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WORM

“ O h, we aren’t a…” Allison trails off watching the couple continue on without stopping to hear her reply. Worm isn’t sure why, but Allison denying them being a couple in love doesn’t sit right with him, not at all. They aren’t really a couple, and certainly not in love, but hearing her protest puts him in a foul mood. What would it hurt to let the older couple believe he and Allison were a happy, in-love couple on their honeymoon?

“Let’s go,” he demands abruptly, irritation showing in his words and actions. “Everyone will be wondering where we are. We wouldn’t want to give Gloria something to gossip about.” He stomps off down the trail, much faster than Allison can manage.

He hadn’t intended for his words to come out so harshly. He is acting like a child throwing a tantrum, but he can’t curb his annoyance. Why does this girl drive me so crazy?

“Russell! Wait!” Allison calls, jogging along behind him. “What’s got your panties in a wad?” she questions, catching up to him.

“Nothing, just trying to save your reputation,” he semi-lies, still with a severe tone. He does want to protect her reputation. He knows her family would treat her terribly if they suspected he and Allison were ‘cavorting’, but her denial stings.

If he’d be honest with himself, he’d admit she’d hurt his feelings. Feelings he shouldn’t be having. He mentally rolls his eyes, because he is being ridiculous. They can’t have more than this time together. He can’t be catching feelings. He never has before, so why now?

Thankfully, Allison doesn’t call him out on his behavior. However, she slows her pace, putting distance between them, which hurts him even more. Thirty minutes later, they’re sitting down to eat. More than frustrated with how strained things have gotten between them, he wonders how to fix things.

“Emma? Are we going to have a night in your room?” Bridget asks. They’ve all sat down to eat. They’d brought food to have for lunch during their hike. “You know, like how we did at my wedding?”

“Um, yeah, I suppose we can have a slumber party if you guys want to?” Emma looks around at the other women seated on the blankets spread out in the clearing.

“Oh, this will be so much fun!” Gloria exclaims. “We can leave the kids with the men and have girl time, pampering each other!” Gloria claps her hands, excitedly bouncing up and down on her knees. “I know what games we can play, and we can take turns doing each other’s hair and makeup!”

“What are we, twelve?” Susie Beth grumbles nearby, causing Allison to slap a hand over her mouth. Her body shakes with suppressed laughter. Gloria shoots them a look, but chooses to ignore Susie Beth’s comment.

“Sure,” Emma agrees. “It’ll be fun.” She doesn’t sound excited like Gloria. Worm glances at Allison, who is giving Emma a pleading look. Allison doesn’t seem to be into this sleep over either, but he knows they’ll all go along with it to keep the peace.

He wonders when they’re planning this sleepover. Hopefully it isn’t tonight. He’d been hoping he and Allison could finish what they’d started last night. Although, after the last half hour, he doubts he’d have gotten to put those plans into motion anyway. Allison has basically ignored him since the moment on the trail with the older couple. He should tell her about how he is feeling, but he doesn’t want to complicate things if she doesn’t feel the same way.

A huge sigh escapes him without conscious thought. Allison, who’d just sat down next to him, glances his way. A mix of emotions in those beautiful eyes. She snatches up her mostly full paper plate, rises to her feet, and stomps off in the direction of one of the trash receptacles that line the picnic area.

Worm follows. He needs to talk to her, see if he can fix whatever is wrong. Maybe she doesn’t like how close they seem to be getting, either. If that’s the case, he will back off. Lord knows he needs to anyway, but something deep inside keeps urging him toward her no matter how complicated it will make his life.

“You hardly touched your food,” Worm comments, catching up to her. She throws him a glance over her shoulder but keeps walking without slowing down. “You need to refuel. You burned a lot of calories on the trail, and we aren’t done. This is only about the half-way point.”

Allison spins around so fast he nearly collides with her. “It’s none of your concern whether I eat or not, buddy!” Allison fumes. “I don’t know what the hell your problem is, but I don’t need the whiplash from the mood swings, all right?”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” he fires back, even though he knows what she’s talking about. His blood heats at the fire he sees in her eyes. She’s pissed, and it’s turning him on.

Allison blinks a couple of times, looking stunned. Suddenly, she shrieks, spins around, and stomps away. Oh, no she didn’t!

