I liked it.
“We have to take our time getting back.” I sighed, “At this distance, it would take me several days to get home if I were walking.”
He grunted, “What’s the deal with your old man? Why the fuck did he drop you off here?”
I shrugged even though he wasn’t looking at me. “He’s been like this for years.”
“My old man is a piece of work, but even he wouldn’t think of doing something like this,” he said in disgust.
“He’s big into survival and wants me to be able to handle my shit if something goes down.” I didn’t know why I was defending him.
Beck snorted, “What the hell does he expect you to have to survive?”
“I don’t know. EMP, Nuclear bomb,” I smirked. “Zombie apocalypse.”
“Well, if anyone could do it, you could.” He laughed.
I smiled at the compliment.
The forest thinned gradually until we reached the road Ben had used to drop me off.
“Where did you park your bike?” I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
The hike out had been nice. We’d talked very little, but it had been a companionable silence. And the view of Beck’s muscular ass had kept my mind off things.
“Not far.”
“Let’s stop for some water before we decide our next course of action,” I suggested.
“Sounds good.” He handed me my pack.
I took out two bottles and handed him one. I only brought three because they were bulky and heavy. I’d brought matches to boil my water, so I wasn’t carrying too heavy a load.
“Why don’t we spend some time sightseeing?” Beck took a long sip, then poured the rest over his head.
This man obviously knew nothing about conservation.
I watched with fascination as he shook off the excess water like a dog shakes off its coat, then pulled his hair back and tied it in a knot with the band around his wrist.
“That was wasteful, asshole,” I said, with my hands on my hips, hoping there wasn’t any drool on my face.
“Don’t get pissy, Fox. I know a place a few miles from here that has a malt that’ll knock your socks off.” He grinned, revealing a dimple in his left cheek.
“I can’t go in anywhere looking like this.” I motioned to my cheerleading uniform and hiking boots.
“You’re so beautiful nobody will notice what you’re wearing.” He looked like he really meant what he said.
I blushed, “You’re full of shit.”
“Not about this.” His face grew serious.
I changed the subject quickly. “I don’t have a phone. Can I use yours to call Lila? I want to see how pissed Coach is that I wasn’t at the game.”
His face grew thunderous. “You mean to tell me that your dad didn’t let you bring your cell in case there was an emergency?”
I sighed in exasperation. “That would defeat the whole survival thing.”
I thought I heard him murmur something about ramming his boot up someone’s ass.
