Page 15 of More Than Words

“I would’ve been fine. I wasn’t planning to stay out that long.”

“Hmm,” I hummed as I fell into step beside her as she made her way along a path to the side of the property that led along the coastline.

“You don’t have to be such a know-it-all. I am capable of doing basic things like keeping myself hydrated.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t doubt your ability to quench your thirstiness.”

She frowned, taking a few steps away. “If you weren’t such a dick to me all the time, I wouldn’t have to be so defensive around you.”

“I haven’t been a total dick to you today, have I?”

Unlike when we were in the office, I’d been trying to keep the mask off around her, resorting to teasing because that was my natural personality, not actively antagonizing her.

“No, just maybe a tiny dick.”

I hummed, quickening my pace to walk beside her again. Lowering my voice, I whispered in her ear as I leaned closer. “Not the typical adjective women use when talking about my dick.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Although, you have been known to exaggerate quite a bit. I’ll find my magnifying glass if your dick comes up again. Not that there’s anything wrong with you if it can’t rise to the occasion, I’ve heard it’s common at your advanced age.”

“You’re like a year younger than me,” I chuckled, and watched as a crease formed on her forehead. She was probably surprised I knew that. But she wasn’t the only one capable of being observant. Her tenure with Vivid was longer, but we were nearly the same age and likely had similar experiences in our career paths.

We walked side by side down the trail, the path winding in and out of the wooded trail to hug the rocky coast. The air was crisp and cool, but it felt invigorating after spending so much time confined in the car.

“So, do you hike a lot?” I asked while she played with the edge of the label on the bottle clasped tightly in her hands.

“Some. Mostly in college in upstate New York. We didn’t have places like this back home. I mean, you could find places with some hills or forests, but nothing this pretty.”

“And where is home?” I asked, realizing I knew little about her besides her educational pedigree and career.

“Cumming, Iowa.”

“Seriously?” I laughed. There was no way that was the name of a town.

“Yes, seriously,” she huffed. “Go ahead and make the joke now, it’s not anything I haven’t heard before.”

“Sounds like someone is a little sensitive about Cumming.”

“That wasn’t even funny.”

“Wasn’t trying to be funny, I’m not a total dick all the time.”

“I don’t even want to imagine the things that would come out of your mouth otherwise.”

“I prefer to come other places.”

“You’re an idiot.” She rolled her eyes, but she smiled so she couldn’t be that annoyed with me.

“And what’s in Cumming, Iowa?”

She slowed her pace as she began to peel back the corner of the water bottle label. “My parent’s farm, my sisters and their hordes of children. Mostly boredom.”

“I can’t imagine you on a farm,” I laughed, somehow unable to reconcile the polished business attire and conservative apparel she opted to wear with the imagery of ripped jeans, matching braids, and a worn baseball cap.

“Well, I can’t imagine you in anything but a tailored suit, and yet here we are,” she said, gesturing toward my jeans and button-up shirt I’d thrown a lightweight coat over.

“I’m capable of being casual. I wore sweatpants for most of my time at B.C.”

“Yeah, okay,” she scoffed, clearly not believing me.

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