Page 77 of Hooking Up
It must be a habit.
It better be a habit.
"It's fucking hot." Dean tosses the sunscreen back to Iris.
I step forward to catch it.
"Thanks." She slides it into her backpack. "Is it always this hot in the spring?"
"You're not from SoCal?" he asks.
"The valley. You pretty much always feel like you're standing under a heat lamp." She moves closer. "Who was the girl in the cardigan?"
"Brendon's girlfriend," Dean says. "She had to work. Too bad. We're all one big, happy family."
"Right." Brendon shakes his headwhat the hell is wrong with you?
I ignore it. Take Iris's hand. Focus on the scenery.
It's always beautiful here. Lemon sun. Bright blue sky. Sandy beige path surrounded by dusty green brush. The hills go forever.
Brendon moves ahead of us. He's not interested in our bullshit.
He never is.
Dean follows his lead. Picks up the pace.
I hang back with Iris. There's only a dozen feet between us, but it's intentional. It's afuck you.
"He has to give Brendon shit about Kay." Okay, he's being an asshole. But that's not her problem.
"Hmm."
I rub her hand with my thumb. "It was a whole fucked-up thing."
"Yeah?" Her voice perks.
"You like gossip?"
"Who doesn't?"
I lean in to whisper and I explain the whole sordid story.
She nods and uh-huhs through every detail.
When I'm done, we're a hundred feet behind. Brendon and Dean are standing at the top of a hill. Brendon is looking out at the view. Dean is shaking his headtoo slow, huh?
"I guess we can't walk and whisper." She tugs at my arm as she moves faster.
I keep pace with her. This is a slow hike. More of a stroll. Usually, that annoys me. Usually, Dean and I get competitive about who can finish faster.
Right now, I like it.
I want to stop and smell the roses. Well, the ocean breeze and the brush.
Iris squeezes my hand as we catch up to the guys.
"Trading secrets?" Dean asks.
