Page 63 of Just Like That
TWENTY-ONE
JP
“Are you mad?”Beside me, Hazel’s soft, tentative voice whispered in my ear as we hiked.
We were walking side by side along a dirt path that wound us higher and higher toward a peak. Teddy was zigzagging his way across the path, tossing rocks and picking up random sticks. I was pretending that the way Hazel’s breath was huffing in and out of her lungs didn’t make me want to pin her against a tree and hear it up close.
Her legs were smooth and bare. The muscles bunched with each step, and I appreciated how her tight shorts hugged every curve. Her calves tapered to white socks that peeked out over her hiking boots.
“No,” I answered honestly. “I’m not mad.”
Annoyed? Yes.
Inconvenienced? Definitely.
Charmed? Possibly.
Her exaggerated exhale made me smile. “Oh, thank god. When I recruited Royal, I swear I hadno ideait was going to go down like that.”
I kicked a small rock out of our path so she wouldn’t trip. “That’s the thing about Royal. No matter what it is, he’s always going to take it a step too far.”
I glanced at her, appreciating the way the afternoon sun highlighted the strands of copper in her hair. “He called me out of my office and asked me to meet him in the back alley. I was ambushed, and he stuffed me in the back of his truck, you know.”
She grimaced and my heart clunked. “Sorry. In my head this was a cute and whimsical escape from all the craziness that was happening around you.”
Truth be told, a few days away was probably exactly what I needed. Not that I’d ever done it to know for sure. In fact, her brand of crazy was surprisingly endearing.
I exhaled and looked up to admire how the light filtered through the canopy and the coastal breeze ruffled the leaves.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
I had no idea how to even begin to answer that question.
Yes? Maybe? Not really? I didn’t really know whatokayactually felt like.
“I guess, on one hand everything feels like too much—Dad, the business, my mom—” I gestured toward Teddy without having to say his name. “But on the other hand, I don’t mind the chaos. I’m good at solving problems. We finally have answers about my mother, and there’s a little bit of peace in that. Plus, he’s a cool kid.” I shrugged and hoped she could follow my erratic stream of consciousness.
Hazel stretched her arms in front of her and wrapped them around herself in a tight hug. “I don’t know how you do it. It’s like you’re a master at chess and I’m just out here playing hopscotch.”
Her self-deprecating laugh floated on the breeze.
I shook my head. “You take time for this, though. You’re living your life, showing Teddy how to exist in the moment.” I shrugged. “Kids probably need that.” I gestured toward the nature that sprawled ahead of us. “Showing your adoring fans what a gem Michigan is.”
She swallowed and looked at the trees. “I think I’m on a bit of a hiatus.” She huffed a breath. “I don’t know. It makes me feel a little like a fraud, but I’ve been sharing less content about traveling, for obvious reasons, and more content about my experience raising a kid when you have no idea what you’re doing.”
I watched as uncertainty and nerves bounced through her.
“I’m sure they tune in for you, not just travel content.”Hell, I know I would.
Hazel blushed and smiled, then playfully bumped my shoulder. “Look at us ... getting along and balancing unexpected parenthood.”
I narrowed my eyes but was enjoying the playful banter. “You did have me kidnapped this afternoon—let’s not forget that.”
She blew a raspberry between her full lips. “Tiny detail.”
When Hazel’s foot slipped on a rock and she stumbled, my arms wrapped around her waist to catch her.
“Careful.” My voice was gruff and angrier than I’d intended.