19. Chapter Nineteen
After breakfast, everyone got ready for hiking. I slipped a water bottle and snacks into a drawstring bag along with sunscreen before pulling on my hiking boots. I’d opted for comfy, worn workout clothes. Everyone else was similarly attired, though Kylie’s workout gear was clearly name-brand and brought attention to curves I sadly lacked.
We piled into cars, with Kylie hesitating only slightly when Grey opted to ride with me, Trent, and Tory instead of joining her and the twins. Tory’s explanation of their history had shed light on their dynamic, making me wonder how long before Kylie would finally either admit defeat or convince Grey to give her a chance.
The gravel parking lot for the trailhead boasted one other car as we pulled in. The drive to the trail had been a bumpy trek over a dirt road full of hills and the occasional pothole. I’d repeatedly looked behind us to make sure the twins’ car was handling the road, though Brad had driven the road with skill.
After we parked, I scrambled from the car, eager to get moving and stretch my legs. The echoes of my conversation with Tory continued to play through my head, and I longed to move, to clear my head with much needed exercise. My drawstring bag knocked against my back as I walked, making me wish I’d traded it for a more stylish shoulder bag like the one I’d seen Kylie carrying on her way to the car.
I waited at the trailhead while everyone climbed out of the cars and gathered their supplies. The area was a mix of trees and rocks, with the river only a few feet away down a slight hill. A concrete dam with a walkway across the top was to the right, with the trail I assumed we would follow to the left. The wind teased the end of my braid, carrying with it the smell of pine and damp earth.
“This is gorgeous,” Kylie said, stopping beside me and immediately bending down in a calf stretch that showed her legs off to advantage, though a petty part of me noticed she couldn’t quite touch her toes. Maybe yoga had given me at least one advantage over this woman who seemed to have everything I could only dream of. “I can’t believe I almost passed on the trip and missed the chance to see this.”
I nodded. While I’d only visited Tory’s family cabin once, my extended family loved the area, and I had many happy memories of time spent in Island Park, hiking, floating the river, forgetting the uncertainty that waited at home as Mom worked to make ends meet. No matter how crazy life got, Mom had somehow always found time for those trips.
“It’s a beautiful area. If the winters weren’t so cold, I’d move here in a heartbeat,” I said, surprised at the truthfulness in the words. I wondered if Island Park could use a yoga studio.
The others joined us at the trailhead, everyone eager to start hiking in the mountain air.
“I vote we play a game as we hike,” Brad called, starting the group down the trail. His voice carried with ease, his confidence that of a man used to being followed.
I hung back, uncertain of where I fit in the group. While I was friendly with everyone, Tory and Grey were the only ones I’d count as friends. And Grey’s upgrade to that status was only a recent change. Though since we’d slept together twice and held hands the night before, calling him a friend seemed inadequate. Anxiety wound its way up my throat, and my mind drew a blank as I thought about trying to make conversation and contributing to a game the entire hike.
Alex groaned. “Is it the Brad is Quiet Game? You know, the one where you keep your mouth shut and let the rest of us enjoy a break from your voice?”
“Ha-ha, very funny.” Brad grabbed his brother in a mock choke hold, and they wrestled, blocking the trail and forcing us to wait a moment for them to finish roughhousing. After a few moments of scuffling, they bumped into a tree and broke apart, grins splitting their faces and hinting that such behavior was normal for these brothers.
“I’m the worst at the Quiet Game,” Grey said as we started moving again, our steps making a scuffing sound in the dirt. I bit back a laugh, imagining him remaining silent for an entire hike. I think the only time I’d experienced full quiet from Grey was when he slept.
“That surprises no one,” Tory called. She was in the middle of the group next to Kylie, with Trent acting as a buffer between her and the twins. I assumed his position wasn’t accidental. Apparently, the conversation between Trent and Tory the night before had done little to ease his worries and possessiveness.
