Page 72 of Loving You

Too fucking late now.

“Look how close they are,” Quinn says, nodding toward Cherry and Danny. “This might be easier than I thought.”

She stands, having finally finished lacing her hiking boots. She’s wearing long foam-green leggings with dark brown hiking boots, her white socks sticking out of the top. She’s got on askintight tank top that matches her leggings and a light jacket tied around her waist. As she stands with her back to the sun, the light makes her brown hair, which is braided down her back, look almost blonde.

She adjusts the round sunglasses that she’s wearing and then looks at me.

“Ready?”

I nod, looking down at my attire.

Jeans, shirt, hiking boots.

Simple.

Quinn and I couldn't be more different.

Jesus. Are people really buying this? The more I think about it, the more I wonder.

“Great,” she says and then walks toward the others. My eyes drift to her ass; her sweater is a little off to the side, revealing one perfectly round bubble cheek.

I see her ass a lot when she’s in her pajama shorts, but something about the way her leggings hug her every curve buzzes my body to life.

She looks over her shoulder and winks.

Well, I take it that’s my clue to get into boyfriend mode.

I stride up behind her and sling my arm around her shoulders.

“Let’s do this,” I say.

“Yes, but first, everyone get a buddy,” Quinn announces like she's the leader of the group. “Andy and Sully, me and Miles, Cherry and Danny. Does that work for everyone?”

A collective group of yeses takes place.

I turn to start the hike.

Quinn might know where to go, but a perk of growing up in Lovers is knowing these trials like the back of my hand.

I make it about four steps before Quinn reaches for my arm. Her small fingers loop around my bicep as she picks up her pace to meet me step for step. She leans in close, and we fallinto stride.

“I thought we could stay in the back. It would make it easier for me to fake an injury.”

She glances over her shoulder to smile at the group behind us.

I don’t slow my pace, but I do walk closer to her so that I can whisper, “That’s your great plan?”

She nods. “Yes, it is. Then you have to take me away—far,faraway—to get the care I need.”

I have no words.

Fake an injury. That is her grand plan.

Fuck.

I’m stuck on this stupid hike from beginning to end.

“So, how did you two start dating?” Andy asks behind us.

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