Page 80 of Hooking Up
"My sister." I run my hand through my hair. Suddenly, the sun feels too hot. My feet are tired. My back is aching. My stance is awkward.
"Did she and Dean date or something?" She cocks her head to one side, trying to understand.
"No. It's nothing like that." I offer her my hand.
She takes it.
Brendon shoots me a look then moves forward. "I'll stop him at the next hill."
"Yeah." I turn to Iris.
She's looking up at me with those beautiful blue eyes. "Why does your friend not like your sister showing up?"
"He just doesn't."
She presses her lips together. "That's it? He just doesn't."
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yeah. We've all been friends forever. They've always hated each other." That's bullshit, but it's the story I'm selling.
Iris nods like she believes me.
But I can tell she doesn't.
* * *
She'squiet for the rest of the hike.
Dean's more friendly and more obnoxious. But normal obnoxious, not I don't like you having a girl-space-friend obnoxious.
He carries the conversation—Brendon's never been much of a talker.
I try to focus on the strain in my legs, the sun on my skin, the crystal blue ocean spreading over the horizon.
But I don't.
The ocean makes me think of Iris's eyes.
It's not nearly as brilliant or deep. Not nearly as inviting.
My attention stays on her. The way her lips turn down or up. The way her hips sway as she walks. Where her gaze shifts—sometimes the sky, sometimes the ocean, sometimes Dean or Brendon or my chest or waist or ass, but never my eyes.
It's the same the way back.
It's the same when we get into the car. She clicks her seatbelt, flips the radio on, leans back, and looks out the window.
"You okay?" I turn the car on. Hit my blinker.
"Yeah. Tired. It felt good moving my body. I'm sure that's obvious to you, but it's been a long time since I've really exercised. I used to sit a lot. At work. And I do now. I mostly sit and study. So it's kind of a revelation that moving feels good. Or that hiking feels good. But it really is amazing, the fresh air and the view. And everything."
"It is." I turn. "We can do it again sometime."
"Yeah. We should. But, um, later. I'm wiped. It was a lot." She leans down to pull her water bottle from her backpack. "Not for you, I guess?"
"The heat always drains me."
