The Road That Leads to Us (Us 1)

“Where are you guys from?” Chase asked.

“Virginia,” Willow said at the same time I replied with, “California.”

She elbowed me in the gut and hissed loud enough for the whole car to hear, “They’re not murderers, Dean. I promise they’re not going to find where we live and try to kill us.”

The four people in the car busted out laughing while I sat mortified.

It wasn’t the first time Willow’s big mouth had gotten me in trouble.

“Your girlfriend’s right, man, we’re not going to hurt you.” Jacob twisted around in his seat to face me, still stifling uncontrollable laughter.

I shrugged. “You never know.”

They only laughed harder.

We arrived at the campsite a few minutes later. They had a reserved spot that was near a cropping of trees with a view of the rocky landscape. It looked almost post-apocalyptic.

Everyone filed from the car and I thanked them yet again.

They set up their camper and Chase said, “Wait here,” while he rummaged inside.

He returned a minute later with a dust-covered tent. “You know how to put one of these up?” He asked me.

I nodded. “Sure do.”

“We’re going to make dinner and there’s plenty so you guys are welcome to join us.”

“Thank you.” Willow reached out and hugged him. “We appreciate this so much.”

Chase dipped his head in acknowledgment and went back inside the camper with the others.

“You pick,” I told Willow, indicating all the space we had to set up the tent.

She tapped her lip in thought and finally pointed. “There.”

Willow moved to sit on a large boulder, gazing out at the view, while I went to work setting up the tent.

I’d been camping many times with Willow and my family, so it took me no time to have the tent assembled.

When I was done, I went to join Willow. I sat behind her on the rock and she leaned her back against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and burrowed my head against her neck, pressing my lips to the spot where her pulse raced.

She made a happy little humming sound in the back of her throat and I smiled against her skin.

We’d fallen so easily into the roles of a couple. It didn’t feel stilted or awkward at all. It was just…right.

“What are you thinking about?” She whispered into the night air.

“You.” I brushed my lips over the shell of her ear and she giggled. It looked like I’d found a ticklish spot.

“Me? When you could be enjoying all of this?” She pointed at the view.

“I’m enjoying myself.” I grabbed a piece of her hair that had blown in the wind and twisted it around my finger.

She tilted her head up to smile at me before returning to the view ahead.

Around us bugs chirped and buzzed. Unlike at home, though, it didn’t bother me. In a place like this their sounds felt like the music of the land—necessary to see the whole picture.

The others began to set up a table and a small portable grill.