Page 30 of Entwined Hearts

We climb out of the water, and my hot skin turns icy in the brisk air. Using my t-shirt, I dry off, then get into my clothes, thankful I can at least put on the much fresher outer layers I wore this morning. My body feels so good after the long climbing day and the hot soak. Being away from Jake has been surprisingly refreshing. But tomorrow, I’ll head back to Vegas alone. Soon after, I’ll be seeing Jake practically every day in Yosemite. And then there’s Dragen’s Tarn.

What will it be like to see him again? A painful flutter twists my insides.

I glance over at Colby, who is tugging on a t-shirt. While we soaked, I noticed a couple of tattoos: one of a bird above his heart, and one on his bicep—a heart with the name Maddyson written in loopy cursive. Seeing that made me feel strange inside. I hadn’t thought Colby would stay with anyone long enough to burn her name on his skin.

It makes me feel like I don’t know him at all. That hurts a little, even though it’s not fair.

I think back to his comment:I can be very satisfying. I hope he didn’t see the way I squirmed. I don’t doubt spending a night with Colbywouldbe satisfying, but then what?

Marisa keeps telling me to go out and get laid, that it’ll make me feel better.

What if that person was Colby?

As we fall in line on the trail back, my mind plays out the image of him kissing me, then I see our bodies moving in the darkness.

Quit it, I tell myself. Apparently, he’s in love with someone named Maddyson. And getting involved with Colby would risk our success of Dragen’s Tarn.

I can’t let that happen.

We’re almost to the road when I hear the engine of an approaching vehicle. Whoever it is will have the hot springs all to themselves, I think, marveling at our timing.

But when I get to the road and the van rises over the hill, I can’t move. It’s a white van, like Jake’s. As the van nears, I look to see who’s driving, but by the time my eyes lock with his, I already know it’s him. Then, like a moth to a flame, my gaze moves to the passenger seat. My seat.

He’s not alone.

The van pulls onto the side of the road behind Kabir’s Subaru. For a minute, time seems frozen. Behind me, I hear the murmur from my friends as they recognize Jake.

The girl in my seat stares, wide-eyed. She turns to Jake, but he’s still looking at me.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Colby says. I turn, remembering where I am and who I’m with.

Jake gets out of the van. He shuts the door, forcing a smile. “Hey, guys.”

His copilot slides out of the van’s high seat, too. I recognize her—she works at the climbing gym Jake and I belong to. Her name is something odd, like “Breeze” or “Bliss.” Her white-blonde hair has a blue streak down one side, and her skin is pale, practically translucent. I picture a termite with pigtails.

“Hey,” Kabir says. I can hear the unsettled tone in his voice.

Nobody moves. It feels like some kind of standoff—a Wild West shootout.

Breeze/Bliss’s eyes move from Jake’s to the rest of us. Even if I could speak, I’m not sure what I would say.

To my surprise, a bubble of laughter bursts from my lips.

Colby moves to my side. Though I can’t look, I can feel his unease.

“How’s the water?” Jake asks. He reaches into the van for a towel, still wearing that grin.

“Hot,” Jo answers, her voice icy.

“Well, we’d better take advantage of it, now that it’s empty.”

Another unwanted giggle threatens to rip free, but I snatch it back before it does by slapping my hand over my mouth.

Jake walks in front of the van to where Breeze/Bliss still stares. He shuts the van door for her, which seems to break whatever spell she has been under. Jake leans close, almost to her ear, and whispers something that makes Breeze/Bliss curl back, blushing. Smiling, she takes Jake’s hand.

As Jake turns them toward the trail, he flashes me a look that stops my already-stunned heart—it’s at once defiant and remorseful, almost as if this encounter is somehow my fault. As if his being with Breeze/Bliss is somehow my fault. Jake turns his back as they step onto the trail.

When they’re finally out of sight, I breathe.

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