Page 31

WILLOW

“ I s it weird that I’m actually excited about today?

” I ask Madison as it becomes very obvious we’re close to our destination.

It feels silly to ask her that since we only just met on this trip, but I can’t contain my excitement.

Hiking is my jam and the thought of hiking through a rainforest is what dreams are made of.

Madison looks over at me with a grin. "Not weird at all. El Yunque is supposed to be incredible."

She's not wrong. I’m sure the photos I've seen won't do it justice. I’m already bouncing a little in my seat as I take in the scenery around me. There’s greenery everywhere you turn to the point where if I didn’t know I was actually in Puerto Rico, I would be questioning if this was reality.

"El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System," Professor Wallace announces from the front of the shuttle as we pull into the parking area. "We'll be hiking one of the moderate trails today. Remember to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen before we start."

I shift in my seat because it’s getting harder to keep still.

This is the kind of adventure I live for and another reason I decided to join this trip at the last minute.

When we come to a stop and the shuttle door slides open, I'm out of my seat before most people have registered we’ve arrived.

When I step out of the vehicle, I immediately feel the difference in the air quality.

"Someone's eager." Madison laughs, following me down the steps of the shuttle.

"I've been dreaming about this since I saw the itinerary," I admit, adjusting my backpack straps. "I can’t believe we are finally here."

"It's truly looks like something out of a movie," she says.

I can only nod in agreement.

"Alright everyone, gather around!" Professor Wallace waves us toward a small, covered area where a park ranger waits. "This is Angel, he'll be our guide today."

"Buenos días and good morning! Welcome to El Yunque. Before we begin, a few safety rules..." Angel says.

I’m doing my best to pay attention but it’s hard.

His voice fades into the background as I try to take in everything around me.

My senses are overwhelmed, but I don’t hate it.

It must have something to do with me being here in this fresh air and being able to check something I’ve always wanted to do off my list.

"Willow." Madison nudges me. "You're supposed to sign the waiver."

"Right, sorry." I scribble my signature on the clipboard being passed around, barely reading the form. Death by rainforest would be a poetic way to go anyway.

Once everyone has signed the form, our guide leads us onto a trail and the rush of adrenaline that is already flowing through my body increases tenfold.

"This is incredible," I whisper, mostly to myself. My phone is already in my hand because I can’t not take pictures. I continue walking in awe, not really talking to anyone because what is there to say when you’re in this beautiful place?

"Watch your step here," our guide calls back as we reach a section where tree roots have broken through the path. "The ground can be slippery."

I carefully step over the roots and Madison walks beside me for a while.

Eventually she walks faster so she can catch up to our guide and ask questions about the wildlife here.

I don't mind. This is the kind of experience I prefer to absorb in my own bubble anyway.

I keep moving, doing my best to take everything in as I go.

Drops of rain start falling as we continue to move deeper into the forest. As a result, I end up throwing my hair up into a messy bun versus the low ponytail because I need to keep this hair off my neck.

The rain intensifies, quickly shifting from scattered drops to a gentle shower. I tilt my face upward and close my eyes, letting the water cool my skin.

"Glad I wore this," I murmur, glancing down at my black tank top and bikini top.

At least I won't be dealing with a see-through shirt situation like poor Tyler, whose white tee is already plastered to his chest. The rain begins to pick up, and we pause to give everyone an opportunity to get their rain gear out. Water begins to stream down my face, but I can’t be bothered to take out my rain poncho yet.

"This is amazing!" I call out to no one in particular, spreading my arms wide to embrace what looks to be turning into a downpour.

"You're getting soaked," a familiar voice says behind me.

I turn and find Blaise standing there, rain dripping from his blond hair. He's close enough that I can see water droplets clinging to his eyelashes. I hate that something about the way he's looking at me makes my stomach flip.

"So are you," I point out, wiping rain from my cheek.

I watch as his gaze slips from my face to my chest, and I swear everything shifts.

The playful moment comes to halt as his eyes lock onto where my soaked tank top clings to my skin and I assume it is revealing the outline of my bikini underneath.

The thin black fabric might as well not exist with how clingy it's become in the rain and the way he’s staring at me.

I should move. Should cross my arms. Should say something sarcastic to break whatever this is. But I don't. I just stand there, rain streaming down my body, watching him watch me.

His pupils dilate slightly and I watch as his eyes trace the curve where my bikini top dips under my shirt.

