by Amanda Ashby
“That’s quite possibly the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard.” He didn’t attempt to stand up and leave. The machine was still coin operated, and she fumbled around in her purse. “And what happened to splitting up and doing our own thing?”
She swallowed. Good question.
His leg was pressed against hers, and her skin tingled again. She wasn’t good at being around most people. They could never understand how she could be so different from her brother. That she was dark and serious, while he was golden and outgoing. In the end it had become easier to stay in the background.
It was why she didn’t have many friends and why she didn’t date.
When she was in the background, she was safe. No panic attacks. But she wasn’t having a panic attack now. She was sitting in a photo booth with Hudson Trent, breathing in his cinnamon scent. He’d shaved and his jaw was relaxed now, the tension gone.
He was so close. If he turned around, their lips would almost be touching.
And if their lips were touching—
Get it together.
“And miss out on getting you to pull that weird face you used to do? Remember in the sixth grade Mrs. Hawker almost demanded we redo the class photos,” she said, trying to keep her voice light and casual—and not like someone who’d been thinking about kissing him.
Hudson instantly crossed his eyes and poked his tongue out.
“You mean this one?” He tried to speak, but his words were slurred. She burst out laughing, and the warmth in her chest increased.
“Whatever you do, don’t move.” She stuffed some coins in the slot and pressed the button. An orange warning light blinked. He nudged her elbow, and her hair went flying out in all directions as the flash went off. He let out a yelp as she returned the favor, sending his right shoulder knocking against the side wall.
“Oh, you’re going to pay for that,” he warned, his eyes gleaming.
She grinned as they posed for another photo. This was…nice.
Hudson didn’t seem to think she was odd or weird. It was probably why they’d been friends in the first place. She just wasn’t sure quite how she’d forgotten.
xxxx
“You’re seriously going to eat all of that?”
“Watch and learn.” Via thrust her spoon into the three scoops of pastel pink ice cream in the bowl as afternoon sun filtered into the old-fashioned ice cream parlor. He was quickly learning everything about the small town was old fashioned. Usually it wasn’t his thing, but with Via it was fun.
After the photo booth they’d spent an hour in the bookstore, then she’d bought emergency supplies for Zac, which included every kind of candy bar ever invented. For a jock he sure had a sweet tooth.
And now they were eating ice cream.
Correction. Via was eating ice cream. He was watching.
Her eyes were bright, and her lips were slicked with the pale sheen of strawberry. If he leaned over he could kiss her. He didn’t. After all, he’d been imagining what it would be like to kiss Via for almost three years. It was just that up until today he’d never thought she might want to kiss him back.
I’m still not sure.
But she’d stayed and hung out with him. It had been a long time since someone had wanted to spend time with him. He picked up the strip of photos and studied them. Most of them were terrible—half-shut eyes, open mouths, weird expressions—but he couldn’t remember when he’d laughed so much.
“Thanks for these. Turns out your theory’s valid.”
“Apart from the one where you gave me bunny ears,” she said. “Who does that anymore?”
“I stand by my decision,” he said as another text message from his mom flashed up on his phone. He flipped it face down. Across the table Via’s gaze swept his face, the spoon paused halfway between the bowl and her mouth.
“You really aren’t going to read any of them?”
“They’re not going anywhere.” He shrugged, wishing he hadn’t mentioned it. Last thing he wanted was sympathy. “Seriously, it’s no big deal. I’ve had two years of it, remember?”
“Two years doesn’t make it better. It just means you’ve been dealing with it for a long time. All on your own. I wish I’d known. I—” She broke off, as if searching for words. There it was again. Via being considerate. It was unnerving. “I’m sorry I made it worse for you.”
“Now you’re freaking me out. Via, it wasn’t your fault. I get why you were mad at me.”
She pushed away the half-eaten bowl of ice cream. Her face had lost the smile, and her eyes were cast down to the table.
“You don’t, though.” Her voice was low, forcing him to lean forward. “After it happened, I had a panic attack. I’d had them before, but this one lasted longer. It freaked me out. I guess I blamed you for it. I shouldn’t have.”
She returned his gaze, gray eyes pensive.
His gut tightened. He felt sick.
“I gave you a panic attack?”
“No.” She quickly shook her head. “Not really. You weren’t to know. Just like I didn’t know what you were going through. It started in first grade. Zac and I were cast as leads in the school play. The teacher thought I’d love being on stage as much as my loudmouth brother.”
“That’s why you don’t like being the center of attention.” His voice came out in a low growl as anger unfurled in his chest. Via was nothing like her brother. Quieter for a start.
She slowly nodded. “It was a disaster. I got stage fright and just stood there. Everyone started laughing and saying what a pity I wasn’t more like Zac. Suddenly I couldn’t breathe and everything began to spin. Next thing I knew I was waking up backstage.”
“Hell, Via. I had no idea.”
“I don’t really talk about them much. We went to a few doctors, but I found it easiest to manage them myself. I-I don’t get them very often these days.”
“Only when idiots throw water on you.” He clenched his fists, but she shook her head.
“I wish it hadn’t taken us so long to talk about it. That one’s on me.”
“It was worth the wait.”