Grey placed a hand on his chest, mock-offended, before breaking into a grin and dropping his hand back to his side. “Fair enough. Since we all know I’m going to lose, I vote for another game. Something that involves a lot of talking.”
“I was thinking something along the lines of Top Five. I’ll pick a category, and everyone shares their top five favorite things in that category. If I say restaurants, you list your top five restaurants, same with color, snack foods…you get the idea.” Brad kept looking back at us as he spoke, making sure we understood the game. I was impressed he didn’t get whacked in the face with a tree branch.
“Now, hold up, picking only five favorite restaurants is a tall order. I mean, are you talking fast food? Sit down? Chain? Locally owned?” Grey asked, ticking each option off on his fingers.
I snorted, realizing that picking only five favorite restaurants might actually cause Grey physical pain.
“You know Grey’s top hobbies are eating food, talking about food, and talking while eating food,” I said, the words slipping out before I could second-guess myself.
Tory barked a laugh as she stepped over a fallen tree. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
We were passing through a forested area full of quaking aspens and the occasional pine tree. The gaps in the trees revealed glimpses of the river, which we could hear in the breaks in our conversation. Grasses and wildflowers carpeted the ground on either side of the dirt trail, adding pops of color to the scenery. I focused on our surroundings, trying to block out the heat filling my cheeks as everyone reacted to my comment.
Grey shot me a mock glare followed by a smile, white teeth contrasting with his beard. Even here in the woods, he kept it well-groomed, and I found myself wondering why I hadn’t been interested in bearded men before now. “I’ll have you know it takes time and skill to develop such a wide range of knowledge about eating. I bet I could come up with top five places just for tacos in Utah County.”
“Spare us!” Kylie joined in the banter, throwing me a wink. I was still figuring out how to read her. At times she seemed friendly, and at others it felt like she saw me as competition for Grey’s attention. “Brad, we’ll play your game, but you can’t pick any food categories. The last thing we need is Grey waxing poetic about a mediocre burger.”
“I’ll have you know I save my poetry for only the best burgers. They have to earn the poetry.” Grey stopped and struck a dramatic pose, one hand on his hip, the other draped over his forehead.
Kylie shook her head, stepping around Grey with a pat on his arm. “As long as the poetry is earned…” She trailed off, not realizing what she had invited.
“In that case, let me share a little ditty I just composed called, ‘Ode to a Mushroom Burger.’” Grey cleared his throat, and the group gave a collective moan.
“Boo! No poetry!” Tory said, covering her ears. “I refuse to listen to anything about ground beef and cheese.”
“Did you miss the part about mushrooms?” Grey persisted as he followed behind Kylie. He was directly in front of me, and I found myself wanting to reach for his hand and twine my fingers with his. I fought the impulse, surprised I only felt a small amount of hesitation.
“No burger poetry. If you’re going to recite food poetry, at least make it about something really epic, like cream puffs,” Alex said.
“Cream puffs? What, dear brother, is epic about cream puffs?” Brad asked, humor in his voice.
“Have you ever tried to make cream puffs from scratch? They’re not easy,” Alex explained with a shrug, unembarrassed by the ridiculous turn in conversation.
“I feel like we’ve lost sight of our objective,” Tory called, reining the group back in. “Brad, pick the first topic.”
“I’m going with top five movies. Alex, kick us off!”
The game progressed from there as we continued along the trail, climbing over rocks and under tree branches. The group joked and laughed as we went. Brad’s game turned out to be fun, and I felt the band of anxiety in my chest loosen with the light atmosphere—until Brad asked us to pick our top five songs.
“Only five?” The incredulity in my tone carried, and everyone turned to look at me in surprise, my cheeks flushing with the attention.
As we paused in a clearing, I could see surprise written on every face except Grey’s. I considered laughing it off and pretending like I was joking but decided to hold my ground. If Grey could declare restaurants off limits because it was too hard, I could do the same with music. There was no way I could pick only five favorite songs. Five favorite songs by Earth, Wind, and Fire? Easy. Top five songs of all time? Impossible.
