Chapter 11
Daniela
“What do you mean Dex is on his way?”
“I’m sorry.” Layla visibly cringes. “I didn’t know he was coming, I swear.”
“I believe you. It’s not your fault.” I roll my eyes. Not at her, just the situation. “It’s just weird with it being only the four of us. Please don’t leave me stuck with him the whole time, forced to make conversation.”
Forced to look at his stupid fucking biceps.
“I won’t. I promise.”
Liam drives us to the trailhead, with Dex already on his way to meet us. The trees grow denser the higher up we go. I hate to admit how beautiful it is here in the summer—way prettier than Sacramento, that’s for sure. And the air smells so much better.
When we pull into the parking lot, Dex is already there, leaning against his truck with his arms crossed, staring out at the mountains.
“Here we go,” I mutter to myself.
Liam parks and hops out to greet Dex while I take my time stepping out, putting my water in my tiny backpack and tying my shoes.
“It’s a gorgeous day, isn’t it?” Layla walks up beside me, smiling as she stretches her arms.
“It is.”
“I’m ashamed we didn’t spend more summers here. It was almost always winter when we came to visit,” she remarks. Layla and her parents used to vacation here all the time when she was younger. It’s how she met Liam when they were teenagers.
“Yeah, I’m not going to lie…I much prefer the summers to the insane winters.”
“They each have their own appeal,” she says with a grin.
“If you say so,” I mumble.
With reluctance in every step, I follow Layla over to the guys. Dex greets her with a hug and a bright smile. Then he glances at me.
“Hey,” I greet him with a half-hearted wave.
He nods with a tight-lipped smile. At least, I think it’s supposed to be a smile. “Hey.” He barely looks at me for more than two seconds. “Didn’t know you were a hiking kind of girl,” he adds, glancing off in the distance at the mountains.
“I’m full of surprises,” I remark.
“Yep,” he says curtly.
“Okay, well…let’s get going,” Layla interjects, breaking the tension. “I’ve got an appointment later I cannot miss.”
“Yes ma’am,” I say.
Dex takes off in a powerful stride, leading the way.
Great.
A minute in, and I’m already breathing heavy trying to keep up.
“Can we like…slow down a little? Not all of us have gazelle legs.”
Dex glares back at me, his face unreadable. But he slows his pace.
“You gonna make it?” Layla asks, hanging back with me. She doesn’t seem bothered by the fast pace. They’re all used to the elevation here. I’m not.
Not that I’m making excuses.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” I’m determined.
Her voice lowers as she falls into step beside me, and we drop back even more. “Seriously though, what the hell did you do to Dex? Usually, he’s Mr. Sunshine, but you managed to turn him into a grumpy asshole whenever you’re around.”
“I don’t know,” I sigh .
“Hmm.” She watches the guys ahead of us thoughtfully. They’re chatting amongst themselves and have slowed down as well, probably noticing how much we’ve lagged behind.
Layla pulls ahead of me again as the trail narrows, and my sheer determination keeps me right behind them.
We all quietly fall into a rhythm.
The fresh air, the calming sounds of nature, and the scent of the trees take over, and I realize I’m actually enjoying myself.
It feels nice to get away from everything, to escape reality for just a little while.
I purposely leave some space between myself and the group but keep a steady pace.
I stare at crushed pine needles in the dirt as I move at a steady pace, lost in my own messed up thoughts.
Some time passes, and Layla has moved ahead with Liam. I hear the distant muffle of chatter between them.
Dex is now in front of me, about a dozen feet ahead. I try to look anywhere but directly at his ass in those stupid designer-brand navy blue shorts.
He slows to cross a stream up ahead, then stops on the other side, turning to watch me. I avert my gaze to the ground as I approach.
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I mutter when I see him extend his hand.
“I know.”
I grab on, still avoiding his gaze as I step onto a boulder sticking out of the stream. I probably could have crossed on my own, but I also know I’m not the most graceful girl in the world, so I accept the help without protest.
“Thanks,” I say as I leap onto the bank next to him.
“You’re welcome.” And then he takes off in long strides again.
After another hour or so, we reach the waterfall at the top of the trail and sit down on some boulders for a break. I’m still pulling up the rear, but they weren’t far ahead. I know they kept their pace slow for my sake.
I chug some water and pull a protein bar and a string cheese from my small pack. A big heavy bag would only slow me down more, so I kept it light.
I exhale deeply, feeling Dex’s eyes on me.
“What?” I ask.
“Is that all you brought?” He looks skeptical.
“Yes.”
“I have more if you want.” He unloads what looks like a dozen snacks from his bag—sandwiches, apples, and more.
I roll my eyes, trying to hide a smile. “Of course you brought a feast.”
“Yeah. I get hungry.”
“Well, thanks, but I’m good.”
“Suit yourself.”
I finish my two tiny snacks within a minute, but my stomach still feels empty. I chug some water. Still empty. Maybe even a little weak .
It’s possible my gaze lingers on Dex’s array of food once or twice because I feel his eyes on me again.
Without a word, he hands me a sandwich in a plastic bag. I reach out and take it.
“Thanks,” I say with a laugh.
“There’s nothing better than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich after a hike.” His grin is a little smug, but I don’t comment on it.
“What is that?” I ask, pointing at the side of his backpack as I bite into the sandwich. And damn it, he was right. It’s delicious.
“Bear spray.”
“Oh fuck.” The words slip out before I can stop them.
Dex laughs. “Don’t worry, you’re safe with me. I grew up around here.”
I do feel a little safer.
After a few more minutes of small talk with the rest of the group, we pack up and head back down. I stride forward with some pep in my step. The journey back is always easier. Faster.
I take in the colorful wildflowers, the sound of the waterfall growing more distant, and the variety of plants around me.
Things I never see back home. Then I zone out, letting my mind wander to random things, like last Thanksgiving, when I first met Liam and Dex.
I remember thinking how annoyingly confident Dex was, and how much he smiled.
He definitely hasn’t been doing much of that since I’ve been around this time, now that I think about it.
Maybe Layla was right.
When we reach the stream that crosses the trail, Dex is already waiting for me on the other side.
I take his hand with a little more gumption this time, and before I know it, my foot slips on the rock, and I lurch forward—straight into Dex.
I slam into a solid wall of muscle, but we’re still falling. Suddenly, I’m on top of him, and he’s lying on his back on a slope of dirt.
“Shit,” I mutter. My hand is still in his, and my other palm is pressed against his chest, along with the side of my face.
I lift my head, coming face-to-face with him. The first thing I notice is his dark, thick eyelashes. Then I catch the hint of green in his brown eyes.
He clears his throat. “Hi,” he says, his voice a low grumble.
“Oops. I’m so sorry.” I hop off him. Scurrying up the tiny hill back to the trail. When I turn around and glance back down, he’s getting up, dusting off those shorts. “Weren’t you supposed to help me not fall?” I tease.
“I see that sass is alive and well, even after a near-death experience.” He tries—and fails—to hide a smirk.
“That was a near-death experience? ”
“I could have hit my head on a rock. Or you could have. Look at them all.” He gestures to the ground where we fell.
“Yes, I see them,” I scoff, my mouth stretching into a wider grin. “But you didn’t, did you? You survived?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then,” I shake my head, still grinning.
His face grows more serious for a moment. “You’re all right, though?”
“Yes.”
He nods in satisfaction, looking like he wants to say more, but I charge ahead of him.
He can be stuck staring at my ass for the rest of the descent. If he wishes.