When I move my hands to cover myself, it’s then I realize my nipples are as hard as pebbles.

It quickly dawns on me that that is also what caught his attention.

My movement causes him to finally drag his gaze back to my face.

"You should..." he starts, stops, and then starts again. "You might want to put on your rain jacket."

My heart hammers in my chest, threatening to make a grand exit. "I like the rain."

"Willow," he says my name like he’s issuing a warning.

I want to keep poking whatever ‘this’ is. Is it a wise thing to do? Nope, but am I going to do it anyway? Yep. “What? What do you want to say, Dalton?”

"That shirt is..." His eyes drop to my chest again, then snap back up. "Distracting."

I step closer because I feel more empowered due to his discomfort. I make sure that if we are being watched this looks completely innocent, but between the two of us, it’s anything but. "Is it? I hadn't noticed." I tilt my head slightly. "You seem to be noticing enough for both of us."

His jaw tightens and I can see the muscle working beneath his skin. "We should catch up with the group."

"We should," I agree, but don't move. Instead, I run my fingers through my wet hair, tucking some of the strands that fell out of the messy bun behind my ears. "But I'm curious now. What exactly is so distracting about my shirt, Blaise?"

I have no idea what has gotten into me, but apparently I’m out of fucks to give. I don’t feel even a little bit guilty about what I’m doing. The embarrassment I felt when he turned me down years ago? Nowhere to be found.

The look he gives me could melt steel. "You know exactly what you're doing," he says.

"Do I?" I blink innocently. "Maybe I just like making you uncomfortable."

I'm playing with fire and know it. And it’s also not going to stop me.

"Don't," he says quietly.

"Don't what? Ask questions you don't want to answer?"

"Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answers to."

"But maybe I want to hear what you’re going to say. Maybe I like it when you look at me that way. Hell, maybe I've been wondering what it would take to make you lose the control that you so carefully keep in place.”

His eyes darken and I watch his throat work as he swallows. For a moment, I think he might actually reach for me, but instead, he clenches and unclenches his hands. "You have no idea what you're playing with," he says.

I can’t tell if I shiver because of the way the tone of his voice floats over me or if it’s due to the rain. I step closer to him and say, “I know what I’m playing with.” My gaze drifts to the swim trunks he’s wearing before they meet his eyes again. “I also know what I want to play with.”

I watch as Blaise has an internal battle with himself and it gives me a small bit of joy that it’s because of me. Although he’s not saying a word, the fact that he looks like he might pounce on me tells me all I need to know.

In an instant, Blaise's control snaps. His hand shoots out and his fingers curl around my wrist as he pulls me behind a massive tree trunk, away from the path and the rest of the group.

He crowds me until my back meets the tree trunk and suddenly his body is caging mine.

One of his hands ends up braced beside my head while the other is still gripping my wrist.

"Is this what you want?" His voice is low and his face is just inches from mine. "For me to lose control? Right here in the middle of a fucking rainforest with twenty people a few yards away?"

"Maybe," I whisper. "What are you going to do about it?"

His eyes drop to my lips, and for one heart-stopping moment, I think he's actually going to kiss me.

"Willow? Blaise? Where are you guys?" Madison's voice cuts through the moment like the water coming from the sky.

Blaise immediately steps back, putting distance between us as if I've burned him. "Over here!" he calls back. "I'm just helping Willow get her rain gear out."

He reaches down to my backpack that I'd dropped without even realizing it, unzipping the front pocket where my rain poncho is stuffed. Madison appears around the bend in the trail with her pink raincoat that matches her bright pink suitcase.

"Everyone's waiting," she says, glancing between us. "The guide says we need to stick together because of the rain."

"Sorry," I say as I’m taking my poncho from Blaise. "I was having trouble with my bag."

Madison nods, but I can tell she thinks I’m full of shit. "Okay. Professor Wallace is about to do a headcount."

She waits for both of us to put our rain gear on, and soon all three of us are headed down the trail to join the rest of the class.

Madison and I walk side by side while Blaise walks a few steps behind.

I swear I can feel his eyes on my back, burning a hole into my soul.

But since I can’t leave a good thing alone, I turn and look over my shoulder at him briefly.

No words pass between us, but I know something has changed. Whatever this is, it's not what it was when we stepped into this rainforest.

And I’m not going to fight against it anymore.