“It’s not that hard,” Kylie chimed in, quickly ticking off five popular songs on her fingers.
“We’ll examine later why all of your favorite songs are by Taylor Swift,” Grey joked, coming to my rescue. I breathed a silent sigh of relief at having someone else redirect the attention. “I agree with Audrey. That’s no different than asking me to pick only five favorite fast food restaurants. Girl is a classic rock junkie!”
This caught Trent’s interest, and he faced me fully, arms crossed over his chest in challenge. “Classic rock? Can you even name five classic rock artists?”
I could hear the disbelief in his tone, and my hackles rose. I’d heard this reaction many times, though it typically came from older men who couldn’t believe a girl my age could possibly care about music beyond current hits.
I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. “Do you want five artists from the 60s, 70s, or 80s?”
Trent smirked, clearly thinking he had me beat. “The 60s.”
I pursed my lips and tapped my finger on my chin, pretending to think. “Let’s see, the 60s would be the Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Temptations, and Pink Floyd.”
Trent’s smug smile vanished, and he stepped back, pretending disinterest. “That was too easy. Everyone knows those groups.”
“I didn’t know all of them,” Alex said, raising his hand and looking around the group. The others shook their heads, and I felt bolstered by their reaction.
“I can keep going,” I said, giving a shrug while also refusing to back down. I could feel hints of anxiety at all the attention, but this was one of my passions, and I was going to make sure everyone here knew it. “Fleetwood Mac, the Bee Gees, Black Sabbath, though all of those groups sort of bridge the sixties and seventies—”
“Dang, girl! You really do know your stuff,” Brad said, respect lighting his eyes as he stepped between me and Trent, putting an end to our exchange. “Next time I play music trivia, you’re on my team.”
Trent turned without a word, his posture stiff as he resumed hiking. I ignored him, blushing at the praise and appreciation from everyone else as we continued down the trail. My fears of feeling like an outsider with this group dissipated after that. While I remained quiet for most of the hike, I joined in the game and participated in conversation when I had something to add. Mostly I observed everyone, curious about this mix of humans I found myself sharing a cabin with.
Alex was the quiet, steady presence, though he also knew when to give the others, Brad especially, a hard time. Kylie was the follower, jumping into whatever the group did with enthusiasm and class. Tory was the ringleader and the connector, bringing the group together. Brad and Grey alternated between being the joker and butt of the jokes, but they both seemed to roll with the teasing, hamming it up for a good laugh. The only one who didn’t seem to fit was Trent, and I couldn’t figure out why. Tory clearly wanted him to be part of the group, but he seemed to hold himself back, unwilling to join in fully. He answered questions when asked directly, not volunteering more than the bare minimum. His challenge of my music expertise was the one exception, and he spent ten minutes after sulking and refusing to answer any questions. I didn’t understand what Tory saw in him but wanted to trust my friend and her instincts.
We walked for about a mile and a half before turning back. The trail stretched for miles without a particular destination at the end. Instead, it gave us beautiful views of the river and the chance to exercise and soak in nature. When we weren’t talking and comparing our favorite rom-coms or vacation spots, I could hear birds and squirrels chattering and the calming sound of rushing water.
If someone had asked for a definition of my perfect day, this would be close to my answer: enjoying the outdoors with a group of friends. No worries or stress about work or general life concerns. Maybe I could open my heart enough to claim this group as mine. Outside of my roommates and Tory, I didn’t have many people I counted as friends. Funny what happened when your best friend and your boyfriend betrayed you. Although, neither Lyle nor Emily would have enjoyed this moment that was filling me with joy, seeing it as a waste of time or an inconvenience.
“You’ve been quiet,” Grey said, hanging back to chat as we neared the parking lot.
When we’d started hiking, he’d been wearing another flannel, this one green. But over the course of the hike, he’d tied it around his waist, revealing a worn t-shirt that hugged his arms in wonderful ways.
“I answered my questions,” I said, looping my fingers through my bag straps to give my hands something to do. “And I’m guessing Trent wished I’d been even quieter.”
