Page 58 of In the Works

“Oh my god, you’re ridiculous. I’m a mess.” I looked away from her, trying to get my composure back as she looked at me.

“So you don’t know?” Bri shook her head.

Just from the look in her eyes, I knew she was about to make it her life’s mission to show me how she saw me. And if I knew anything about Bri, it’s that she would die trying.

The path widened enough for us to walk side by side as the cliffs hovering above us slowly dropped back to our level. Once they did, the ground turned to the same weathered boulders that lined the stream. The trees grew sparse as they started having to grow between the rocks.

I stopped in my tracks as the canopy parted enough for the view to come into sight. “Wow.” It came out as a whisper, hardly loud enough for Bri to hear.

But she nodded and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Right?”

Stepping forward, the panoramic view of the valley unfolded before me. It wrapped around the mountain, ending where the mountain towered over us. The flat rocks created a perfect ledge just long enough to walk out onto and take a seat.

I walked toward the edge, keeping a few feet between me and the lip as my stomach dropped into my ass. “That’s a big drop.”

Bri nodded, holding onto my shorts from behind. “No kidding.”

There was nothing in the sprawling valley. It looked like not even a single house was down there for as far as my eyes could see.

Resting her chin on my shoulder, Bri lowered her voice to a rumble. “Why don’t you sit on one of those rocks back there while I set up lunch?”

I raised my eyebrows. “Lunch?”

“Of course, lunch.” Bri giggled and guided me back toward the boulders a few yards from the cliff face.

Once I was settled, Bri set down her backpack and methodically set up a little picnic sight. She laid out an outdoor blanket, thick with padding for rough surfaces, and laid out dozens of containers of food on it.

Opening the wicker basket, she pulled out some plates and cups along with a bottle of prosecco.

By the time she was done setting the whole thing up, her backpack was an empty sack.

“Did you bring anything that wasn’t for this picnic?” I teased, resting my chin on my palm.

Bri shook her head, a tired, goofy grin taking over her face. “Nope. I wanted you to have everything you wanted.”

Crossing the few feet between us, Bri stretched out her hand and helped me off the rock. She guided me to the blanket and knelt down on the blanket.

I followed suit, taking my place next to her. The endless New York mountains and valets stretched out in front of us. Before me, an insane array of food waited. Glass tupperware was full of fresh fruit. From the freezer bag, Bri had packed an entire charcuterie board and laid it out perfectly.

I shook my head. “I don’t know what I did to deserve all of this.”

With a shrug, Bri licked her lips. “You were you.”

30

BRI

I reached downand grabbed a ripe strawberry, bringing the fruit to Sarah’s lips. Her throat rippled as she swallowed, before opening her mouth for my fruit.

She bit into it, juice dripping off of the berry and into my hand. A moan escaped her lips as she tasted the fruit. “Fuck, I’m hungry.”

“Good.” I smiled, gesturing to the huge array of food I’d brought with us. As she watched me, I licked the strawberry juice off my hand. The sweet red juice mixed with the sweat that glistened on my hand.

Sarah dug in, grabbing some prosciutto off the charcuterie board and layering it with sliced brie and a cracker. For a minute, I just watched her enjoy the food. Her eyes rolled back as she ate, the hike making her ravenous.

My heart pounded in my chest, wanting nothing more than to hold her.

“How did you even carry all of this?” Sarah covered her mouth as she spoke.

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