Page 109 of The Illicit Play

Spinning back around before she can catch me staring, I don’t say a word, quietly leading her up to the lookout point I know she’s going to love.

She seems to really gel with the nature out here, which is why it sucks that she wants to leave.

The thing is, I don’t think she wants to leave. She just wants to get away from me.

Because you’re being a grumpy asshole!

Shit!

Running a hand down my face, I berate myself some more, then start mapping out how I’m gonna get her back to civilization.

Checking the time, I break down the hours we have until sunset. If we spend a half hour or so at one of my favorite views in the world, then we can head back down the hillside and reach the bottom of the valley just before dark. We might be pitching her tent at dusk, but I’ve got two headlamps. I don’t want to be hiking in the dark, so we’ll have to push to get to the place I’m thinking of.

Wrestling the GPS out of the side pouch, I check the topographical map and work out the quickest route.

“What are you doing?” she asks, nearly bumping into me when I stop.

“Just planning out the rest of today,” I mumble.

She sighs and goes around me, walking ahead on the trail. I let her go because there are no intersections. This path leads straight to the lookout point.

Giving her some space, I figure out the rest of our plans while she stomps ahead in obvious frustration.

Ignoring the sizzle of whatever the fuck I’m feeling, I figure if we camp in the valley tonight, then we can hike out first thing and reach the parking lot by the afternoon. I’m looking at the most direct route there is. It’s not as pretty, and there’s a steep climb in the middle, but she wants to go back, right? And I’ll get her there the fastest way possible.

Huffing, I shove the GPS away, feeling like shit.

I don’t want to go!

But we obviously can’t stay here together, and I can’t send her off on her own, so it looks like my spring break has been thoroughly shat on, and I’ve only got myself to blame.

Because I couldn’t say no to her sweet ass, and now I’m smothered in guilt and longing and…

FUCK!

“Holy shit!” Blake’s voice rises from in front of me, and although it doesn’t sound like she’s distressed, I pick up my pace anyway.

Breaking into a jog, I negotiate the trail with ease and pop out onto the huge slab of rock that juts out from the side of the mountain and overlooks a stunning view of the valley below and the mountains stretching out as far as we can see.

The landscape cascades down to a river that winds its way through the northern valley. It’s breathtaking. Wildflowers are starting to pepper the hills in the near distance, and snow is capping the mountain peaks beyond.

“This is so beautiful,” Blake murmurs in obvious wonder while snapping a bunch of photos on her phone.

I love how in awe she is.

I love how much she appreciates this.

My heart swells and pulses—a mixture of pain and desire and rage at how unfair it is that I’m finally starting to get over Teah… and the girl who’s helping make that happen is the one I’m not allowed to have.

Why does she have to be Wily’s sister?

Why can’t she just be some random girl I met in a drugstore or something?

A random girl you helped after she got busted for shoplifting.

I close my eyes, not wanting to think about that. She said she’d never do it again. I think that scare was the exact kick start she needed. And this hike. This week was supposed to be the next step in her journey.

And you went and fucked it up.