Page 56 of Branded Hearts

The warm sun’s getting to us now. Sweat drips down my neck and back, and my t-shirt clings to me. Harrison and Michael already ditched their shirts halfway through.

I decide to follow suit, pulling off my shirt and slinging it over my shoulder. All the intense training at the police academy has made meaccustomed to rigorous activity, so I’m feeling good, apart from the heavy burn in my calves and hamstrings—which I welcome; it makes me feel liberated.

I spot Liv’s water bottle sticking out of her backpack and steal it.

“Hey! Get your own,” she snaps.

“I just need a sip,” I lie, before chugging down half the bottle.

“Yeah, a sip, my ass,” she mutters, wiping the lid. “Gross,” she feigns disgust.

“You’ll be right,” I fire back, smirking.

I turn to find Amelia eyeing me up and down shamelessly. I watch her until she catches me, and I give a subtle wink. She quickly turns away, cheeks tinged with a blush, and tries to hide it behind adjusting her backpack. Fuck, she’s adorable when she blushes like that. It makes me smile, seeing her try to play it off.

“Why are you…smiling?” my sister blurts out, her expression one of pure confusion.

Great. Just what I needed—being caught off guard like this.

“Are you feeling alright?” She reaches out to touch my forehead, but I swat her hand away.

“Piss off.”

“Bradley, smiling? Yeah, right,” Xav scoffs.

“I wasn’t. Fuck off,” I snap, my voice clipped.

“You were! I saw it with my own eyes,” Liv adds sceptically.

“Yeah, well, get your eyes checked because you’re seeing shit,” I retort.

I catch Michael eyeing me, his smirk irritatingly knowing. What’swith everyone today?

Despite the jabs earlier, I can’t deny the playful ease that comes over me whenever I’m around her. As we head back down the trail, Amelia hunches over, hands on her thighs, gearing up for the trek back.

“Want me to carry you,sugar?” I tease, using Harrison’s words from earlier. Her eyes widen in surprise before she playfully shoves me.

“Shh.” She grins, and we press on along the trail. I lightly nudge her shoulder, our height difference making it more of a playful tap.

“Having fun?” I ask, my voice low and teasing.

“I don’t think I’m cut out for all this,” she huffs, wiping sweat from her forehead. “I’m a sweaty mess.”

“Don’t worry, being a sweaty mess suits you,” I tease, a smirk tugging at my lips. In my head, that sounded much cleaner. I shake my head, chuckling softly, realising it might have come off dirtier than intended.

Amelia shoots me a surprised glance, her cheeks reddening. “Yeah, right,” she scoffs, but her eyes twinkle with amusement.

I lean in a bit closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. “It’s true,” I reply with a wink, surprising even myself with the playful confidence.

Fuck, who is this guy? He’s so unlike me.

Imogen’s voice breaks our moment. “You two alright?”

I turn my head, my heart dropping as I realise the group has continued walking down the trail, and I hadn’t even fucking noticed.All eyes are on us, and Olivia watches with a confused expression.

Fuck.

I look at Amelia, her eyes slightly widened as she fidgets with her bag straps.

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