“I forgot what a nice guy you are. I…I’m pleased we’re friends again.”
He swallowed. Her hand was resting inches from his. The same hand that had wrapped around his waist the other day. If he reached out and touched her, would it burn his skin again? Would she feel it too?
He forced himself not to. Instead he held her clear, steady gaze.
“Me too,” he said. Whatever this was, he didn’t want to mess it up.
6
“Via, are you even listening to me?” her mom said the next morning. The day was already warm, and the blue sky was dotted with bright tufty clouds drifting by. Tiny insects winked in and out through the long grass that had turned brown from the heat.
“Of course,” she lied while dragging her mind back to the present moment. They were standing not far from the tree she’d fallen out of, and her mom and dad were studying a map, trying to decide which trail they should hike.
Oh yes, that’s why she’d drifted off.
“Any preference?” Her mom eyed her suspiciously.
“She wants to do the shortest one. Always,” Zac said with a lazy yawn, and bumped Via’s shoulder as if to say, ‘you’re welcome.’
Thank you. She mouthed back to him.
Totally worth buying him all the candy yesterday.
“That’s decided then. We’re off to the waterfall.” Her dad turned left and headed toward a rocky trail.
Their mom went next, and she and Zac slowly followed. Actually, out of all possible day trips, going to the waterfall wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. It didn’t involve too many steep hills, and it was gorgeous. Plus, she could find a shady spot and read her book.
“You okay?” Zac said in a low voice. “You were miles away.”
“Yes, dreaming of the library,” she lied, not wanting her nosey twin to know she’d been dreaming about Hudson. “Thanks for picking t
he track.”
“No biggie.” He rolled his shoulders, but his mouth was tight. It was very un-Zac-like. She frowned. He’d been quiet all morning.
“Hey, big brother. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” she said. He was silent, eyes not quite meeting hers as they walked. “Zac?”
He sighed. “Diana dumped me last night.”
“What?” she yelped out. Her parents both swung around. Via quickly held up her hands. “Sorry. I…er…stepped on a big rock.”
“Be careful. One sprained ankle in the camp is enough,” her dad said, then slung an arm around their mom’s shoulder and kept walking. Via lowered her voice.
“What happened? You two seemed like you were getting on fine.”
“Turns out she had a boyfriend at home, and when I wasn’t cool about it, she stormed off.”
Via widened her eyes. “She played you?”
“I know. Total karma, right?” He shook his head, blond hair glinting in the bright sunlight.
“No,” she instantly replied. Her brother was the king of flirts, but he’d never cheat on anyone. Unless there was something he wasn’t telling her. “I mean, you wouldn’t—”
“Mess around behind someone’s back?” he finished off in an unnaturally blunt voice. “Not on purpose. Not that anyone believes me. Diana said it was my fault because I was the one who pursued her.”
“Only because you thought she was single.” Via growled and tucked her arm through his. Then she craned her neck up to catch his gaze. “You okay?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. Just wounded pride. Besides, I liked her, but something was missing. Besides, now I’m free to get to know Ally,” he said, cheering up at the idea.
“You can really switch over, just like that?” she said.
“What’s the problem? Diana was nice, and so is Ally. Best of both worlds.”
Via frowned as once again Hudson darted into her mind.
Yesterday she’d only agreed to go to Shallow Falls with him to avoid canoeing, but it had ended up being…amazing. So amazing she’d told him the truth. How hard it had been.
He hadn’t laughed or looked at her like she was a freak. He’d understood.
Renewing their friendship was like forgetting about a favorite sweater and discovering it again.
Except Hudson wasn’t a sweater.
And, unlike her fickle brother, she didn’t think Hudson was interchangeable with anyone else. There’d been a moment in the cafe when she’d thought he was going to kiss her. His head had tilted and his mouth had parted, showing a hint of his teeth.
He had really great teeth. And lips.
I’m so out of my depth.
“Have you ever really liked someone?”
“Why?” Zac said in a sharp voice.
“No reason,” she quickly said, mentally kicking herself. He’d tease her forever if he knew. “I was just wondering.”
The tension left his jaw. “Not really. What can I say? I’m an equal opportunity dater.”
His voice was light, but he avoided her gaze. There was something he wasn’t telling her. Interesting. Still. She kept secrets from him; it was only fair he had a few of his own. The path narrowed not long after. He ushered her on and took up the rear guard.
He’d started doing it when they were kids, after she’d gotten too far behind the rest of her sporty family. She’d taken a wrong turn, and it had taken her dad half an hour to come jogging down the trail and find her.
Zac didn’t seem to mind, and it hadn’t happened since.
Her brother was silent as they continued to walk, and they spent the next twenty minutes climbing the gentle, winding path while their parents chatted in low voices.
Via was sweating by the time the spindly trees hugging the path gave way to a wide clearing at the base of the waterfall. On one side was a thirty-foot cliff of gray jagged rocks, glistening with the spray coming off the crashing water after it hit the dark glassy pool at the bottom. Tiny rainbows hovered in the sheen, and thick curling ferns sprouted out everywhere. A few lazy trees leaned over the basin, shading it from the glaring sun.
