Page 58 of Between Here and There

“Having fun so far?” I tease, grinning.

She rolls her eyes, scowling back, and I laugh. As I haul our bags from the trunk, Haley and Kate sling their backpacks over their shoulders, bracing themselves against the cold.

A few minutes later, Ryan and the others arrive. When they shuffle out of their vehicles, Haley immediately shouts, “We were here first! One thousand pesos, thank you very much!”

“Unfair. Bon went on at least five bathroom breaks,” Richard grumbles as he approaches her.

“Becausesomeonebought a really big bottle of soda and then realized two sips in that he’s not a fan of cherry.” Bon appears. “No one to blame but you, Other Miller.”

“No one told you to finish the whole thing, OtherotherMiller,” Richard says as he scowls at her.

“Also, that’s not an excuse. Because Emily and Joshua had a moment in the gas station, and even then, we got ahead of you,” Haley says, and I see Emily look at me, then glance away. I guess she felt the sudden shift too.

“I’m pretty sure it’s because you ruined their moment,” Richard says.

“Exactly. So if you wanted to win, you could’ve,” Haley says with a shrug and extends her hand, smirking. “Pay up, loser.”

Richard chuckles, reluctantly digging into his pockets for a few bills. “You’re insufferable,” he mutters, placing the cash in her outstretched hand.

“I know, right?” Haley grins triumphantly.

Once everyone is gathered nearby, I once again assume the role of group leader. As I go over the last-minute checklist, I can see everyone visibly unwinding, shoulders relaxing, and eyes sparking with excitement. We take a few minutes to rest before starting the ascent, listening to the distant calls of birds and the faint whisper of wind through the trees.

Emily sidles up beside me, bundled up in so many layers that she looks like a marshmallow with eyes. Her arms are still crossed, her expression still unamused. Cute.

“You good?” I whisper, leaning in close so the others won’t hear. She rolls her eyes, half-amused, half-exasperated.

“Let’s just assume for the rest of this hike, I’m not good,” she mutters.

“Is that why you’re standing so close to me?” I tease, raising an eyebrow. She pauses, considering, then gives me a small nod, her cheeks slightly pink. That tiny, quiet admission is enough to make my chest tighten, and a warmth spreads through me that has nothing to do with the layers I’m wearing. Emily finds me reliable, and I’m not about to let her down.

“Oh, fearless leader.” Bon steps in between us, her voice teasing. “We should probably start now. Or else, I’ll lose all momentum and take a nap back in the car.”

“Sounds great, take me with you,” Emily says.

Bon loops her arm around Emily, declaring with a dramatic flair, “Goodbye, dear brother.” She pulls her a few steps away, but instinctively, my hand shoots out, fingers catching Emily’s. The warmth of her hand shoots up my arm like a spark.

Bon’s gaze flicks to our clasped hands, and she raises an eyebrow with a knowing smirk. “Are we going now?” she asks.

“Yes, you annoying imp,” I say, trying to mask the awkwardness in my voice as I gently pull Emily back to my side. “Now, give her back.”

Bon grins and lets go of Emily. “Lead the way, you two!” she says, skipping as she returns to Ryan’s side.

Emily and I fall into step together, and I can feel her presence steady beside me. I keep my grip on her hand, trying to convince myself it’s just because she needs a little extra stability on the uneven ground.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Emily

Dear Lord, help me. It’s only been two hours since we started hiking, and I want to go back in time and pull past Emliy’s hair just to talk some sense into her. What the hell was she thinking?

I’m still holding Joshua’s hand because it’s much better than any kind of walking stick. Despite being the leader in this expedition and driving six hours to get here, he’s surprisingly sturdy. He’s not showing any sign of tiredness. I have no idea how it’s possible because I, on the other hand, am out of breath, freezing, and my legs hurt so much, an amputation might be the best solution. I try keeping up, but my natural athleticism (or lack thereof) is slowing me down. Thankfully, Josh notices, and matches my pace, slowing down with me.

When Rob and Denise reach us, Rob asks, “You guys okay?” I’m starting to feel okay with him around. I expected to get pissed off every time I see them, but so far, I haven’t even given them any thought.

“You go ahead, we’re fine,” Josh says, as they walk past us.

“Aren’t you the leader, and should go first? You can let me trail behind,” I say.

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