Page 108 of The Illicit Play

When we sit down to eat and he passes me a bag of veggie sticks, I glare up at him, silently indicating that I’m not hungry.

“You gotta eat. You need to keep your energy up.”

With an irritated huff, I snatch the food off him and force it down.

He munches on some cheese and crackers, and then we silently do a swap before he hands me a stick of jerky to finish up with.

I shake my head, my nose wrinkling at the disgusting-looking piece of dehydrated meat.

“It’s protein. You need it.” He waggles it up and down. “Take the jerky, Blake.” When I don’t move, he grabs my hand and slaps the stick into my palm. “Fine. Eat it as you walk.”

Ugh, this is shit!

I cannot do this anymore. Yes, it’s been less than thirty-six hours, but I don’t care. He’s being a dick! And I’m not spending my spring break in this vortex of irritation.

“I want to go.”

He pauses mid-chew, studying me carefully before finishing his mouthful. “Go where? Back to Football Frat?”

I nod, one decisive movement as I pull my shoulders back and lift my chin. “I’m not staying here with your grumpy ass anymore. I have better ways to spend my time.”

My voice is so short and snippy. Ugh. I sound like my mother when she’s pissed off with the world.

Wincing, I keep my eyes averted, even when he lets out a heavy sigh.

Although my head is angled away from him, I can sense him running a hand down his face. After a long, painful beat, he finally murmurs, “There’s this… spectacular rock face I wanted to show you. It’s one of the highlights.”

I sniff, my insides jumping at the idea. If he thinks that’s a highlight, what has everything else been before this?

Spectacular.

Who the hell uses that word?

Shit, it must be so freaking pretty.

Clenching my teeth, I stay statue still when he laysout the rest of the plan. “Let me at least show you that. Then we’ll cut through the forest and get a few hours in before we lose the light. It’ll just be one more night, and then I’ll take you home in the morning, okay?”

With a thick swallow, I bob my head again, desperately trying to ignore the burn of discomfort spreading through my chest.

He’s giving me what I asked for.

I should be feeling elated. Not like this. Most definitely not like this.

CHAPTER 35

GRADY

Well, I’ve gone and fucked this up, haven’t I?

I completely failed her.

And all because she’s too damn sexy and hard to be around.

I’m a selfish asshole. Who’s trying to do right by my friend… and hurting his sister in the process. No matter what I do, I can’t win.

Glancing over my shoulder, I check that she’s still following only a few paces behind me.

She is, her face so fucking beautiful in this early-afternoon sunlight. The dappled shadows dance across her skin, the points the light is touching giving her an ethereal glow.