Page 72 of Best Part of Me

When I shuffle around the front of the Jeep to meet up with her, she’s got a wide smile spread on her lips, and her face is tipped at the sun.

“It’s breathtaking,” she says on an exhaled breath.

I can hardly drag my attention away from her to look at the landscape, but I do. And I have to agree. Seeing it as an adult is different. It’s like I can fully appreciate it now.

Lifting my camera, I point and shoot at everything I can that might be useful for my company’s social media page, along with the blog. Cammie poses for a few, a hand on her hip, flashing me a peace sign, blowing me a kiss.

Snatching my hand, she yanks me back toward the Jeep. “C’mon, I can’t wait to see the next one.”

Anticipation taps in my chest like a rhythm.

We pass the Rock Pinnacles and continue past the Balanced Rock. Cammie wants to get to the Double Arch, and the map shows there’s a short hike. This will be the perfect opportunity to get more shots of the park.

Cammie and I hike the trail. It’s hotter than I expected, and I’m regretting wearing pants. Especially black ones. From afar, the Double Arch appears average sized, but as we grow closer, they’re much larger than I’d anticipated.

My camera is put to work, taking about a hundred photos. Cammie walks ahead, still mesmerized by the view. I stop to take a swig from my Hydro Flask. As I drink, in my peripheral and like slow motion, I witness Cammie slipping and falling. Like a bullet, I take off to reach her.

“Shit. Cammie, are you all right?”

Crouching next to her, I frantically scan her body for injuries. Her knee is already bleeding.

She’s wincing, but she braves a smile for me. “I’m fine. It’s just a little scrap. Guess I lost my footing.”

Another woman is there, and then a man approaches as well. I can feel Cammie’s embarrassment radiating through her hand that I’m holding tightly in mine.

“It’s the dust. Makes the smooth rocks extra slippery,” the woman says. “You okay, dear?”

“Need help walking back to your car?” the man asks.

“No, no, I’m fine,” Cammie assures them.

I wrestle the bandanna from my back pocket. “I can take it from here,” I say. “Thanks.”

Camille tethers her arm around my neck, and I help her hobble to a large rock to sit on. I caress her legs while I slowly lower myself to a crouch in front of her. She chews her lower lip and leans back on her hands. I pour water from my Hydro Flask onto her wound and use the bandanna to wipe it up before tying it around her leg. Rising, I press a kiss to her knee where the bandanna is covering, and she watches me.

“Better?” I ask, spreading her legs open and stepping in between them.

She smiles. “Much.”

“Good.” I lift her chin and lower my lips to her, giving her a sweet kiss before pulling away to say, “You fucking scared me.”

“It’s just a little scratch. I’m a big girl, Mav. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Her words are like a switch.I’m a big girl. In an instant, I want to lay her back on this rock and devour her in broad daylight at a national park. I press my lips against hers again, urgency driving it.

She leans forward and her hands grip my backside.

I pull back and lean my forehead against hers, releasing a shaky breath. “Fuck. You really are a big girl. Little Camille Martin, all grown up.”

“You can tell me more when we’re back at the campground. I don’t think we’ll be doing any more hiking today.” She gestures at her knee. “Sorry to ruin your shots today.”

I wave her off and help her off the rock. “We’ll rest today and start again in the morning.”

As I bend and lift my backpack from the ground, Camille giggles behind me. I glance over my shoulder and find her taking a picture of me with her phone.

“What’s so funny?”

She cups a hand over her mouth. “You have two dusty handprints on your ass.”

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