Page 17 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

This last bit of information is welcomed by the family. There’s a flicker of a smile. It seems to be the spark they need to give them a mental boost. The dad rolls up to a seated position and reaches for his backpack.

“Okay.” I wave and smile. “Have a great walk and we’ll see you very soon.”

Brodie and I leave Dylan with the group and begin to hike up the track again. The ground, I notice, is becoming increasingly unstable. Each step dislodges loose stones in a downward cascade, and I need to work hard not to slide down with it. It’s a bit of a scramble and I wonder how the city family is going to cope with the next tricky few hundred yards. Getting into my stride, I put my head down and pick up the pace. Brodie keeps up easily at the start but then I’m aware he has dropped back, so I slow down to wait for him.

“Whoa, Rita.” Brodie breathes heavily. “You’re just like a mountain goat.”

“Thanks. I think. Is it my haircut?”

“No,” he says laughing and leaning forward, his hands on his knees. “You’re fit. You know. Trail fit.”

“And you are a professional athlete. You should be running up this hill.”

“Alright.” Brodie straightens up and flashes one of his endearing crooked smiles. “If it’s a race you want, then I’m up for it.”

“You will surely die, and I do not want that on my conscience.” I huff and continue walking upward. “Or be a suspect in a murder investigation.”

Up ahead is my favorite place on the track to sit and take in the scenery. A big flat rock juts out on the bend and seems to float in mid-air above the valley we’ve just walked up. I unclip my pack and drop it onto the rock, then sit down and relax against it.

“Hah, tired already?” says Brodie hopping from one foot to the other, then running on the spot.

“Sit down. You look ridiculous.”

Brodie takes off his pack and sits down beside me. We gaze across the hazy valley to the trees below. The rock, warmed by the sun, radiates its heat back pleasantly onto my legs. I drink some water.

“I get the feeling that the family aren’t having the fun they were hoping for on this trip,” says Brodie wiping his mouth with his forearm after drinking from his bottle.

I nod and laugh. “I think you’re right, but Dylan is great with inexperienced hikers.” I pull out the map and lay it out on the flat warm rock between us. “He is so upbeat. He’ll keep them going.”

“You don’t use the map on your phone?”

“No. I find the screen too small.” I smooth out the creases with the palm of my hand. “I like the way you can see the bigger picture with a paper map. Also, a paper map doesn’t run out of power or stop working if it gets wet.”

“True.”

“And I don’t want to turn on my phone when I’m on a trail.” I look out at the sublime landscape. “It’s psychological really. I like being free from the virtual World Wide Web and more connected to the physical earth. You know? The natural real world away from all of that electronic stuff.” I look back at Brodie as if I had just told him a secret. I wonder if he understands. “Even if there’s no signal up here, I don’t want to look at my phone.”

Brodie nods, then says, “Sounds good to me... in theory. But I am wondering how I’m going to cope.”

I trace the line indicating the trail from the main entrance parking lot to the camp.

“We are about here.”

My finger stays on the folded paper, and when I look up Brodie is watching my face. Our eyes lock for a second, causing my heartbeat to soar as if I have just sprinted up the hill.

I had forgotten how beautiful Brodie’s golden-brown eyes are. I’m held in their spell. They plead with me like a puppy begging for a treat. Eyelashes that long and dark shouldn’t be allowed on a man. I’m not falling for that look. It might work with other girls, but it’s not going to work on me. I fold up the map with crisp efficiency and put it away.

“We should be at the camp in about thirty minutes,” I say diffusing the building tension between us. I feel suddenly self-conscious, aware for the first time that we are alone together.

“Cool,” says Brodie with smiling eyes. “I can’t wait to see my five-star accommodation.”

“I’m not sure what kind of luxury you’re expecting, hot-shot football star.” I drink some water. “But I think you’re on the wrong tour.”

“Oh no. You mean, there are no spa facilities, or somewhere I can get a massage?” Brodie looks at me from beneath his floppy fringe and, placing one hand on his muscular shoulder, he begins to knead with his fingertips.

“No. Duh.” I screw the top back on my water bottle.

“Come on, Rita. I’ll pay you extra for a head-to-toe, front and back, after dinner. What do you say?”

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