Everything crackled with life and beauty.
“I think people get so preoccupied with showing everyone else what an amazing life and experiences they’ve had, getting the best picture for everyone to gush over, they forget to really live in the moment. To be there and experience it. Live it in person and not behind a screen.” He spoke next to me.
I didn’t respond, but I agreed and knew I was guilty of being one of those people. Technology had made us consumed with showing others our every waking moment and thought, getting likes or responses. Did we do anything anymore just for us? Have the experience without anyone knowing? Like the moment didn’t actually happen if we didn’t share it on social media.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Smith exhaled. “I always forget how peaceful it is out here.”
“You’ve been here a lot?”
He glanced down at his boots, a nerve twitching his eye. “Twice.”
I waited, but he didn’t go on.
“Ah.”
“What?”
“A girl.” I stared out, for some reason not wanting to look at him.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“So, you have me all figured out?”
“No.” A smile cracked my lips, my gaze sliding over to him. “Kasey does.”
He bit down on his lip, his head bobbing in understanding.
“She might have mentioned you recently broke up with someone.” I faced the sunset again, the colors deepening every time I blinked, all my problems and frustrations feeling a million miles away. “Put two and two together.”
“Not the same girl who brought me here.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “But thanks for reminding me what you tell one twin, the other one hears.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“Yeah, I guess you would.” His arm bumped mine, jolting zaps of electricity over my skin, his blue eyes catching mine, burning with light from the last rays of the sun.
For a moment we stood watching each other, shadows and colors painted around us like some movie set.
Crap, this guy is hot as hell. The thought went through my head, and instantly I shoved it out, a flush of embarrassment and fury shooting up my spine. Jerking away, I turned for the van. “We better set up before we lose all the light.” I didn’t wait for his response, hiking back to the car.
“Yeah,” he muttered behind. The feel of his form batted at my skin as I dug into the back of the van, pulling out the groceries and food for Goat.
Get it together, Kins. Yes, he’s stupid sexy, but you don’t like him. It’s just because I am lonely, lost, and have been plunked down in some crappy romantic movie scene.
It could turn anyone brain dead.
Chapter 5
Kinsley
Flames flickered up as if they were trying to touch the bright stars filling the sky to look like someone spilled glitter on black paper.
“Wow,” I whispered, staring up. Goat curled half on my lap, filling the rest of the camping chair. Both of us were full and content, snuggled into a light blanket. Smith had cooked hamburgers and corn on the cob, and we washed it down with cold beer. It tasted so good, better than it should have, but open air always made me hungrier, and I swear it woke up my taste buds. Cooking had never been my thing, so I cleaned up, and now I rubbed my belly and took in the light show above us. I had never seen a sky so full of stars; the atmosphere felt close enough to touch.
The night was mild, but a twinge of a chill was in the air, and I had been far too lazy to change into jeans, using Goat and the blanket to warm my legs.
“Coming out here puts things in perspective. All those worries and problems, things you thought were wrecking your life, seem a little less here.”
My chin dipped down, my gaze landing on Smith across the firepit we built, his choice of words flicking curiosity across my brow. He was laid out on a blanket, his arms behind his head, staring up at the sky.
“Are there things… wrecking your life?” I shifted in the portable chair.
He exhaled, his attention staying above, not speaking for a while. “Don’t we all have things?”
“But I asked if you did.”
His sharp eyes slid to me, then back. “I thought you hated me.”
“I do.”
“Then I guess it doesn’t matter if I do or don’t.”
I scoured my forehead, annoyance itching my limbs. “I guess you’re right,” I clipped, needing to move, the tightness in my bladder giving me the perfect excuse to get up. “Forget I asked.”
“Already forgotten.”
My teeth ground together. What was it with this guy? No one seemed to aggravate me more quickly than him. Always had. Most everyone considered me very easygoing, never really getting mad. Even when I found Ethan screwing a girl in the bed I had been in the night before, I just turned around and walked out, never yelling or causing a scene. Even as he ran after me pulling up his pants, I calmly got in my car and drove away. Ignoring his calls, his pleas to forgive him and give him a second chance.
From an early age, with two very headstrong siblings, I was the one who didn’t want to make waves, who avoided conflict and drama, who stayed quiet in the background.
But Smith? Even when I was eleven, he roused my temper. His smirk and ego had me wanting to bring him down a few pegs.
I inched Goat off my lap. He was sleepy from running around chasing critters for the last two hours, but he snuggled back into the blanket as I rose.
“You going somewhere?” Smith peered over at me.
“To pee, if it’s okay, Dad?” My tone sounded a little snottier than I meant. It was beautiful out here, but one thing lacking was the amenities you’d find in RV parks… like bathrooms and showers.
“Just be careful.”
“Thanks. I think I have this bathroom thing down by now.”
“You sure, Baby K? Looks like you just got out of diapers.”
“Fuck off,” I snapped, grabbing a wad of disposable tissue and stomping deeper into the dark desert, hearing his rumble of laughter follow me out into the clear night. “God, he’s still such an asshole,” I muttered.
“Heard that!” His bark of laughter shot hot coals of fury into my nerves.
“Good!” I yelled back, moving farther out, not wanting him to hear me pee.
Venturing behind some brush, I tugged down my shorts, crouching low, starting to do my business, when something scuttered over my chucks; its tail curved up ready to strike at any moment as if it was saying, Come at me, bro! I dare you!
A scorpion!
Fear snapped at my lungs, my body reacting without thinking. A gurgled cry came up my throat as I kicked it off my foot and scrambled back. The shorts still around my ankles caused me to tumble back on my ass. Onto something… something prickly.
The sensation of hot needles piercing through my skin pushed a shrill scream from my lungs, lurching me forward on my hands and knees. The pain was so excruciating that darkness circled my vision, bile burning up my throat.
“Kinsley!” I heard my name being shouted, a massive figure running for me through the dark, Goat loping next to him. Smith’s feet stumbled when he spotted me…