Page 74 of The Hearts We've Broken
“How did you find this place?” I spun around in awe, taking in everything. The birds chirped and the breeze rustled the trees, a natural orchestra for the breathtaking view.
“I was heading down to the creek one day to fish and ended up going too far. I might have even taken a wrong turn, but it led me here. I don’t think Colter, Reid, and the others even know about this place. Colter might, but I’venever seen him here, so I like to think it’s my best-kept secret.”
“You’ve never brought anyone here?” I didn’t mean to sound surprised, but my mind immediately went to this being one of his hookup spots.
“No, never. You’re the first.”
“Well, I appreciate you showing me.” I swayed on my feet.
Mikey’s mouth curled up in a smirk as though a thought just dawned on him. “I’ll race you to the rope swing.”
“What do I get if I win?” One of my eyebrows shot up.
He thought about it for a minute. “Whatever you want.”
I challenged his statement, for that could mean a lot of things. “Anything?”
“Within reason,” he backpedaled.
“Mm, I think if I win, you have to get on a horse.”
He dipped his chin, shaking his head. “You’re relentless.”
“So, is that a deal?”
“Fine.” He huffed out a breath.
“Perfect!” I laughed as I shoved him to the side, making him lose his balance as I took off, sprinting around the edge of the water to the other side where the rope swing was. I unbuttoned my shorts in the process, discarding them on the ground so I was only in my swimsuit.
I looked over my shoulder as Mikey gained on me, his feet pounding against the earth.
Almost there.
I pushed forward, lungs burning as I extended my hand out, only a couple feet away from the rope swing.
“Oof!” Before I could grab the rope, strong armscradled my body, spinning me in the opposite direction. “Hey! That’s cheating!” I screeched.
Mikey laughed in response. “And what you did back there wasn’t?” He adjusted so he was holding me in one arm as the other brushed the rope, finalizing him as the winner.
“What do you get as the winner, then?” I asked.
“This.” The mischievous look on his face gave away his plan, and I clawed at his arm, trying to free myself.
He lifted me so I was in his arms bridal style and walked over to the water.
“No! Please! No!” My voice came out in a high-pitched shriek, but it was no use. He swung me in his arms and tossed me in the water.
It wasn’t as cold as I was expecting, but the chill still shocked my system when I hit the surface. I held my breath as I sank into the cool, clear water.
A few seconds later, I emerged from the water, hair soaked and swirling around my face. “That wasdirty!” I yelled at Mikey.
As if throwing me into the swimming hole wasn’t bad enough, I heard his cheer as he swung from the tree, cannonballing into the water and splashing me in the process.
When he popped up again, his hair clung to his forehead, almost covering his eyebrows.
I swam toward him, closing the distance between us. My arm reached out, brushing the hair out of his face then running the back of my hand along the stubble on his jawline and my thumb through his mustache. His hand closed over mine, warmth radiating through my body.
“That wasn’t fair, you know,” I teased, my voice barely a whisper.