Grey snorted a laugh. “That was awesome. I’d pay good money for a repeat performance.” He trailed off, thinking for a moment. “I guess I mean you didn’t talk much outside of the expected moments.” Grey held a branch out of my way, and I walked past, close enough to feel his warmth.
I shrugged. “I was listening, watching.”
“And what did you see?” Grey’s voice was inviting, reminding me of our conversations on the drive up.
“Alex is a lot more athletic than you’d think.” I picked the least risky option. While he wasn’t as muscular as his brother, Alex had spent most of the hike leading the group, setting a steady clip as we hiked. Part of why I’d hung back was because I wanted to soak in the scenery, not rush through it.
Grey nudged my shoulder. “Come on, anyone could tell you that. Despite the video game t-shirts and glasses, I think he might spend more time actually exercising than Brad. He doesn’t do it in the gym, but dude loves his mountain bike. And I swear he’s telling me about a new hike every time I see him.”
“Fine. Tory insists that she and Brad are just friends, but I think Brad wouldn’t mind something more.” Tory had similar feelings, but I kept that thought to myself, recognizing the sensitivity of our conversation from that morning.
Grey nodded, surprise fliting across his face. “I could see that. Trent presents a bit of a problem with that possibility, though.”
I ducked beneath another branch and kept my gaze focused on the trail, not wanting to twist an ankle on a protruding root. “If you watch Trent, he’s aware of the threat. There’s a reason why he pushed to the front of the group, and it’s not because he enjoys hiking like Alex.”
Throughout the hike, Trent had regularly stepped in front of Tory, working to create a buffer between her and Brad.
“You’ve got some solid observations there. Anything else you noticed?”
I paused mid-step, biting my lip.
“There is something. You have to tell me.” Grey stopped too. The parking lot was in sight, but we stood several feet away, just outside of hearing range of the rest of the group.
As we’d hiked, I’d watched Kylie glue herself to Grey’s side. She regularly used rocks, roots, and branches as excuses to touch Grey, grabbing his arm to keep from tripping, brushing his fingers when he’d held a branch back so it wouldn’t hit her. I swallowed, remembering Tory’s insights from this morning and not sure how much I should share.
I shook my head. “It’s nothing.”
“If it was nothing, you wouldn’t have paused, not to mention you’re going to nibble a hole in your lip,” Grey persisted.
“Fine, but take it with a grain of salt. I was just people-watching, so it might mean nothing.”
“Now you’re making me nervous.”
We started hiking again, not wanting to draw attention as everyone else waited for us in the parking lot.
“Kylie doesn’t want to just be your friend.” I said the words quickly, glancing at Grey’s face while I spoke, watching his reaction.
His face tightened as he processed the words and then shook his head.
“She and I have talked. She knows I don’t feel that way about her. We’re good friends. That’s it.”
I shrugged. “Friends or not, I don’t think the two of you are on the same page with that assumption.”
Grey shook his head, not commenting as we finished the hike.
I almost regretted sharing my observations, my anxiety from earlier starting to gnaw at my belly. Had I misspoken in telling Grey my thoughts? Yet, I knew he’d be the first one to tell me to speak my mind, which was exactly what I’d done.
I slipped into Tory’s car, only half listening to the discussion around me as Tory rambled on about other hikes we could do. I was too busy thinking about what I had seen when we got to the parking lot. Trent and Tory had been standing next to Tory’s car, Trent’s arms wrapped around her from behind. Brad had been a few steps away, making Tory laugh with something he’d said, Trent glaring daggers at him from over Tory’s shoulder. Alex had been leaning on the other side of Brad’s car, head ducked down, looking at his phone. And separate from the group, watching the trail like a hawk, had been Kylie. I’d watched as instant relief, followed by concern, had flitted across her face before she’d sidled up to me, asking my thoughts on the hike and positioning herself between me and Grey.
Just friends. That might be what Grey wanted, but Kylie clearly had other plans.