Page 30 of Roughing It

Then she turns the goddamn camera on and opens her mouth.

“Hey there, BBs!”

I cringe at her too-high voice, her vapid giggle, her mask, but if Blakely notices, she doesn’t show it.

“Today, I’m coming to you from the porch swing. I know, right? A real-life cabin porch swing. Can you believe it?” She giggles into the lens before panning the open clearing. “Look at this view.”

The way she flips back and forth between herself and the clearing is seamless. It’d be impressive if it weren’t so ridiculous.

“The cabin is amazing—sooorustic and cozy—but the best part is this porch! Hudson and I have spent hours out here communing with nature and enjoying the fresh air. Say hi to my BBs, Hudson!”

Blakely angles the camera to catch us both, but my face hardens in a frown. As quick as the camera is on me, it’s gone.

“Okay, now that you’ve seen him live, I know you’re drooling. He’s the total package: handsome, good with his hands,” she says, winking into the lens, “and a fantastic teacher. I’ve learned so much from him already. By the end of the month, I’ll probably be able to lead my own wilderness training. And don’t forget, you too can book your next adventure with Peak Adventures when you visit Trail Creek, New Mexico. Keep tuning in for more pictures and updates! Take care, my BBs!”

The livestream ends, and Blakely tosses her phone besideher. I watch as her mask slips away. It’s oddly fascinating, like a snake molting its skin.

“Lead your own training? I’m an amazing teacher? You called me an asshole and said I sucked a couple of hours ago.” I raise both eyebrows and look at where she’s slumped.

She wiggles a bit, then shrugs. “I’m not going to make you look bad.”

“Why not be yourself?”

The confusion and hurt on her face make me wish I could swallow the words. But one thing I’ve gleaned since meeting Blakely, she doesn’t stay sad for long. Her irritation overpowers all other emotions, and I find myself on the wrong end of her tiny pointed finger. Again.

“Iammyself. You don’t know me, Hudson. You’ve spent two days with me.”

“Spitfire, I know more than you think. A key part of my job is the ability to observe.”

She scoffs, but I barrel ahead.

“You raise the timbre of your voice and put on this superficial affectation when the camera comes out. You titter like a schoolgirl, and let your IQ drop ten points. You don’t want your so-called fans to see you fail. You don’t want them to see your mess, but that’s the real you. I’ve learned all that in two days.”

Despite the warning bells, I lean in and whisper, “If you drop the armor, what will I know about you in thirty?”

“You want to learn more about me?” Her words are faint, to the point they sweep away with the wind.

I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “You’re the most frustrating?—”

She opens her mouth, no doubt ready to verbally smack me, but my hand is there, cupping her chin.

“And fascinating person I’ve ever encountered.”

Her eyes lock on mine, but now they hold a different heat. I curve into her, our lips within inches.

We are close enough for little puffs of her air to slip into my lungs when she speaks. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since someone wanted to know me? The real me?”

She shuts her eyes and angles her head. Those petal pink lips part. Half an inch more, and I could taste them. My nose brushes hers and…

With a jolt, I slam my feet onto the porch, bringing the swing to a dead stop and bolt into the cabin, leaving a stunned Blakely in my wake.

CHAPTER EIGHT

blakely

Things that suck about sleeping in a one-room cabin? There’s only one room. Want to take a bath? I hope you don’t mind clingy shower curtains because that’s all that separates you from the open air. Need to use the bathroom? There’s a door, but you know exactly who was in there before you. And when. And for how long.

Not to mention, when you almost kiss someone, and they reject you, there’s nowhere to run. Oh, and you have to sleep next to them. Because in addition to only having one room, you only have one bed.

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