Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“Yep.” I paused to catch my breath as we finished another uphill portion. “And what’s this about you coaching the team?”
“Not coaching.” Tony wiped his face with the edge of his shirt, revealing his fuzzy belly and flat abs. “Just helping out where I can while Coach Willard is recovering. The fundraiser is important, but I also owe a lot to him specifically. He believed in me at a time when not many in this town did.”
“That’s awesome. I’m glad you’re able to give back.” Our gazes met with fresh understanding. At first, Tony’s younger self had seemed like this sort of athletic golden boy winning all the girls and social acceptance that came with that reputation, but the reality had been complicated by his crappy home-life situation. My jaw tightened at my own judgmentalness while my chest ached for the teen years he’d had to spend worrying about his sisters. “It’s easy to forget that everyone has their own shit to shovel.”
“That’s one way to put it.” Tony offered a crooked smile. “And thanks. I know you understand.”
“Absolutely. I don’t know where I’d be without my dad’s friends mentoring me when it counted.”
“I’m glad they did.” He gave me a sharp nod before grabbing my hand and murmuring, “Another tricky section.”
However, he didn’t drop my hand once we were back on level ground. I liked the security of our linked hands far too much. The gesture made my shoulders lift and my steps lighter. Although he’d teased last night about finding a convenient bush while hiking, the connection didn’t feel sexual. Instead, my anticipation was more about finding other things in common, new areas of mutual understanding. And that was far more dangerous than any steep switchback.
“Wow. This view.” I stopped as we reached a clearing. A short ways off the trail, beyond some trees and brush, the promised creek glistened in the late morning sun. Beneath us, rolling hills provided an epic view of the surrounding mountainside.
“Priceless, huh?” Tony beamed at me, clearly pleased.
“Yeah. And you were right, it’s way cooler up here.” I ducked under low-hanging trees to make my way toward the creek. “I love how it feels like we’re the only people in the whole state.”
“Well, likely for several miles at least.” Shielding his eyes from the sun, Tony surveyed the clearing before following me. “Every time I come, I’m surprised no enterprising pioneer put down a cabin right here.”
“A cabin with this view would be sweet.” I made my way down to the creek, but Tony continued to look around, deep in thought.
“Maybe someday…” He trailed off, taking a deep inhale. “Someday, I might like a cabin of my own. Seeing your place and you teasing me about my lack of style got me thinking about what sort of place might tempt me to buy.”
“And a cabin would? Like on some acreage?” I kept my tone encouraging as I grinned at him, enjoying this chance to dream together. “But with indoor plumbing, right?”
“Yeah, can’t be without showers. I had more than my share of cold ones in the army.” He extended one arm overhead, stretching his triceps. “But a place to breathe. Walk outside naked, no worries about neighbors, no lawns to mow, or Joneses to keep up with.”
I joined him in laughing before sobering. “You want a place where you can be yourself.”
“Maybe.” Tony pursed his lips as he joined me on the bank of the creek. We both set our backpacks under a convenient tree, an unspoken agreement to take a rest. “Still not precisely sure who ‘myself’ is. Sometimes, I envy the kids coming up now. The younger generation.”
“Yeah, cause you’re so ancient.” I shook my head at him, but he stayed serious.
“I see Eric’s kids like Rowan and Wren and their friend groups. And then Cosmo and his crew, which seems to include all sorts of kids. It seems like it would be easier to be oneself with those kinds of friends.”
“It would.” I huffed out a breath. “And it’s relatively recent. I sure tried to be myself in school, but even a decade ago, it wasn’t easy.”
“I know.” He reached out to rub my shoulder. “You’re something of an inspiration, the way you’re fearlessly yourself.”
“You mean being out?” I asked softly.
“Yeah, but more than that too. There’s a certain…danger in showing your true self, being open and honest.”
“Absolutely.” I patted his jaw, enjoying this embrace. His touch made me warm and giddy and more than a little reckless. “But it’s worth it. And you like risk.”
Moving slightly away, I peeled off my T-shirt, a quick-drying gray one I often used for workouts at the gym.
“More like you enjoy tempting me.” His tone was scolding, but gold sparks danced in his merry eyes. “And apparently, you like sunburn.”
“SPF 100 everywhere, baby.” Continuing to face Tony, I stepped backward toward the creek, hands on the waistband of my hiking shorts. “Dare me.”