Page 122 of The Illicit Play
“You make it up to Crystal Peak?”
“Yeah, just in time for sunset. It was awesome.” I smile and nod, then force my legs forward.
Blake wishes them a good time, and my chest deflates as the parking lot comes into view and I spot my Jeep waiting for us.
Shit. It’s over.
Glancing back, I catch Blake’s stoic expression. She walks past me, heading straight for the Jeep, and for a second, I wonder if I should stop her. Shit, if I had more supplies, I’d drag her right back into the forest again.
But I have to be practical, right?
I’ve got football training and… she’s got decisions to make, a future to carve out for herself.
I can’t go screwing with that.
What kind of selfish asshole would I be?
I brought her out here to find peace. I think she’s got that now. She’s had healthy fun, adventure, and good times. She’s hopefully broken free of that burning angst inside her to steal and be reckless.
Now it’s time for her to face up to her family and tell them what she really wants.
Maybe she’ll pursue this photography thing. That could be cool.
I try to bolster my spirits with images of her chasing something that makes her happy.
What we just had together is going to be a memory I’ll cherish.
But that’s all it can be, right?
CHAPTER 42
BLAKE
Grady and I meandered back to Nolan, stopping at a diner for something to eat and spending a few hours there.
I felt kind of sorry for the waitress who was serving us, because we no doubt smelled like sweaty armpit, having spent five days in the forest. Sure, we bathed in the lake, but that’s not the same. My hair is greasy; I need to shave my legs and pits. I’m the messiest I’ve ever been, and I laughed myself silly as we drew out our meal playing Mad Libs and Heads Up on Grady’s phone.
When his battery died, we switched to mine and turned what was supposed to be a quick snack into a three-course meal.
We were still playing pretend, I guess, unwilling to fully return to reality.
When my phone buzzes with a message from Wily, my heart crumples into a little ball.
Shithead: Where are you? Can’t get Grady on his phone. Are you okay? Why aren’t you home yet?
“What is it?” Grady sits forward, his dark eyebrows dipping in concern.
I sigh and spin my device to face him.
He reads the screen and slumps back in his seat. “Shit. We better go.”
“Yeah.” I nod, forcing my eyes away from him. I don’t want to see how easy it is for him to end this fling.
Clearing my throat, I quickly reply to my big brother, then slip my phone away and wriggle out of the booth before anything more can be said.
I pay before Grady can, and he gripes at me.
“What? It’s not like this is a date, right?” I snap.
