Page 108 of The Illicit Play
When we sit down to eat and he passes me a bag of veggie sticks, I glare up at him, silently indicating that I’m not hungry.
“You gotta eat. You need to keep your energy up.”
With an irritated huff, I snatch the food off him and force it down.
He munches on some cheese and crackers, and then we silently do a swap before he hands me a stick of jerky to finish up with.
I shake my head, my nose wrinkling at the disgusting-looking piece of dehydrated meat.
“It’s protein. You need it.” He waggles it up and down. “Take the jerky, Blake.” When I don’t move, he grabs my hand and slaps the stick into my palm. “Fine. Eat it as you walk.”
Ugh, this is shit!
I cannot do this anymore. Yes, it’s been less than thirty-six hours, but I don’t care. He’s being a dick! And I’m not spending my spring break in this vortex of irritation.
“I want to go.”
He pauses mid-chew, studying me carefully before finishing his mouthful. “Go where? Back to Football Frat?”
I nod, one decisive movement as I pull my shoulders back and lift my chin. “I’m not staying here with your grumpy ass anymore. I have better ways to spend my time.”
My voice is so short and snippy. Ugh. I sound like my mother when she’s pissed off with the world.
Wincing, I keep my eyes averted, even when he lets out a heavy sigh.
Although my head is angled away from him, I can sense him running a hand down his face. After a long, painful beat, he finally murmurs, “There’s this… spectacular rock face I wanted to show you. It’s one of the highlights.”
I sniff, my insides jumping at the idea. If he thinks that’s a highlight, what has everything else been before this?
Spectacular.
Who the hell uses that word?
Shit, it must be so freaking pretty.
Clenching my teeth, I stay statue still when he laysout the rest of the plan. “Let me at least show you that. Then we’ll cut through the forest and get a few hours in before we lose the light. It’ll just be one more night, and then I’ll take you home in the morning, okay?”
With a thick swallow, I bob my head again, desperately trying to ignore the burn of discomfort spreading through my chest.
He’s giving me what I asked for.
I should be feeling elated. Not like this. Most definitely not like this.
CHAPTER 35
GRADY
Well, I’ve gone and fucked this up, haven’t I?
I completely failed her.
And all because she’s too damn sexy and hard to be around.
I’m a selfish asshole. Who’s trying to do right by my friend… and hurting his sister in the process. No matter what I do, I can’t win.
Glancing over my shoulder, I check that she’s still following only a few paces behind me.
She is, her face so fucking beautiful in this early-afternoon sunlight. The dappled shadows dance across her skin, the points the light is touching giving her an ethereal glow.
