I close my eyes to fight back the sting of tears that simple gesture brings on, then move my hand to rest over his heart, which is beating steadily—unlike my own, which is going wild.
“Harder, Oli!” Lauren’s cry breaks into the moment; then my eyes widen in surprise as she moans, “Just like that.”
“Fuck me,” Tanner grumbles.
“We can all hear you!” Parker shouts, and I cover my face, embarrassed for them.
“Christ,” Tanner groans, and I burrow into his side as laughter I can’t control crawls up the back of my throat. “I can’t fucking wait until this trip is over,” he says against my ear.
I snort my agreement while Lauren moans louder.
Huffing and puffing as we walk up a steep incline, I try to remind myself with every step I take that we’re getting closer to this day being over. I knew today would be the hardest of the trip. Tanner, Maverick, and Blake kept warning us it would not be easy, but I assumed that since we’ve been hiking every day, it would be the usual torture.
I was wrong.
We started off the day hiking, followed by kayaking, then lunch, and now more hiking, only now we’ve been moving mostly uphill over rocky terrain for about four hours. My legs and arms feel like they’re on fire, and my feet are killing me. If it weren’t for the hot shower and bed awaiting me at the end of this, I would have given up a few miles back. But honestly, even with all the pain I’m in, I’m sad this trip is almost over. It’s been fun experiencing new things, eating under the stars in front of a campfire, and sharing time with people who’ve become my friends. The good thing is I know that this doesn’t have to be my last adventure. I now trust myself to take risks and experience life outside my comfort zone.
“I don’t want to sound like a six-year-old stuck in the back seat of a car, but are we almost there yet?” Avery whines, breaking into my thoughts, and I smile at my feet.
“Not much longer,” Tanner says, reaching out to catch me when I stumble over a root sticking out of the ground along the path.
“Thanks,” I mumble, not risking lifting my eyes off my feet to look at him.
“We have about a mile before we reach the road where Maverick will pick us up.”
“Thank you, baby Jesus,” Parker says with a sigh. “My legs are about to give out on me.”
“Well, I think today’s been great,” Lauren chirps. “Don’t you think today’s been great, Oli?”
I barely hold back a giggle. Maybe not surprisingly, Lauren has been in a great mood all day. She hasn’t complained once, and she and Oliver have gotten along better than they have this entire trip. Honestly, I wish they’d slept together earlier in the week.
“It’s been a great day,” I hear him agree.
“Stop rubbing it in our faces that you two got laid,” Parker says, and the entire group laughs.
“You’re just jealous,” Lauren says, making me wish we had Freshly Laid Lauren with us this entire trip instead of Angry Sex-Starved Lauren, who found every reason to be unhappy. Then again, maybe this trip has brought Lauren and Oliver closer together too; maybe being out here has made them realize why they’re together. Whatever it is, I’m glad they’re getting along today.
“Truth,” Jacob agrees.
“I see the road!” Avery shouts in a few minutes, and like an idiot, I lift my head and trip. Unlike all the times before, Tanner doesn’t have a chance to catch me, and I go down hard. As I land, pain shoots through my left hand, so much pain that I’m barely able to hold myself before I face-plant.
“Oh no.” I drop my forehead to the ground, and tears I can’t control fill my eyes while I tuck my hand against my stomach.
“Let me see, sunshine.” Tanner sits me up and takes hold of my wrist, and I open my hand, feeling suddenly dizzy when I see the large gash across my palm and blood—lots of blood. “Shit.” He whips his backpack off while Lauren and Oliver both start ordering me to hold my hand above my head.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” I swallow the saliva filling my mouth, watching blood drip on the ground in front of me.
“Close your eyes and breathe.” Lauren pats my back.
“It will be okay. Tanner’s going to clean you up, then we’ll get you to the hospital for stitches,” Oliver tells me, holding on to my wrist tightly.
“Slow and steady—everyone get up to the road and let Maverick know what’s going on,” Tanner orders the others, who wish me luck before complying.