Page 32 of Love Hazard

I couldn’t stop smiling. “Care to inspire me?”

“But you hate me.”

“Hate is such a strong word,” I confessed. “It’s easier touse hate to mask other emotions, don’t you think?”

Hazel let out a rough exhale, and her chest rose and fellhard and fast. “What do you mean?”

“You’re damaging to my soul, Hazel Titus,” I whisperedagainst her neck. “Now, wish me luck before I go face a bear next to yourshrine and our yellow tent.”

She giggled, and the movement caused her body to rise justenough that my mouth caught on her warm neck again. I breathed in her scent,counted her heartbeats, and then pulled away.

I’d never leave the Jeep if something started, and ourparents would find us wondering how the hell we lost track of time, food,water, and sanity.

But that was Hazel.

She was damaging to my mental and physical health, and thelonger we spent with each other, the more I realized that this was the reasonI’d pushed her away so much to begin with. Because what if?

I hated that phrase.

What if I dated her?

What if she liked me back?

And what if I lost her?

It was the most immature and selfish thought, but I knew Icouldn’t be that guy. The person who just jumped in headfirst and prayed itwould be okay. I wasn’t that trusting of her or myself, not to mention theuniverse.

I sobered and pulled back.

“Um…” I scratched my head. “The minute the bear sees me andstarts getting angry, just try to be a distraction. I’m only a few feet away.”

“And you did run track,” she pointed out.

I saluted her. “Kind of you to remind me of my second-placestate trophy.”

“Sucks that second isn’t first, huh?”

I smacked her lightly on the thigh. “You never quit, doyou?”

“Admit it.” She leaned in. “You don’t want me to.”

Shit.

All I saw were her light pink lips.

And the fog filling up our side of the Jeep.

Fifty-fifty.

We’d end up together, fighting until death did us part, orwe’d damage each other beyond repair.

I jerked away from her and reached for the door. “Keep alookout for the Bernstein Bear.”

“Berenstain,” she corrected.

“Yeah, okay, time shifter,” I hissed and opened the doorslowly, then made a run for it.

The bear didn’t even budge. It just kept scratching the treeas I went to the tent and grabbed my jeans. I even had time to get the keysout.

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