Page 31 of Rough and Rugged
I should have got flowers or something.
There’s enough time. I could run to a store and get a bouquet. Something small that might survive waiting in the car until the end of our date.
No. Flowers are a dumb idea, they wilt and die too fast. Chocolates or food that would just melt are equally stupid. I’ve already got the picnic arranged, I just have to hope that will be enough.
“Noah?” A woman’s voice cuts through my thoughts, and I startle to attention. Alex is there, standing just in front of me. She’s even more stunning than her pictures. Her voice is different though. The phone took away some of the melodic undertones, flattened it to a more mechanical, less unique version of the real-life version.
I hop down and run my sweaty hands down my pant legs, trying to get rid of some of the clamminess. “Yeah. Hi. Alex?”
“That’s me.” She rocks back on her heels, hands shoved in her shorts pockets while she gazes up at me. “My god, you’re even taller than I thought.”
“I get that a lot.” My smile is rueful, and I automatically slouch, trying to look smaller.
“Oh, don’t do that.” She takes a quick step forward, her hand settling against my arm for a moment before darting away. “My grandma always said not to try to hide yourself because of anyone else.”
Warmth floods me, and I straighten back up. “She sounds like a very wise woman.”
A pretty blush stains Alex’s round cheeks a rosy pink. “I didn’t always realize that, but yes, she was. I’m glad she didn’t give up on me even when I made some dumb decisions.”
Chapter Three
Alex
“Ihaveafeelingyou’re a woman worth trying for.” The words flow from Noah’s firm mouth effortlessly, and I’m sure my cheeks are flushed with a lovely shade of crimson. I can’t remember the last time someone said something so sweet to me.
After getting out of my last relationship, I was afraid to trust someone again, even with the little bits and pieces of information that get traded during a first date. But Noah makes it feel simple.
Almost easy.
“Should we get going?” I’ve never gone hiking before, and I’m not much of an outdoor person, so this is a whole new experience for me. I’d almost asked if we could do something else, but Sophie convinced me this would be perfect.
“Sure.” He steps forward and his hand settles against the curve of my lower back as he leads me toward the beginning of the trail. My instinct is to shy away from his touch, but I breathe through the negative reaction and relax.
One of the things my ex always picked at me about was my weight. I was never thin enough for him and he’d always pinpoint little things and home in on them. I wasn’t very confident in myself to begin with, but after his constant harassment, I have a hard time finding anything I like about my body.
As we step foot on the actual trail, my nerves skyrocket, and I must tense up because Noah stops and pulls his hand from my back. “You all right?”
“Is this a terrible time to admit I’ve never done this before?”
“You’ve never hiked to the ‘M’ before?” Noah sounds shocked. And he should be. Everyone on campus has made the hike before, but not me. Not once in three years have I ever stepped foot on the walking trails around campus.
“No. Or gone for a hike at all.” I brace myself for his reaction, expecting something bad.
Noah blinks a few times and scratches his beard. His eyes dart down to my shoes, and then he seems to relax. “But you’re okay giving it a try? Otherwise we can do something else.”
His easy acceptance makes something break free inside of me, and I smile up at him. “I’d love to go. As long as you’re okay if we’re slow. I’d love to do this with you.”
“We can go as slow as you want.”
On impulse, I reach out and take his hand. Shocks of awareness shoot up my arm and I let out a small gasp. Even Noah’s cheeks flush a darker shade of pink above the edges of his beard.
We take the first part of the hike in silence, nodding to other people as they climb back down from higher up. A few women give Noah appraising looks, and one winks at me. Unsure how to react, I offer them friendly smiles and keep my focus on Noah as much as I can. He’s a fantastic distraction from what other people might be thinking, but I also want to make it clear that we’re together.
A possessive need to show other people that he’s mine, that we’ve picked each other, rides me hard, and I try not to act crazier than I feel. Even though my palm is clammy and gross, I’m not going to be the one to let go first.
Just before we reach the “M,” an older couple comes down from past us, and the woman leans in to whisper, “Have fun, sweetie. Looks like you’ve got a good one.”
Flustered, I turn back to look at her, but she keeps moving away. Noah leads me a few more steps until we reach the leveled-off area surrounding the big concrete letter. One person is standing there next to a bright red and white check blanket with a huge picnic basket set in the center.