The pool of natural water was filled with familiar bodies—it seemed like half the campsite had decided to go there. Zac’s chest puffed out at the sight of Ally, his prospective new conquest, who was perched on a rock.
He made a beeline toward her, and their parents were already stripping off their hiking gear to go plunging into the water.
Via wiped her damp brow. She had a swimsuit underneath her shorts and T-shirt but was too self-conscious to peel off her clothes when other people were around. She wasn’t fat or thin. But neither was she muscular and bronzed like Zac or her parents. And after years of hearing comparisons, she tended to sweat it out and avoid the situation.
“Hey,” a voice said, and she stiffened.
Hudson?
He was leaning back against a rock, legs out. The bandage on his ankle was wet, and a large inflatable ring was nearby.
Oh, and he had no shirt on.
His torso was tanned, and rivulets of water still glistened on it. She swallowed. She had a brother who had lots of friends, so she’d seen enough male chests before. But they’d never done anything for her. Especially since Zac’s friends either stank of body odor or covered themselves in sickening sprays that made her gag.
But Hudson wasn’t like them. He was smart, serious, and liked to study.
And somehow had a really great, chiseled body.
Did he work out? She self-consciously walked over to him, suddenly nervous. What if yesterday had been some weird blip in her mind? Then she frowned. The hike had taken an hour along an uneven dirt trail. Not exactly crutch friendly.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded in a blunt voice. He didn’t seem offended as he nodded toward a second trail.
“There’s a parking lot through there. Ruth wanted to bring the kids, and here we are.” He nodded to the pool where his little cousins were climbing up on their dad’s back and laughing hysterically, while Ruth was chatting to some of the other campers, their bodies submerged so only their heads were bobbing above the water.
“What? Every year we have to walk here, and now you’re telling me there’s a road and a parking lot?”
“Yup. Do you feel ripped off?”
Her eyes drifted back to his chest, and she gulped. Ripped off was the last thing she was feeling right now. Focus.
“Yes. I’ll be having words with my parents later,” she said in what she hoped was a casual voice.
“Just don’t mention my name. So…you want to sit down?”
She peered around. Her brother and Ally were at the far end of the pool, near the rocky cliff face, laughing and horsing around while her parents swam.
“Sure.” She fumbled for the towel in her daypack. She flicked it out and kicked off her shoes and stretched her legs. The cut from the tree was still there, but the angry red sting had gone.
Nerves churned in her belly.
Nowhere in the plan to be friends was there any mention of sitting together while Hudson was half naked. It shouldn’t be a big deal. They both came from Cricket Bay, a place filled with beaches. Nearly everyone at their school would be spending their summer down by the water, wearing not much. But Via wasn’t most people.
She self-consciously tugged at her T-shirt.
“I take it you couldn’t come up with a good excuse to get out of your family hike.” He twisted slightly, so close she could count the tiny freckles on his great cheekbones.
“Nope,” she said with a sigh. “Which is a pity since those books I bought yesterday are itching to be read.”
“Tell me about it. Still, it was a good day. I got to see what a dedicated ice cream eater you are.”
“And I got to discover your secret addiction to manga,” she said, referring to the three Attack on Titan books he’d bought.
“I swear, I can give up anytime I want,” he said as two wet, slithering bodies launched themselve
s at him. His little cousins, Lulu and Theo, began to tug at his arms. They were soaking, and water sprayed off them, showering Via with cool droplets. She jumped as Hudson groaned in protest. “What do you two troublemakers want?”
“Come for a swim,” Lulu shrieked with laughter.
“I’ve just been in,” he protested in a halfhearted voice as he pushed against the rock to help him stand up. Muscles rippled and Via swallowed. He grinned as he reached for the inflatable ring. “I can’t do much but float on this thing, but at least it’s cool. You want to come in?”
She took a deep breath.
This was what she hated. The part where she had to explain why she didn’t want to take her clothes off in front of people. Didn’t want them looking at her. But before she could answer, he let out a groan.
“Hey, kids. I’ll be two minutes. You go and make a whirlpool for me.” His two cousins immediately galloped off, and he sat back down. “Is this like the school play?”
She swallowed. “Sort of. I…when I swim, I leave my T-shirt and shorts on.”
Without breaking her gaze, he reached out for a white T-shirt and tugged it down over his chest. He gave her a shy smile. “Makes sense. Far too much skin cancer out there. But I get it if you don’t want to come in.”
Her skin prickled, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the heat or from the way his eyes were trapping hers. The splashing of the water rang out like a soundtrack, and everyone was too busy laughing, swimming, and chatting to even see her.
Suddenly it didn’t even seem difficult.
She returned his smile and got to her feet.
“I’ll come in,” she said. His mouth twisted into a wide smile, and her heart pounded. Maybe Zac was right. She wasn’t so different from everyone else.
xxxx
“You heard from your dad yet?” Ruth said in a low voice. There were tight lines around her mouth as she peered down at the lower bunk Hudson was lying on. The small cabin only had one separate bedroom for his aunt and uncle, while he was stuck out with the twins in the matching sets of bunk beds that were part of the living room. And thanks to his ankle, he’d been relegated to a bottom one.