Page 114 of HER SISTER

The next morning I was up early to get ready for our group hike.

I purposefully kept my outfit cute but casual at the same time, wearing black spandex shorts with a matching sports bra and a cropped jacket that I left unzipped to leave my toned stomach on display.

My dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail while my face remained completely bare.

I leaned against the breakfast bar as I chewed my fruit, "How long of a hike is it?" I asked Mya as she finished her yogurt.

Everyone already seemed to be down here except for Ryder, Frankie, and Mili.

I suddenly glanced over, noticing Ryder and Frankie entering the open kitchen.

Well never mind.

"It's an hour up and an hour down," Mya explained as Arielle passed me a water bottle before passing the rest out to everyone else.

Ryder let out a dramatic groan as Mya walked over to him, "I still feel hungover from yesterday," he complained.

Mya only hummed as he pulled her into a hug, "And whose fault is that Mr. I love to mix tequila and vodka," she retorted in her I told you so tone.

I couldn't help but laugh, "You'll learn one day, Ry," I said as they both walked back over to the counter where I was standing with everyone else.

Mya only rolled her eyes, "No he won't," she determined as I unscrewed the top to my water bottle.

But almost as soon as I did, Mya's eyes managed to zone in on my bandaged hand holding the water bottle.

"Oh my god what happened?" Mya asked as she took a step closer to me.

And I couldn't help but purse my lips awkwardly as I looked over to Arielle and Damon standing on the other side of the kitchen island.

Yet, before either of them could say anything, or even me for that fact—

Mili was walking into the kitchen.

And god did she look so good.

Too good to be going on a hike.

Yeah, she was only wearing a white beater tank that was cut to a cropped length with a pair of basketball shorts.

But she seemed to make everything look good.

Seriously, anyone else could be wearing it, and it would never hit the same.

Even her curls looked so good pulled up into a messy bun with a few curls down and framing her bare face.

What were we even talking about just now?

"Did I miss something?" Mya asked, easily snapping me from my thoughts.

Oh yeah, my hand.

Mya hadn't even noticed Mili's growing presence in the open living area, especially since she seemed to be so focused on my bandaged hand.

"Arielle dropped a glass last night, and Atiana got a piece of it stuck in her hand."

Just like that, Mya's head was whipped toward her sister who was now standing with us all at the counter.

"And how do you know this?" Mya asked, clearly confused as her brows furrowed together.

And I couldn't miss the awkward look growing on both Arielle and Damon's faces, clearly knowing that Mili had helped me take the piece of glass out.

"Because a glass breaking in the middle of the night wakes normal people up," Mili retorted as she gave her sister a deadpan look.

And I couldn't help but internally add that Mili was also an extremely light sleeper.

However, before I or anyone else could say anything else—

The doorbell managed to ring, easily echoing a sequence of dings throughout the large villa.

"I'll get it," I quickly offered, and as I turned on my heel, I couldn't miss the way Mili's head tilted slightly.

But I only seemed to ignore her confusion, especially as I opened the front door to a smiling Desi.

Who instantly pulled me into a hug, which we had planned only yesterday—along with the hike that I had her joining in on.

Who's not winning again?

"Where should I put my stuff?" Desi asked, holding up her bag that had her swimsuit and towel in it.

I knew we'd be swimming later on so I had to make sure she was prepared.

I hummed looking around, "You can just leave it by the front door for now," I said, easily causing Desi to sit the bag down before retreating into the kitchen behind me.

And automatically, it wasn't hard to pinpoint everyone's stare on us.

But Mili's seemed to feel the most prominent, even if I was actively ignoring her dark eyes.

"You guys don't mind if Desi joins us right?" I asked, looking over to mostly Mya, knowing if anyone were to openly decline, it would be her.

Mya subtly glanced to her sister before looking over to me with a puzzled look, "Uh... I guess not?" she said, and for once she sounded entirely unsure.

And it was probably due to how Mili's stare was practically burning into me.

She really should've taken my counteroffer last night...

Arielle suddenly clasped her hands together, "Okay! Well, we should probably head out, right?" she questioned, clearly trying to break up the awkward silence between us all.

