Page 11 of Saving Little Clark

I let out a startled laugh, clapping a hand over my mouth to muffle the sound. "I was just thinking the same thing," I whispered back. "It's like watching a nature documentary about angry, horny birds."

"Should we intervene before they start pecking each other's eyes out?" Brody asked, his eyes dancing with mirth.

But as it turned out, our concern was unnecessary. Will and Alex's verbal sparring match had somehow morphed into a heated discussion about the merits of different fabric dyes, of all things.

"Synthetic is far more consistent and cost-effective," Will argued, jabbing a finger at Alex's chest. "Not to mention more environmentally friendly. Or do you enjoy contributing to water pollution?"

"Oh, so now you're an eco-warrior?" Alex scoffed. "That's rich, coming from a man wearing leather shoes. Do you know how many innocent cows died for your fancy footwear?"

Will threw his head back and laughed at something Alex said, the sound rich and genuine. Alex looked momentarily startled, then pleased, a slow grin spreading across his face.

"Well, well," I said, smirking up at Brody. "Looks like we might not be the only ones feeling a spark today."

"Hey lovebirds!" Alex's voice cut through our charged moment like a bucket of ice water. "If you're done making googly eyes at each other, we've got a treasure to find!"

"We were not making googly eyes!" I sputtered, glaring daggers at my best friend.

Alex just smirked, clearly not buying it. "Sure you weren't, Clarkie. Just like you weren't drooling over Brody earlier when he bent over to tie his shoe."

"Alex!" I yelped.

"Oh really?" Brody drawled, arching a brow at me. "See something you like, Clark?"

Alex, the absolute bastard, jumped in before I could formulate a reply. "Oh, he definitely likes what he sees," he said, winking at Brody. "In fact, our boy Clark here has been single for so long, I'm pretty sure his right hand is about to stage a mutiny."

I gasped, torn between throttling Alex and melting into a puddle of mortified goo. "Please kill me now," I whimpered, burying my burning face in my hands.

But Brody, bless his heart, just laughed.

We set off through the park, following the clues on our treasure map with renewed enthusiasm. The first led us to a towering oak tree, where we found a small pouch of gold chocolate coins dangling from a branch. The second brought us to a burbling fountain, a plastic treasure chest filled with costume jewelry submerged beneath the sparkling water.

Each discovery was met with whoops of joy and triumphant high-fives. Even Will seemed to be getting into it, his earlier grumpiness replaced by a fierce determination to win.He and Alex made a surprisingly effective team, their bickering giving way to grudging respect and even a hint of camaraderie.

Finally, after what felt like hours of crisscrossing the park, we arrived at theXmarked on our map - a secluded grove of trees near the edge of the lake. There, half-buried in the soft earth, was an ornate wooden box, its surface worn smooth with age.

Brody dropped to his knees to dig the box free. We crowded around him, jostling for a better look as he lifted the lid with a flourish. Inside, nestled on a bed of shimmery fabric, was an assortment of old-fashioned candy and glittering trinkets - a plastic tiara, a fake pearl necklace, a handful of gold-foil-wrapped chocolate coins.

"We did it!" Alex whooped, pumping his fist in the air.

In a fit of elation, Brody leapt to his feet and swept me into his arms, lifting me clear off the ground and spinning me around. I let out a yelp of surprise, instinctively clinging to his broad shoulders as the world tilted and blurred around us.

"Put me down, you lunatic," I laughed breathlessly, my heart pounding against my ribs. But even as I said it, I found myself wanting to stay right where I was, wrapped in his strong embrace, my body pressed flush against his.

Brody just grinned up at me, his eyes sparkling with mirth and something deeper, something that made my stomach swoop. "But you fit so perfectly in my arms," he teased, giving me a gentle squeeze. "Like you were made to be here."

"You're ridiculous," I mumbled.

"Ridiculously charming, you mean," he quipped, finally setting me back on my feet with obvious reluctance. His hands lingered on my waist a beat too long to be purely friendly, histhumbs stroking over my hipbones through the thin fabric of my shirt.

"Get a room, you two!" Alex called, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Ignore him," Will said, rolling his eyes. "He's just jealous because he hasn't been swept off his feet in ages. Too busy mooning over his own reflection, I suspect."

"Excuse you, my reflection is a work of art,” Alex huffed, striking a pose. "And I'll have you know I get plenty of action, thank you very much. The ladies love a man with plumage."

Hand in hand, we made our way over to where Uncle Nick was waiting by the makeshift podium, the other teams gathering around in anticipation. When we brandished our treasure box, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, a sea of smiling faces and waving arms.

Nick ushered us up onto the podium, draping medals around our necks and plopping pirate hats on our heads. I beamed out at the crowd, my earlier self-consciousness forgotten in the thrill of victory. Beside me, Brody stood tall and proud, his arm slung casually around my shoulders, his warmth seeping into my skin like sunshine.

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