Page 85 of Vacation Friends

As far as Maddie and Josh . . . the two of them shouldn’t be together. She’d known that for a while. But confirmations kept coming, validating her feelings on the matter.

Even though she’d promised Josh to wait until after the retreat to broach the subject of their future again, Maddie didn’t know if that was possible. The tension between them kept growing at an alarming speed.

Maddie focused on the uneven path as their guide led them up a seven-foot ledge. They used roots and rocks as leverage to climb up it. Then they walked over more slippery rocks, through two more creeks, and finally reached a waterfall that plunged from a hundred twenty feet above.

She stood in awe as she watched the power of the cascading water.

Beside her, Adrienne squealed and pulled off her tank top, revealing a bikini beneath. “Who’s ready to go for a swim?”

Before anyone could answer, Adrienne threw her shirt onto one of the large boulders and dove into the water, still wearing her jean shorts. Most of the rest of the group followed.

“Maddie, can we talk?”

She turned to see Josh beside her.

He wanted to talk? Now?

She swung her head back and forth before muttering, “I’m not ready.”

Before Josh could try to change her mind, she hopped to another rock.

She looked up in time to see Brody climb from the water, his gaze on them. No doubt he’d noticed her cool interaction with Josh.

Maddie averted her gaze, determined not to care what Brody thought, determined not to become hyperaware of the handsome man. The one who was off-limits. The one who was unlike anyone else she’d ever met.

Instead, she scanned everything around her, looking for any signs of danger. She couldn’t afford to let down her guard.

Nothing is going to happen here, Maddie reminded herself.

This was a waterfall swim. It was fairly safe, as long as people followed the rules. That was what Nighty had said.

Maddie prayed that was true as she stripped to her bathing suit and waded into the cool, refreshing water.

But based on everything that had happened so far on this retreat, trouble was following them. Why should it end now?

As the gang continued to hang out at the waterfall, some of the tension faded from Maddie. She sat on an oversized rock trying to dry off before the hike back.

Josh wasn’t acting as stuck-up as usual. Maybe he actually felt bad about everything that had happened. Maybe he regretted letting Logan go into his room—though he still claimed the reason was legitimate.

Maddie had thought about it. If Josh wasn’t in the room and Logan was there, then she supposed it was no harm, no foul. Yet she still felt irritated.

It was like the two of them were a little too comfortable with each other.

Really, however, it boiled down to the fact she didn’t trust him.

At least the woman wasn’t on the trip with them this time. Maddie was surprised she hadn’t somehow arranged to be here also.

Maddie had tried to relax and let down her guard. Something about the waterfall pounding on her shoulders and head had relaxed her.

After they’d enjoyed the swimming hole for about an hour, Nighty clapped to get the group’s attention. “Five minutes until we head back! Start grabbing your things. If you need to go to the restroom, now is the time. Climb this ridge. If you can’t see us, we most likely can’t see you. Note I used the words most likely.”

Everyone chuckled.

As they all dried off and put their clothes on, Fowler and Josh disappeared up the boulders to the “restrooms.”

Adrienne stepped closer, still towel drying her hair. She lowered her voice as she asked, “You doing okay today?”

“I’m fine,” Maddie insisted. “Thank you for asking.”

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