Page 78 of The Illicit Play

I nod, avoiding Grady’s gaze. I can feel it all over me, and I can’t go looking at him while I’m lying through my teeth. “Yep. All cleared away. I’m up-to-date on everything.”

“Awesome.” Satch grins. “Now you can really go and enjoy your time off camping. No school pressure hanging over you.”

“Exactly.” I look at Grady, desperate to move the topic away from school. “Did you just walk in here to bore us with school talk or…?”

Grady smirks at me, but his lips soon drop into a frown. “Looks like the hiking trip is off.”

“What?” I ping up straight. “What do you mean? Why?”

I can’t help noticing the disappointed look Wily and Satch are sharing right now.

Yeah, I’m sure they had big plans for this empty house.

Big naked plans.

Ew. I so don’t want to think about my brother that way or what he might get up to with his girlfriend while they have the house to themselves.

Wily clears his throat. “What happened?”

Grady points his thumb over his shoulder. “Tyrell’s family needs him, so he’s heading back to Texas. Figure I’ll just go on my own now.”

Crossing my arms again, I glare at him. “Wait, so you’reuninvitingme?”

“Uh…” He whips his gaze to me, his brown eyes bulging just a little. “I figured you wouldn’t want?—”

“Why not? Should I be worried about hiking with just you?”

Oh, this is going to be fun!

Yes. Just Grady and me for like four whole days. Or is it five? I can’t remember. I don’t even care!

Grady, me, and a forest with no one else around. This could be my chance to finally convince him that?—

“Of course you shouldn’t be worried.” He frowns at me, silently screaming“What are you doing?”but I just smirk right back at him.

Clenching his jaw, he looks at my brother for support.

And it turns out that miracles do actually happen, because Wily looks up at Grady with a shrug. “If she wants to go, why can’t she?”

The running back’s lips part for a second before he reins in his shocked expression.

Oh yes, baby.

This is happening!

It takes everything in me not to bounce over to Wily and kiss his big ol’ cheek for being awesome.

With a swallow, Grady starts nodding and then croaks, “She can. I’m not saying she can’t come, I just…”

His words trail off, because I don’t think Wily’s listening anymore. Satch turns to grin at him, and thenhe’s touching her face… and now they’re kissing like no one else is in the room.

Annnnd… I’m done.

Clearing my throat, I eye Grady up with a triumphant little grin.

He shakes his head at me like I’ve lost my ever-loving mind, so I walk toward him.

“It’s settled, then. We’re going hiking, Grady Newman. And I might be a newbie, but I’m sure you’ll takegreat care of me.” I pat his cheek, one pat per word, then give that sexy chin of his a little squeeze.