Page 23 of Just Act Natural

I take a few pictures, since the volcanic stuff has tourist appeal. People love looking at old rocks, right?

“Are the pictures for your social media?” Grant asks as he navigates some of the bigger chunks of rock that have made their way onto the trail.

I thought maybe now that his secret mountain-climbing talent is out, he would switch to the front of our group. Show off his skills and lead the way. But as soon as we had breakfast and packed up all of our gear—which, by the way, is a process I’m so excited to do every morning, yay for that—he was right next to me again in the back.

I tell myself it’s just what good hiking buddies do, but I might be lying.

“No, not mine. I’ll create some content for Horizon Hikesthat they can use on their own accounts, but my followers aren’t really into this stuff.”

I don’t think. I’ve never posted pictures from first-hand visits to the woods, but it’s not a safe bet. Being out here is about as far opposite as you can get from the city-centric lifestyle I used to feature every day.

“What is your account like? I don’t have service, or I’d see whatGenuinely_Lilais all about.”

“That offer is weirdly flattering and mildly horrifying.”

The sun slices through the sparse trees as we stump along the bizarre landscape. I slathered on sunscreen this morning, but the skin on the back of my neck is already cooked. Yet another thing I should have brought but didn’t—some kind of sun hat. I feel like Deena’s packing list could be expanded just a touch.

I would start with the freedom to bring underwear.

Grant chuckles. “Why mildly horrifying?”

“Mmm, I don’t think it would be your thing. There’s a lot of fashion on there, home decor, aesthetic pictures, and day-in-the-life stuff.”

“I’d be interested in your day-in-the-life stuff. I wouldn’t mind a glimpse at what makes Lila tick.”

“What makes me tick is a steady stream of boba tea and chocolate.”

“See?” He splays his hand at me. “That’s great information. Is this a bad time to admit I’ve never tried boba tea?”

I stop dead on the track and throw out a hand to grab his arm. Um—wow. His biceps are delightfully solid, but not my immediate concern. “You’ve never tried boba tea? A life without boba is only half a life.”

“It’s that serious?”

With the utmost regret, I release his arm, and we continue along the trail, heading into denser trees. “It’s the most serious.You have to try it when we get back to town. I love it so much, I convinced one of Sunshine’s cafés to serve it.”

“I heard you mention that.”

“Really? I don’t think I’ve talked about Perk Me Up out here, have I?”

I do talk about boba tea a good percentage of the time. Specifically, whenever I don’t have a drink in my hand, and I’ve been sadly bereft on this trip. But I haven’t started jonesing so hard for one that I’ve whined about it on the trails yet. And I do meanyet. The time will come.

Grant’s got this strange deer-in-headlights look on his face. “I heard someone say it.”

“Huh.” I’m pretty proud of the fact that I successfully swayed the owners to add it to their menu, but I didn’t know anyone else talked about it. That’s probably a good thing, right? Proving my support of Sunshine’s businesses already. Even if by support, in this case I mostly mean I begged them to satisfy my borderline unhealthy addiction.

In the name of growing their business, of course.

“I’ll have to try it when we’re back in town.” Grant sounds decided, and I like that. Score another win for me.

“I’ll need a glowing testimonial afterward, please.”

“No pressure.”

“I have faith in your good taste.”

“That might be unfounded, but I’ll take it. So you’re out here just to get content for advertising for Horizon Hikes?”

“Mmm, not really. I am doing that, but the bigger reason is that I’m trying to get a promotion. I work for Sunshine part-time planning events, but the mayor and a few council members want to create a full-time tourism position for me. Which sounds great, except there’s a big chunk of Sunshine’s tourism potential I don’t know the first thing about.”

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