As I watch her go, I realize that even though she acted like what Lauren asked earlier didn’t bother her, it obviously did, and I can’t even blame her.
“Hey, Tanner.” Lauren grabs my attention, and I lift my chin. “I was wondering about how far away the campsite is from here?”
“Without stopping, it’s about a two-hour hike up the mountain, but I’d guess we’ll make it there in three. Is everything okay?”
“Oh yeah.” She takes a seat on the log, and I scoot back, uncomfortable about having her practically sitting on my lap. “Oliver needs to call his wife and kids to check in. Maverick told him that he could use the satellite phone when we get to camp.”
“I’ll make sure that he’s able to make a call if he needs to.”
“Thank you, Tanner.” She leans toward me and lowers her voice. “He and his wife are going through a really ugly divorce, and I don’t want her to have more to use against him when they go to court.” She rests her hand on my biceps, and I somehow manage to keep my expression neutral.
“No problem.” I stand as sourness fills the back of my throat: one thing I don’t believe in is cheating, and I really hope that’s not how their relationship started. “You should pack up. We’re going to leave in a couple of minutes.”
“Oh.” She rubs her hands down the tops of her thighs, glancing to where Oliver is as she stands, her expression falling.
Not sure what that’s about, I grab my pack and zip it up, then scan the area for Cybil, spotting her up the trail with her camera out, snapping photos of a squirrel that’s sitting on a rock just off the path. “Let’s load up and head out,” I call to the rest of the group, who are standing around under a tree off the trail, and they all turn in my direction before grabbing their packs off the ground and moving toward Cybil.
“You’re annoyed,” Cybil whispers as she falls into step with me after everyone else passes, and my chin jerks back in surprise. No one but Blake and Maverick have ever been able to read me, and it took them years to be able to decipher my moods.
“Yeah,” I agree, and she wraps her fingers around mine, squeezing quickly before letting her hand drop away.
“Well, turn that frown upside down.” She knocks my shoulder playfully with her fist. “It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, and we’re on an adventure, partner.”
Shaking my head, I smile down at her, feeling lighter than I did a minute ago. “All right, sunshine.” I grin, watching her eyes go to the dimple in my cheek right before she ducks her head.
Fuck, but she’s going to make it really difficult not to kiss her for the next week.
Chapter 5
CYBIL
After picking up sticks and twigs I think will be good for firewood, I carry them to the pile that Parker, Jacob, and I have started, then go back in search of more. My body protests under its own weight as I walk with my eyes on the ground at my feet.
I’m exhausted. I thought I knew what exhaustion was before today, but after hiking uphill, carrying the weight of my pack, I now know I was wrong. I also hope Tanner is right that, as the days pass, it will get easier.
“So Tanner’s cute,” Jacob says casually as he walks past me with his arms full, and my heart skips a beat at the mention of the man I spent the day getting to know.
“Very cute,” Parker chimes in. “Don’t you think so, Cybil?”
“Sure.” I drop my eyes to the ground and start to walk away, knowing where their line of questioning is going.
“He seems to like you.”
Does he? I bite my bottom lip. “It’s his job to be nice to me.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know the feelings he stirs in me are ones I’ve never experienced before.
“Honey, that man is smitten,” Jacob says, and I focus on him.
“Can’t you tell?” Parker asks with his head tipping to the side as he studies me, and I shrug. “How did you know your ex liked you?”
“We were friends, so I always knew.” And that’s the truth. Galvin and I grew up together. He, Jade, and I weren’t just close; we were inseparable. It wasn’t until I was about to be sixteen that things between Galvin and me started to change and become more flirtatious. It’s weird to think about it now, but it seemed natural for our relationship to progress.
“Wait.” Jacob frowns. “How long were you together?”
“A little over nine years.”
“Jesus, you were just a baby,” he whispers, sounding horrified.
“We were both sixteen,” I say in my defense.
“And he’s the only man you’ve ever been with?” Parker asks, and my cheeks warm as I nod. “Why did things end between the two of you?”