Page 28 of His North Star
Wow, great observation.Iwastrying to mind my own business. Lys came tomeasking for help. Maybe if he talked to her, I wouldn’t be pitted in the middle. “Agreed.”
“Looks like they’re done.” Ty’s head tilted back toward James and Lys. “What do you say we get out of here and get some dinner?” Ty stood, offering me a hand.
“Sure.” Anything to get me out of this situation.
I wrapped my hand in Ty’s. He yanked too hard, and I rammed into him. He clutched me, keeping me steady on my feet. He laughed, his breath tickling my ear, sending tingles down my spine and goosebumps across my neck.
“Jerk.” I pinched his side.
He laughed harder.
I shoved myself away from him, fake glaring at him.
“We’re ready to head back. How about you two?” I asked as Lys and James approached.
“Let’s get a group picture first,” Lys said.
It might be the last time I saw her. We scrunched together to fit in the frame. I sandwiched myself between James and Ty. After snapping a few photos, we shouldered our daypacks and headed out. James and I took the lead on the trail, leaving Ty and Lys in the rear. Good. With the trail all but vacant, it allowed them privacy to talk to one another and leave me out of it.
Ty called up to James about some rugby match, and we shuffled around. The guys ended up in the back and Lys and I in the front.
I groaned under my breath. Not cool, Ty.
Lys looped her arm through mine. “Did you talk to Ty?”
My shoulders tensed. Why couldn’t we stay with the partners we were supposed to? I turned over my shoulder, gauging how far ahead we were so Ty didn’t overhear us. “I tried, but he kept saying it was between you two.” I glanced at her. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. I shouldn’t have asked you to interfere.”
Exactly. Involving me only upset Ty. And annoyed me.
“I get it,” I said. “If I had someone who could’ve given me more insight into Blake, I would’ve asked too.”
“You had Ty.”
I shook my head. “Yeah, but they’re family. I couldn’t do that to either of them. Besides, they weren’t really that close, you know?”
“You’re a good woman. And friend.” She squeezed my arm.
She’d probably change her mind about me once Ty broke up with her. “Thanks. You are too.”
“I don’t know why this popped into my head,” she said, “but did you hear that Ty and James are playing rugby the weekend after next? A few of their teammates from college are driving up too.”
“I did.” I hopped over a fallen log.
“Do you want to go watch them with me?”
I hadn’t supported Ty much in rugby before. Why start now? Besides, would Ty and Lys even still be together in a few weeks?
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Any opportunity to see guys in uniform, and I’m there.” She giggled.
I completely understood andmostlyagreed with her sentiment. Men in uniform were hot. “They don’t even have to wear tight pants in rugby,” I pointed out. As a spectator, I firmly stood in the appreciation of the players, not the game category.
She blurted a laugh. “Those shortie shorts expose their quads, and I’m telling you, girl, it’s worth it.”
Hmm, maybe she was onto something. “I’ll think about it.”
