AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The burn of actually exercising ran through my body. Everything ached. There was no reason for people to actually run, it wasn't fun.
"You are doing good." Sammy slapped my back and then ran faster. "Catch me or I'll tell all your secrets."
"Not funny." I chased after her.
She giggled as she taunted me. I pushed hard as I ran. My body was ready to give up. It was too early, I was too tired, I was too out-of-shape, I was not a runner.
My foot caught. I fell forward. I braced for the fall and still managed to slam into the ground. Pain shot up my leg as I landed. I winced, realizing that I had twisted my ankle. I tried to get up, but the pain was too much.
"Mal, are you okay?" I heard Rex calling out to me.
"I'm fine," I yelled back, even though I was anything but. "Just twisted my ankle a little."
Rex and the others ran back towards me, the worry etched on their faces.
"It's okay," I said, trying to sound casual. "I just need to rest a little. You guys go on ahead, I'll catch up."
"No way," Frankie said, shaking his head. "We're not leaving you here by yourself."
Matty and Sammy sat down on the ground beside me, while the others stood around, looking concerned.
"I'll carry you." Jake winked at me.
CHAPTER15
Mal
I refusedmultiple times for anyone to carry me. I could take care of myself, even if that meant hobbling down the rest of the hiking trail. The problem was that everyone wanted to go up the rest of the trail to see the view. I didn't want to be the person to put a damper on things and request we all head back to the lake house. So, I finally allowed Jake to carry me.
I tried to hide the blush on my cheeks as he hoisted me up onto his back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tight, feeling his muscles ripple beneath my fingers. It was kind of nice to be carried that way.
"Ready?" Jake asked, his voice low and rumbling.
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. Jake started walking, his long legs eating up the distance effortlessly. I wanted to keep my arms around him forever. But I knew that it wasn't possible. Jake was one of Frankie's best friends, and I didn't want to complicate things between us. I tried to push those thoughts aside and enjoy the ride.
We made our way up the mountain, him carrying me as if I weighed nothing. The others followed behind us, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened. Jake's muscles tensed and relaxed beneath me as he walked, his breaths coming in slow and steady.
As we reached the top, an incredible view of the valley greeted us below. The mountains rose around us, their peaks shrouded in mist. Birds dove in and out of view, adding to the majestic landscape.
"It's beautiful," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat.
Jake lowered me to the ground, and I stepped away from him. I was a little self-conscious about how much I had enjoyed being carried. But when I looked up at him, I saw a glint in his eyes that told me he had enjoyed it just as much as I had.
We all sat down on a flat rock as Rachel opened her bookbag and started handing out drinks to everyone. Sammy averted her eyes as she took one. Had I not known how she felt about Frankie, I probably wouldn't have even noticed.
Frankie kissed the top of Rachel's head as he took his, then turned to look at everyone. He scratched his chin and kept messing with the cap of the water bottle.
"Guys, I appreciate you all coming out to the lake house and spending the weekend with me. Today is the hardest day of the year." He looked down as if studying a patch of dirt. "I love you all and am glad you guys are my family. Rest in peace, Mom." Frankie poured some water on the ground.
When our mom was going through chemo, she was severely dehydrated. One of the many awful side effects of the medicine. As a joke, she would always tell us to drink more for her, as if that would help her. Yet, we always did. Anytime we drank water we would cheer and say 'Here's to you, Mom.' After she passed away, we kept doing it. Now on her anniversary, we pour some out for her.
Tears stung my eyes as Frankie spoke, his voice choking with emotion. This day meant so much to us and we were lucky to spend it with our friends. We all raised our water bottles and repeated the familiar words, "Here's to you, Mom."
After a few moments of silence, we all settled in and enjoyed the scenery. We chatted and joked, taking in the peacefulness of nature.
As the sun rose high in the sky, we started to make our way back down the trail. I was still limping, but the pain had subsided somewhat. Jake walked beside me, his hand on my elbow, ready to help me if I stumbled.
"Thanks for carrying me," I said, looking up at him.
