Chapter 166
After Leanne walked away, she immediately regretted it.
It wasn’t for any particular reason except that she’d forgotten to ask Curtis for her backpack.
Joy and Selina were squatting by the curb, munching on granola bars and placing bets.
Joy was full of the kind of confidence that comes from thinking you’ve got the world figured out, “Wanna bet? Her ankle’s not even sprained.”
Selina was fidgety, “How can you tell whether she’s really hurt
t or not?”
“It’s a piece of cake!” Joy boasted. “When we get back, just sneak up behind her and give her a scare. If she jumps, she’s fine.”
Selina sighed and handed over the rest of the goodies from her backpack: Snickers, chocolate, beef jerky, some PB&J sandwiches everything spilling out like a jackpot. “You win, okay? Happy now?”
“Conceding already? You’re no fun,” Joy complained as she stuffed half of the loot into her own bag and handed the rest to Leanne. “Here, take it! I’m unbeatable in the betting
world.”
Leanne, already holding a hiking stick and a first-aid kit, struggled to embrace the unexpected bounty. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to head back.
She was worried that Curtis might have taken her backpack down the mountain. She
needed it.
Selina looked at her with puppy-dog eyes, “Leanne, how could you stoop to her level?”
Leanne shot back over her shoulder, “Because you lost, that’s why.”
Suzan’s ankle was fine. Maybe she just wanted to play the damsel in distress with Curtis, but Leanne didn’t feel like calling her out on it.
As Leanne walked on, she ran into Curtis coming her way.
Curtis raised an eyebrow at her armful of snacks, “Did you rob a squirrel’s stash or what?”
…If only squirrels had such eclectic tastes.
“Just give me my backpack,” Leanne demanded.
Instead of handing it over, Curtis unzipped it and started transferring her snacks inside. Then he glanced at her slender hands, asking, “Where are your gloves?”
“They got dirty,” Leanne responded.
11.30
Chapter 166
While cleaning Suzan’s wound earlier, some antiseptic mixed with blood had stained her gloves.
Curtis, however, thought she didn’t want to touch her gloves after they’d been near Suzan’s ankle. His expression turned complicated-a mix of regret and guilt.
Without a word, he took off his own gloves and approached Leanne.
She tried to pull away, but he firmly pulled her hands back and slipped his gloves onto hers. They were warm and insulated, still holding the heat from his hands.
His gloves were much larger than her hands. Curtis tightened the Velcro at the wrists before letting go.
dy to tea
Leanne pinched the Velcro, it off, but Curtis drawled, “Go ahead. But if you do, I’ll toss your bag down the mountain.”
Leanne froze; her camera was in that bag.
Curtis’ lips curved slightly, “Come on, let’s get moving, or we’ll only catch the sunset from up top.”
Leanne said, “Shouldn’t you be helping Suzan back down?”
Curtis’ step faltered, and he turned to face her, his gaze indecipherable, “Why should I do that?”
Leanne kept a poker face, “You know the reason.”
“I don’t know,” Curtis insisted, locking eyes with her. “Just tell me.”
She didn’t want his explanations. Curtis was frustrated with his past foolishness and at a loss with her.
He hoped she’d speak up, giving him a chance to clear things up.
But Leanne wasn’t about to give him that chance.
At that moment, Skyler and the others caught up, minus Suzan and Devin.
Leanne turned and continued marching forward.
–
As Jeremy moved to walk next to her, Curtis felt an odd sensation in his chest as if it had been filled with cotton. It wasn’t severe, but it was enough to make him feel choked
and uneasy.
They reached a fork in the path, and the two leading the way stopped.