Page 32 of Just Act Natural

I scoff. “Excuse me, this isnota light walk for someof us.”

“There’s no reason I can’t bring a few extra things,” he finishes. “Plus, I know I can carry my extras.”

“That feels a bit like a dig at me.”

“It’s not meant to be. I’m just well aware of my own abilities.”

After Josh, excessive confidence became a turn-off for me. Being with a man whose ego required attention at all times got exhausting. But there’s a line between confident and arrogant, and Grant never sticks a toe over. It’s weird.

Weird and intriguing.

“Now.” He points at the e-reader. “What do you feel like?”

I drag my eyes away from this mysterious mountain man and go back to scanning books. “You have a lot of Terry Pratchett on here. What are those like?”

“Fantasy and humor. Not much romance, but you might like it.”

“Let’s try one of those.” I pass the device back to him.

He scrolls around for a minute. “How about we start at the beginning?”

“Where all the best stories start.”

I’m a romance girl through and through, but with Grant reading the book and doing all the voices? By the time I slip my boots back on and scurry into my own tent a couple of hours later, he’s won me over on fantasy.

Even if, way down deep, I still hope everyone gets their love story in the end.

TEN

LILA

“I’d killfor an alpaca right about now.” I roll my shoulders beneath my pack, wincing with every movement. It’s not just the aches—after three days of hiking, everything feels gritty. Or, in the case of my hair, greasy. Deena said we get to swim-slash-wash today if we want, and all my clogged pores are crying out for relief. “It’s normal to slip into a coma to get out of walking any more, right?”

We’re hiking through dense forest, and by Grant’s estimate, about halfway to our next campsite. We stopped thirty minutes ago at a stream to filter water for our hydration packs and secure snacks. Technically, it’s been an easy morning, but I am over it.

I’m sorry, wilderness, but you’re just too much for me to handle.

“Pretty normal,” Grant says.

“Honestly—do you ever get sick of it?”

“I’m not sure how you’re picturing me, but I reach my limit just like everyone else. I’m not Superman.”

Too bad for him I’ve already imagined him in the costume, tights and all.

“And on thisspecific hike?”

He grins. “I’m not tired.”

“Okay, Man of Steel. I’m definitely not Wonder Woman. At this point, the only reason I’m still moving is so I can prove to my sister that I can be tough like her. And also because if I laid down in the middle of the path, nobody would carry me home.”

“I’d carry you. But then that post-hike boba tea would be your treat.”

A sharp little pang pierces my heart. “Now I’m thinking about boba tea.”

“Try to stay strong in these trying times.”

“This hike is my villain origin story.” I do sort of want to destroy the world right now.

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