Page 68 of Why Not Both?

“You’re insane if you think I want my picture taken looking like this.”

“It’s just for me. Here.” I pull her to a stop with the view of North Vancouver in the distance.

She pats her hair, trying to smooth it down. It only marginally works. Then she scowls at me as I take a picture. I love it.

“No social media,” she says. “I don’t want people thinking I like hiking.”

I laugh. “No social media. Just my own reference. You want something to eat?” I want to take her hand again, but I stop myself before I get carried away.

I buy her lunch from the cafe and we sit.

“So do you still hate me and want to kill me?” I ask.

She chews on a fry, contemplating, her chin propped on one hand. “Maybe a little less than I did before. Now that it’s over, my hatred is waning. Not because I’m thinking it was fun. Just. The immediacy of wanting to shove you off the side of the mountain has passed. No promises for if you make me do this again.”

“Of course.”

“So what are our plans for the rest of the day?” she asks.

I can’t contain the smile when she says our plans.

“I figure you need to get back to your place for Cerberus. I brought Evil Dead if you still want to watch it. Or something else. Whatever you want.”

“Sure. I don’t need to hurry back to him. Sophie’s at home, so she’s probably already taken him out. But we can go to my place and watch it there. Should I get the gondola tickets down since you paid for lunch?”

“I figured I’d pay for everything since I dragged you here.”

She arches an eyebrow at me. I’m beginning to love that look. That I-have-a-feeling-you’re-up-to-something-but-I’m-not-going-to-do-anything-to-stop-you look. “Does that mean when I take you running, I get to buy you lunch?”

“Fuck yes. I am not running anywhere unless I get a reward at the end.”

Her eyes sparkle, more blue than green. “You remind me of Cerberus. He’s also very food motivated.”

“I’ve been compared to worse things. At least you think he’s cute.”

“I do.”

I want to ask if she’s talking about me or the dog. I recall her comment about watching my ass and shoulders climbing up the mountain. I just smile at her.

Then I pay for our tickets and we ride the gondola back down.

Chapter 25

Lis

“So this is it,” I say, unlocking the front door. As soon as he hears the door open, Cerberus gets up from his bed, his tail wagging. I kick off my shoes. “Sophie, we’re here,” I call. I walk past the closet and give Spencer the stand-in-place tour. It’s a nice apartment, though a little small. I point to the doors on the left. “First one is the bathroom. Second one is Daze and Sophie’s bedroom. This is the living room and kitchen. On the right is my bedroom and there’s another bathroom in there.”

I turn to see he’s now scratching Cerberus behind the ears. He straightens when Sophie emerges from her bedroom.

“Hey,” she says. “He was just out. I’ll be in here until four.”

“Hungry?” I ask. “I’m going to make popcorn.”

“No, thanks. I just had lunch.”

“We’ll keep it down.”

“No worries. I’ve got my headphones.” She gives us both a smile and then goes back into her room to keep working.

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