AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Great!" I lie through my teeth, because he doesn't need to worry about my knee. I can get home on it and that's all he needs to know.
He studies my face for a long moment, probably looking for the lie. He won't find it. I'm a fantastic liar when I have to be.
"Okay," he says. "I'm going to call Grant and see what he thinks."
I nod, because that's not a terrible idea, and jog in place while he makes the call.
"He's not picking up," Asher says. "I'll send him a text, but I think we're on our own for this decision."
"You're right. We should just keep moving forward."
"Nope." His expression is pure determination. "We should try the shorter trail. Let's backtrack and pick it up where it crossed this one."
I almost groan in relief. "That works for me."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Asher
The new trail starts out peacefully enough. I take the lead, because I'm almost certain Clover's knee is hurting. She pushed her hair behind her left ear twice when she told me how great it feels and I'm close to going all in on that being her tell.
The day is getting chillier, the scent of wildflowers strong on the breeze, the trail rooty enough to force me to keep my gaze down rather than on the forest around me.
That's how I just miss stepping on the monster in the middle of the trail. I leap backwards mid-stride and Clover dodges around me so she doesn't run into my back.
"Stop!" I shout. "Get back!"
She leaps backward, right into me and I wrap my arms around her and look over her head at the monster, sitting in the center of the trail, watching us like he's thinking about how he'd like to fry up our legs.
"What is it?" Clover's panting and looking around, her sweaty body sticky against my own. "Another snake?"
"It's right there." I point, my hand shaking.
She looks down. "What are you talking about? There's nothing scary here, just a big-old bullfrog."
And then I remember that very few people share my fear. I release her and step back. "Wow. You're right. Just a frog."
She turns and stares me down. "What did you think it was?"
"Something scary. Let's just go around it."
"What kind of scary critter looks like a frog?"
I give her a little push. "Does it really matter? Let's just keep going. You go first."
She eyes me, clearly not believing me for a second, but she turns and skirts a wide path around the beast. "Hey, there little sweetie. Catching any flies?"
I follow her, walking off trail into the dead, dry leaves to avoid getting close to the beast. I'm almost past when the frog leaps. I scream louder than I've ever screamed when its slimy flesh hits my leg. I swear I can feel it even through my running pants. I jump around and swat at my leg, taking several seconds to realize the frog is long gone.
I expect to look over and see Clover laughing at me, but instead she's staring wide-eyed. "I thought you said you grew up around here, spending most of your time outdoors."
I sigh. I'm not going to get out of this. "I have a deep seated fear of frogs, okay? I know you have questions. I'll answer them while we jog."
She turns and starts up the hill without another word. I follow, hoping maybe she's just going to let this go. It's not a memory I want to revisit.
Only a few minutes later, though, she breaks. "I have to know, Aldridge. What could possibly be scary about a frog?"
I take a few breaths and consider making something up, but I'm serious about the honesty thing. Lies are the gateway drug to other bad choices in my life. First you tell a white lie to make yourself seem more successful or together and the next thing you're stealing cars to put paid to the lies. And I want Clover to know me. All of me. "It was something stupid my father did when I was a kid. He had a substance abuse problem and, when he was high or drunk, he thought it was hilarious to scare the crap out of me."
