Page 27 of Pretend You're Mine

Warmth spread through my chest as I opened my eyes to see Creed’s face hovering over me as he shook my shoulders gently.

“Hey,” I mumbled sleepily. I rubbed my eyes to clear them. “You’re up early. Did something happen?”

“Nope. Get dressed. I’ve got something to show you.” His voice was smooth and laced with a mischievous undertone.

The early morning light creeping through the window illuminated his features, emphasizing the playful curve of his lips and the depth of his gaze.

"Hang on, is this a surprise or some sort of emergency?" I asked. "Creed, it's practically dawn. How about you come back to bed? We can always deal with whatever it is later." I smiled, a smile that was laced with sweet persuasion hoping to lure him back under the covers.

Creed threw open the curtains and let the weak sunlight into the room. “I planned the whole day for us." His eyes shone brightly. "We're getting out of this stuffy house for a breath of fresh air. We need a break from all the drama that's been suffocating us."

Summoning every ounce of energy, I hoisted myself out of the bed, each muscle straining against the crisp and invitingsheets. "Honestly, Creed, is this for real? Where on earth are we going?"

He tipped his head to the side. “Technically, it is no longer a surprise if I give you the details.”

“C’mon, tell me where we’re going,” I whined playfully. “How sure are you that I’m going to like it to start with? I’m supposed to be your buddy.”

A smile tugged at Creed's lips as he playfully teased, "Your buddy? I'm supposed to be your boy—" His eyes widened.

I instantly caught on to what Creed was about to blurt out. Panic surged through me, making my heart race uncontrollably in my chest. The mere idea of him being my boyfriend left me exhilarated and terrified all at once. I couldn't risk letting him know just how much it would mean to me.

As I watched him, I couldn't help but wonder if he had any idea the impact the word he almost said would have on me. Did he feel the same way? Or was I simply projecting my own desires onto him? The uncertainty made me feel vulnerable and exposed, like a raw nerve waiting to be touched.

My mind raced as I tried to come up with a way to steer the conversation away from that awkward moment. But Creed recovered faster than I did.

“Your fake boyfriend, I meant. We’re going hiking. You’ll find out the location when we get there. Dress appropriately while I grab a few things.”

My face scrunched up. “Hiking is not my thing. In fact, I'm not much of an outdoor per?—"

Creed cut in, not letting me finish. “You trust me, don't you?" At my nod, he continued. "I'm here with you. I've got you, okay? Everything’s gonna be fine.”

In that fleeting moment, a realization struck me like a lightning bolt. Creed, whom I'd only known briefly, had been my protector. But with this realization came a terrifyingunderstanding—he also held the power to lift me up to the heavens or bring me crashing down to my knees in ruins. My heart... I had to guard it carefully against this man who could easily shatter it into a million pieces.

He didn’t wait to find out if I would heed his instructions. He headed out in the direction of the kitchen, and with a shrug, I put on some clothes and then went downstairs. I watched him pack the backpacks.

Creed stood there, a determined look on his face. He reached for a couple of water bottles and packed them. His gaze fell upon a stack of granola bars neatly arranged on the countertop, grabbed a handful and tossed them into each backpack. The satisfying crunch and hint of sweetness would be just what I needed to keep my spirits high and keep my mind off of the fact that hiking wasn't my thing. After packing a few other essentials, Creed zipped up the backpacks.

We arrived at the trailhead forty minutes later and walked along the footpath. Creed pointed out the directions on the sign to me.

Dale Lakefront Trail. One mile ahead.

It was farther than I’d normally go, but I glanced at Creed to see if he was bothered about the distance, and the ex-Marine just chugged water from a bottle and started making his way along the well-used hiking trail.

The morning air was cool and crisp and the sun glistened through tall, swaying conifers. The scenery was spectacular. After the initial climb, the hike seemed pretty easy-going, unlike what I had expected. Further down the road, Creed bumped into a naked Barbie doll hanging from a tree branch.

“Looks like someone’s been dabbling in voodoo around here. Fascinating.” He pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos of the scene. “Do you want a picture as well?”

I struck a pose, crossing my arms over my chest. “How much longer until we get there?”

“We’re close. Want a granola bar?”

I held out my hand. “You’re enjoying this way too much,” I complained as I unwrapped my snack.

“And your whining isn’t going to get us there any faster. Suck it up, Avery. Believe me, you’ll enjoy this even more once we get to our destination.” Seemingly not thinking twice about it, Creed jogged forward, laughing without a single care in the world.

Several minutes later, we got to a clearing. “Here we are.”

A hot spring sat in the middle, rocks carved around it. It wasn’t extraordinarily large, but the sparkling stream of water set in the middle of nowhere was pretty amazing to witness. We stared in awe for some minutes until Creed began inching forward.

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