Page 6 of Taste of Surrender

After breakfast,wekidschanged into clothes to go hiking. As I waited for everyone else, Gabby walked out of the tent she was sharing with Norah and sat next to me on the picnic table.

“How far are we going to hike?” she asked.

I lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know.”

“What if we see a snake?”

“Then we see a snake.”

“What if we see a bear?”

“Then we see a bear.”

She ran her finger down my bicep. “Will you protect me from a bear?”

I shifted uncomfortably. “You’re Norah’s friend. I don’t think she’d be too happy if I let anything happen to you.”

Gabby leaned in a little closer. “Oh, come on. Just because I’m friends with your sister doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun.”

I stood up, glancing around to see if anyone was coming. “I think we should focus on the hike. Besides, I’m sure there won’t be any bears.”

“You’re no fun,” she teased with a little pout on her lips.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to find the right words to put a stop to her attempt at flirting, but before I could, Jasper came out of the tent, saving me. For a split second, I could have sworn I saw a look of jealousy cross over his face.

Once everyone was ready, we headed out, but not even five minutes into the walk through the woods, Gabby stopped and whined, “Can we go back now?”

All of us turned, and Norah asked, “You want to go back already?”

“Yeah. I’m not much of an outdoorsy person,” Gabby replied.

“You came camping,” I deadpanned.

Gabby lifted a shoulder. “I thought we’d swim in the lake the whole time.”

“We’re doing that after,” Jesse stated.

“It’s fine. Let’s go back.” Norah blew out a breath and gave me a tight smile. I returned it and the girls turned and walked back toward the campsite.

“Chicks, man. Am I right?” Jesse clapped me on the back.

“You know it.” I chuckled and then glanced at Jasper. He rolled his eyes, and we started back on the trail.

As we hiked along the path, the sun filtered through the trees, providing a little bit of shade from the heat at times. Jesse led the way, and I couldn’t help but notice Jasper lagging.

“Hey, you doing okay?” I asked, dropping back to walk alongside him.

He shrugged. “Just tired, I guess.”

“Yeah, only a few hours of sleep will do that to you.”

“Thought the energy drink would help.”

“Only temporarily.”

“Right.” He snorted.

A few more steps down the trail, a buzzing caught my attention, and then suddenly, Jasper yelped. “Ow! What the ...”