Page 48 of Fostering Chemistry
After another run, we arrived at a little garden. I’d seen it a time or two before. There were often pictures of it in the spring, when the trees blossomed. A small pond was centered in the space with an arched footbridge over it.
A footbridge with white rails.
“You guys go first, and we’ll take a picture of you from down here.” Mia swapped her phone with Tori who grabbed Jayden’s hand and ran off.
When they were in the center of the bridge, Tori held her hands out to the side with Jayden close behind her, his hands on her waist.
“Got it,” Mia called, and then we were all running, switching places.
When Mia stepped up to the railing, I moved in behind her. When I slid my hands around her waist, all I could feel was that ridiculous tutu. Why the hell did ballerinas need them? They didn’t do anything except get in the way.
Tori called out that she’d gotten the picture, and Mia stepped back, bumping against my chest. I let her go and stepped out of the way, catching the clean scent of her hair as it whippedpast my face. It was a familiar smell… maybe she used the same shampoo as my ex-girlfriend? But somehow it seemed like something I’d encountered more recently than that.
Mia and Tori submitted the pictures, and we jogged away, not wanting other teams to see us and figure out the cryptic clue.
Though a bit annoying, Jayden knew his stuff. I’d been at Langley for five years, and I hadn’t known most of these places existed. I doubted most of the teams had reached the checkpoints as quickly as we did.
“There’re just three checkpoints left before the finish line,” Mia said, scanning the list. She exchanged a glance with Tori. “Should we split up?”
“Good idea,” I said quickly. “Only one team can win.” I shot a look at Jayden when I said it. Who knew that scavenger hunts turned me into a competitive jerk?
Mia and Tori hugged as if one of them was leaving for a semester abroad, and then we were finally on our own.
Which meant we could talk to each other. And which also meant we were lost as hell.
She spun around in a circle. “Where’s the art building?”
Ah. That I could find. “Not far.” When she broke into a run, I did too. Maybe we were both feeling competitive.
We reached the building, and Mia looked around. “We’re supposed to find a bird’s nest.” She checked the paper again. “A bird’s nest full of social commentary?”
But I actually knew what she meant. “It’s an art installation. They put it up during my junior year.” I thought it was on theeast side of the building, a fact which was confirmed when we saw another team run past us from that direction.
I scanned the trees and spotted an old oak. Twelve feet up, there were a series of oversized, metal nests. “There,” I said, pointing.
But Mia frowned. “We have to get a picture of the inside of one of the nests.”
“How? Got a spare drone on you?”
“I can climb it, if you’ll give me a boost up to that first branch.”
“A scavenger hunt’s not worth a broken bone.” God, I sounded like a little old lady. “I can climb it.” Though truthfully, I wasn’t sure I could reach that first branch even if I jumped.
“I’ll do it.” She jogged over to the base of the tree, tucking her phone in the waistband of her white leggings.
I joined her, leaning my shoulder against the massive tree trunk as I laced my fingers together, providing a step.
She put her foot in my hands and grabbed onto my shoulders as she hoisted herself up.
The white wispy tutu was crushed against my face, and I turned my head to the side.
“Can you get me higher?"
I raised my hands, lifting her, and she stretched out, grasping a branch above her. Feeling inspired, I guided her foot to my shoulder. Once she was balanced on both my shoulders, she was high enough to wrap her hands around the branch.
I looked up to check on her progress, which was a mistake. All I could see was the underside of her tutu and the tight leggingshugging the inside of her thighs. After that, I made sure to keep my eyes down. I was here because Mia needed a partner, not someone leering at her curves.
And fuck, did she have some mouthwatering curves.
