Page 67 of Could Have Been Us
“I’m so glad we’re taking this trip down memory lane.” The sarcasm in my voice can’t be missed.
“Well, I’ll send him a text to warn him that he may be in more danger than with the city people he’s used to dealing with.”
The people in my life suck.
“As much as I’d love to listen to you guys, I have a date to get ready for and you have to get to work.” I point at Winnie.
Oliver elbows me. “Yeah? And how are you going to get rid of me?”
“Jack is going to sleep here tomorrow.”
His face falls a little, and I giggle. “And, on that note, I’m getting out of here,” Winnie says.
“Thank you again.” I give her a hug and lift the backpack.
“Call me when you get back . . . from camping!” Winnie calls from over her shoulder.
“Is he really sleeping here?” Oliver asks as I head into the kitchen.
“Yes, this is my place and we’re going to have nights where he stays here and we have lots of loud, headboard-banging sex.”
Oliver rubs his forehead. “I’m going to call Alex.”
“Why?”
“I need to move out.”
* * *
I pull into the driveway of where the resort is going to be out on Melia Lake. Jack is there, still in the same spot where he took the selfie he sent me moments ago to let me know he was waiting and I was late.
He’s smiling as I walk to him.
“Hi there.”
“Hello, gorgeous.” He gets to his feet and then wraps his arms around me, kissing me sweetly.
This. This simple, easy, hello is everything. It’s the little moments that have my heart feeling light. I pray we always have these moments.
I lean up, wanting another kiss. “So. What are we doing?”
He grins. “We’re going to have fun, that’s what we’re doing.”
“How?”
“We’re going to hike first.”
Jesus, Winnie was right.
All right. I mean, I was somewhat prepared for this. While it may not be what I want to do, relationships are about sacrifice, right? Jack may not want to go shopping one day, but when I book us a trip where I plan to do nothing but walk around and fill his arms with bags, he’ll endure. I must do the same.
Or I can kill him.
I’ll go with option one.
I plaster on a smile. “Hiking sounds great.”
Jack bursts out laughing before pulling me into his arms, rocking back and forth as his shoulders bounce. “Oh, baby, that was almost priceless.”
