before he can react, I plant my hands on his shoulders and shove him under the surface.
Laughing, I watch as he comes back up, sputtering and coughing out water, trying to catch his breath.
“You little shit,” he coughs.
“Now, that feels good.” I laugh.
All at once, a cold wave hits my face.
I gasp. “Hey!”
“You wanna play? Fine, we’ll play.” He splashes me again, and I cough. “You’re not Veronica’s kid out here. You’re just some little punk who needs a lesson.” Another splash knocks me back harder this time.
Woah. Okay, he was holding that one in.
And… damn. It thrills me. Nothing but excitement and curiosity courses through my veins, seeing this side of him. No more Mr. Nice Guy.
I push him back and he makes no hesitation but to throw me over his shoulder and dunk me into the water.
Back and forth, we tussle for what seems like forever.
It’s honestly…fun, and unfortunately, a few laughs slip out of my mouth as we continue pushing each other's buttons.
Eventually, we’re both out of breath, crawling to the water’s edge for a break.
“For an old man, I guess you can hold your own,” I pant, wiping my face off with my dry shirt.
“I’m thirty-eight. You act like I’m ancient,” he laughs, the sound warm and easy on the ears.
I chuckle, taking in his slight salt and pepper beard. In the setting sun, I can see now that his hair is more of a warm hazelnut brown—the kind you imagine at a log cabin in the woods. Has he ever dyed it? I hope not. Age suits him.
I’ve never been with an older guy before.
I’m ashamed as soon as the thought comes forward. My eyes dart away, hoping and praying to think of something else.
Jesus, Noah.
Where the hell did that come from? And why does it have my dick twitch in my pants? I look down at myself thickening against my shorts and immediately cover it with my hands. The whole wet shorts thing is probably the worst-case scenario right now.
“I’m hungry,” I blurt.
His eyes curiously scan me from head to toe. I nervously chew on my lip ring, hoping that he doesn’t notice what I’m trying to hide.
But instead of my shorts, his gaze settles on my lip. He straightens up and looks away.
“Alright. Let’s get you fed,” he says, smacking me lightly on the chest with the back of his hand before heading back to the trail.
I watch as he goes. Maybe there’s more to Brad than he leads on. I saw a short flicker of it just now in the water. If anything, maybe I can peel back the layers this weekend and find out more. I’ll call it a favor for my mom.
***
“Can you pass me the hot dogs?” Brad asks, rummaging through his duffel bag.
“Why can’t you get it yourself?” I reply, poking at the fire he got started. Since we’ve been back at camp, I can’t help myself—I have to keep pushing his buttons.
He turns, jaw tight. I swear, I’ve never had this much fun annoying someone.
“Dammit, Noah. Does everything have to be a struggle with you?” he mutters, marching over to the cooler.
I bite back a smirk as he grabs the hot dogs and starts sliding them onto skewers.
“You’re cooking your own or you’re not eating,” he says, holding a skewer just out of my reach.
“You’d let me starve?”
“I’m not opposed to it. You’re a grown-ass man, right?”
I narrow my eyes. “Now you’re getting it.” I lunge and snatch the poker from his hand. Our fingers brush for a split second—and I feel it. That heat again. I’m not sure where it’s coming from but I shove it down.
“What’d you say you did again?” I ask, sitting back in one of the camp chairs, slipping my skewer into the fire.
“Contractor. Why?”
“Just curious. Mom only ever says you make good money.”
He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, okay. I get it. You’re not a fan of your mom.” He sits across from me and starts cooking his own hot dogs.
“Just giving you the heads up.” I shrug. “Trying to save you.”
“No, you’re just being a dick.”
His words cut a little deeper than expected. I turn back to my food, lips pressed together.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“What’s so bad about it, huh? Me marrying your mom?”
“I’m trying to help—”
“Well, it’s annoying. If you’ve got something to say, say it. Stop with the cryptic shit.” He shakes his head, firelight dancing across his face.
I pause. My jaw tightens.
Do I really want to be the one to pop their little love bubble? I’m leaving soon anyway. Let them figure it out.
“Forget it.”
He nods slowly. “Yeah… how about we do just that?”
I set the poker down beside me, once I know my hot dogs are done. Pulling my hair back, I try to push it out my face, even though the strands always fall in my face anyway. Brad watches me quietly, then looks back at his own skewer.
“How about we…” he starts, clearing his throat. He clasps his hands in front of him, searching for the right words. “How about we just… forget about your mom for the rest of the weekend? We can focus on getting to know each other. Not as her fiancé and her son. Just as Brad and Noah.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. I’ve been having fun riling him up, but… maybe I could try to at least get to know him at the same time. Pull back the layers, and all.
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
His shoulders ease just slightly. For the first time, I see the stress I’ve been causing him.
“You shouldn’t internalize so much,” I say. “It’s not good for you.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re such a little shit.”
I grin.
Maybe being just Brad and Noah won’t be so bad.