Willow suddenly nodded, "Yeah—uh, everyone has water right?" she questioned as she glanced around.

I suddenly looked to Desi, who seemed to be empty-handed, but before I could offer her a water, she managed to say, "I don't mind sharing yours."

And I couldn't miss the calm breath that Mili drew in—I don't think anyone could with how silent the room was.

"Nah we have plenty—" Mili suddenly turned around to grab the case of water, "—You can take a few for precaution," she said as she sat the case on the kitchen island right by us.

And before Desi could say anything, I was grabbing her a couple of waters from the case, knowing that I shouldn't press Mili's nerves fully before the hike had even started.

Desi flashed me a grateful smile as I handed her the two water bottles, but it wasn't hard to pinpoint her amusement, clearly knowing that our act was already working.

"Okay, well we should get going," Mya said as I looped my arm with Desi's, obviously trying to get us out of the villa before anything else could possibly happen.

Especially with Mili now eyeing Desi and I's looped arms.

"Yeah—you said the trail is just a five-minute walk away?" Frankie asked, purposefully changing the topic.

Mya nodded as we all walked toward the door, "Yes, so it shouldn't be too rough coming back," she said.

Cam suddenly laughed, "Too rough? We have an hour back down the trail."

Ryder groaned, "Don't remind me please."

—

The hike felt entirely peaceful, especially with the cool morning air and the sun starting to rise above the horizon.

"Are we there ye—"

"Yes. We're literally feet away," Mya cut Ryder short who had seemed to ask the Are we there yet question at least a hundred times.

I couldn't help but laugh at the pair as we made it to the clearing at the top of the mountain.

And as my laughter grew quieter, I managed to take in a content breath—finding the view entirely mesmerizing.

It was the cotton candy sky that sat over the city and faraway beach that managed to completely hold my attention—and my breath.

I hadn't seen anything quite like it.

And while it was beautiful—the most beautiful view that I had ever seen managed to be standing feet away from me.

I suddenly glanced over to Mili who stood on the other side of Ryder—taking in the way she stared down at the view before her.

The glow of the sunrise glowed so perfectly against her face that I almost questioned if she was real.

My stomach instantly grew with nervous knots as soon as Mili's head turned to me, allowing her dark eyes to meet mine.

I didn't even bother pulling my obvious stare away—I was proudly looking at her and I wanted her to know that.

Mili's dark eyes looked between mine with such a carefulness behind them—almost as if she wanted to properly ingrain this moment in her head.

Each second passed slower and every breath I drew grew deeper—suddenly feeling so warm from her stare alone.

"Do you guys want to get a group picture?" Arielle suddenly asked, easily forcing Mili and I's eyes to disconnect.

Desi suddenly took a step forward, "I could take it?" she offered.

A smile grew on Mya's face, "Please, that sounds perfect," she said as she handed over her phone.

And I couldn't help but hand over mine too, flashing Desi a grateful smile before I retreated to stand with everyone else.

However, before I could go stand on the other side of Mya—

Mili was grabbing my hand and pulling me to her side.

A gentle warmth managed to grow all over my body when Mili's arm instinctively slid around my waist as she leaned into me.

"Even if you're testing my patience right now, we still gotta have this moment," Mili said, allowing her warm breath to fan down onto my ear and neck—which easily sent goosebumps down my spine.

I hummed as I slid my hand up her back, "Enough to let me win?" I murmured as I met her stare.

Mili gently grabbed my chin and turned my head back to the front, "Not even close," she said as she let go of my chin before saying, "Now smile."

And even if I didn't want to listen to prove a point, I somehow found my lips spreading into a wide grin as I leaned my head into Mili's side—who pulled me in closer to her.

And as Desi took numerous pictures on both phones, I found myself smiling even wider, knowing that these pictures were definitely going to be hung somewhere—whether it was at Mya and I's apartment or at Akeyla and Terrance's house.

My parents might even hang it up along with Nami and Elyse.

It was definitely a moment that we wouldn't forget, and now we'd be able to look back at it, which I found to be entirely beautiful.