Page 10 of Lost With You
“Get out.” Dylan lifted the knife from the cutting board. “Who?”
“A rock-climbing partner of mine. He was with me when I fell and broke my arm.”
“Not exactly a ringing endorsement.”
“No, no, it’s not like that. He climbed down the rock face and got me out of there like a champ. I just told him all about your expedition, and he’s game for the challenge.”
Dylan frowned. Garrick had taken up that sport only a few months ago, after their college reunion when he, Garrick, and Logan had found themselves on the rugby field at midnight, spilling their guts. How well could Garrick know the guy?
Better than Dylan knew Casey Michaels, that’s for sure.
“There is one catch,” Garrick said.
Of course there is.
“This guy is willing to commit,” Garrick confessed, “but he can’t leave this weekend. He can join you next Saturday—”
“Nope.” He would have jumped at the opportunity this morning, but he was done with delays. “I can’t put this off any longer.”
Nor would he. As reluctant as he’d been to take Casey on, this afternoon she’d proved herself strong and tough and game.
“C’mon, Dyl. Those college kids can wait a week, and it’s a hell of a lot better choice than ditching your plans altogether.”
“I’m not ditching them.”Partners,she’d said, with a look in her eye he was sure he’d misread. “I’m launching tomorrow.”
Garrick made a choking noise on the other end of the line. “Tell me you’re not thinking of doing this alone.”
“Hell no.” His jaw tightened, but why would he hold back the news from the guy he’d spilled his guts to at the reunion? “I’ve got a new partner.”
“What?! You mean I’m off the hook?”
“You still owe me a bottle.” Through the phone, Dylan heard an elevator door beeping, followed by the sudden rush of voices. “But flush the guilt, Garrick. It was an accident. I’m over it.”
“Good to know. Now tell me about my replacement.”
“Casey Michaels,” he said, hoping the androgynous name would slip right by Garrick’s ear. “A journalist who plans to write up the expedition forAmerican Backroads.Just showed up today for an appointment I forgot. Runs, like, ten miles a day, has some experience canoeing.”
“Casey with a C or a K?”
Damn it.Of course Garrick was looking her up online. “C.”
After a moment, Garrick made a glottal noise, like he was choking on spit. “She’s a woman.”
Hell yeah.
You should see her in a bikini.
“Dyl, you didn’t tell me you were seeing anyone—”
“I’m not ‘seeing’ her.” Except in his mind right now, as he imagined her tilting her chin up to the showerhead, letting all that hot water drip over her naked skin. “Strictly partners. The rules are set.”
But not, maybe, in stone.
“Unless her profile picture is a lie,” Garrick said, “she’s a freaking knockout.”
“Shut up.”
“Dyl, you and Logan have all the luck.” Garrick barked a laugh that rang out above the honking of traffic in the background. “Have you told Logan?”