“Get back here,” he commands to her retreating back, reaching for her but missing. He receives a one finger salute in reply. Gasps, and Gloria calling Allison’s name in a scolding tone, can be heard behind them. So much for keeping anything on the down low with this bunch watching their every move.

He follows, jogging to catch up a second time. “Listen, just talk to me for a second,” he attempts in a calmer tone. Allison continues to ignore him, walking faster, and getting them farther away from the prying eyes of her family. “Please, sugar, just stop.”

They reach the trash bins. She slams her plate into the can, keeping her back to him. Her shoulders heaving with deep breaths from the exertion. Gently, he lays his hand on her shoulder. She flinches like he’d burn her. He jerks his hand away. “I’m sorry for my behavior. Can we just go somewhere private so we can talk without your family watching us like fish in a bowl?”

She doesn’t look at him but gives him a nod. Tentatively, he tries again, placing his hand on her back and urging her away from the group and closer to the summit of the mountain they’ve climbed. There is a concrete overlook with a railing on all sides that is about waist high. They walk out onto it. A few other tourists are snapping photos and chatting excitedly about the amazing view.

Allison stops at the rail, where there aren’t any other people hanging out, placing her hands on it and staring out at the expanse of trees and mountains before them. It is a really beautiful sight. The sun reflecting off the sharp rock face of the mountain tops. The various shades of green of the trees that make up most of the area.

“What happened?” Allison whispers softly. He leans closer to hear her. “Why do I suddenly repulse you?” What??

“What? Why do you think that, sugar?” Worm is truly confused. He’d thought she was the one who didn’t want to be with him. She’d been eager to tell complete strangers, who’d just witnessed them kissing passionately, that it didn’t mean anything.

She turns an incredulous look on her face. “Are you insane?” she asks. Her voice and tone seem sincere, not her usual sarcastic quip. “How are you allowed to be on active duty with bipolar disorder?” What the hell? Hold the phone! Where is this shit coming from?

“Sugar, I’m going to choose to ignore those questions until you answer mine.” Worm crosses his arms over his chest, staring down at her. Her jaw clenches, setting in a hard line.

“I asked a question first! I won’t be answering shit until you do!” She matches his pose. Her lower lip protrudes slightly as if she’s pouting. God, he wants to nip that lip before driving his tongue into her mouth!

One thing about being around her is they’ve never had an issue with chemistry. Communication? Not their strong suit apparently.

“You want to know what happened on the trail?” Allison gives him a nod. He sighs, not wanting to, but knowing he must give her an honest answer if they are going to be able to be even friends after all this.

“I thought—” he cuts off, searching for the right words to explain himself without sounding like a girl. “It’s just, we seem to have this great chemistry, but you were more than eager to tell that older couple we didn’t mean anything to each other.” He runs his hand through his hair. “I know we’ve only had a short time together, but I…oh fuck! I don’t know. It stung a little, all right? Are you happy now? You’ve got me so tied up in knots that I’m rambling like some lovesick teenager.” He blows out a breath, turning away to grab the railing and stare out at the mountains but not seeing them.

Allison laughs wrapping both of her arms around one of his. He glares at her. “Who’s the crazy one now?” Allison throws her head back, laughing harder, loosening her grip on his arm. After a couple of minutes of him glaring at her and her laughing hysterically, she grabs her sides, doubling over. Eventually, she raises up fanning her face, tears streaming down. Several failed attempts at gaining composure later, Allison’s still laughing her head off.

Worm watches her in fascination, shaking his head. His earlier frustration and confusion over his feelings fading away. “What the fuck is so damn funny?” he asks, attempting an annoyed tone, but humor leaks out in his voice. Her laughter seems to be contagious. His lips twitching up in a ghost of a smile.

“Shit! I’m sorry,” she wheezes out. “I was just so damn pissed off at you for being hot and cold with me, but the whole time it was because you thought I was being hot and cold with you! That shouldn’t have been funny, but I was just relieved that you cared enough to be offended. I only said anything to them, because I was worried you were going to freak out over the woman thinking we were in love.”

Worm creases his brow concentrating on what she’d just said, trying to make sense of it. She’d thought he’d be upset, and he’d thought she didn’t care. Relief floods him, realizing this whole mess has been a huge misunderstanding, a breakdown in communication. He pulls her to him, lowering his mouth toward hers, pausing just before their lips meet. He needs to know this is what she wants.