Tease (Tease 1)

“Sorry, I should’ve been watching where I as going,” she mumbled, her face going red as she stared at my chest. I placed my index finger under her chin, tilting her head up. She looked at me in surprise.

“I’m up here,” I said dryly, trying not to laugh.

She went even redder before squeezing past me and taking off down the hall. I laughed as I entered my room and closed the door behind me.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” I asked, slumping into one of the chairs surrounding the table.

Mia smirked at me. I winked back at her and she quickly looked away. I swallowed a laugh.

“I thought we’d take a hike up to Hurley’s Point for lunch, and then come back here for a rest. Can you handle that, knobhead?” Nic teased.

“Yeah, I can handle that. Can you, chicken legs?”

“You guys are just the same. I’d have thought you would’ve grown out of the insults, but no, apparently not,” chuckled Mia.

Nic glanced down, kicking her skinny legs out in front of her. “Chicken legs? Are you serious? Look at these babies!” She stuck her leg out for me to see.

“I’d rather not,” I retorted smugly. I stood up and grabbed my empty bowl, dumping it in the sink.

“Are you going to wash that?” Nic asked.

“No,” I replied. As I walked past her, I touched the tip of her nose. She rolled her eyes at me, mumbling something under her breath.

Hurley’s was a good ten-mile hike from the cabin. We set off, Tully on Jake’s shoulders and Marlie happily in her stroller. We had walked about half a mile when Mia cursed under her breath.

“What is it?” I asked as she stopped.

She blushed. “My asthma puffer. I left it at the cabin.”

My heart raced as I caught the slight wheeze in her breathing. “I’ll go back,” I offered.

“I’ll come with you.” She blushed again. “It’s in my luggage wrapped up in my, uh, underwear,” she said, her cheeks coloring.

“Oh,” I said, smirking. “I don’t mind sifting through them to find it.”

“Well, I don’t use it that often—only when I go on long walks,” she said defensively. “And thank you, but you’re not going anywhere near my underwear.”

“Of course, I can understand how you forgot it, then,” I teased.

She shoved me, laughing.

“Nic!” I called out. “Mia left her puffer at the cabin. I’ll walk her back to get it and we’ll meet you up there.”

Nic snuck a glance at Jake. Fuck, typical Nic, reading something into everything.

“Okay. See you later,” she said sweetly.

We turned around and headed back, walking side by side along the wide dirt track. It was perfect walking weather—the sun was out in the clear blue sky, a cool breeze blowing at the thick rows of trees that lined either side of the track.

We reached the cabin, and I waited outside while Mia ran inside. I checked my phone for messages. Nothing. I didn’t even have coverage. How did that work? I had perfect coverage inside the cabin, but nothing outside?

“You get it?” I called out as Mia reappeared.

She held up her puffer like it was a trophy.

“Good work,” I said, feeling the need to congratulate her.

She laughed. “Yeah. I’m awesome.”