10. Maggie

CHAPTER TEN

maggie

I try to focus on the clouds that are forming above us in the sky, but all I can think about is how men always seem to ruin everything. Stupid men, always ruining my plans. No. Stupid man always ruining my well-laid-out plan. Jack Freaking Donovan is slipping back into the cracks of my heart and I'm just watching it happen. I'm telling him my history like I want him to be my future.

And the worst part? I don't think I hate that he's slipping through the cracks.

When I found those rocks in my pack this morning, my heart did a funny little flip just like it did last night at the restaurant. Because it meant that Jack still wants to give me attention. And I know I should hate that. I know that letting him slip into the cracks—the cracks that he put in my heart—is the worst possible thing ever, but I can't seem to make it stop.

Then, when we were talking, it took everything in me to not reach out and hold his hand, just like I would in all of my high school daydreams. But I couldn't do that. I can't do that. He's a flirt and he'll always be a flirt, and I can't fall for a flirt again.

"Are you really not mad about the rocks?" Fiona asks for the millionth time, breaking into my thoughts.

"Nope," I say. And I'm not. I'm already plotting how to get him back.

Plus, I've been eyeing the menacing-looking clouds that have been rolling our way for the past hour.

We're nearly to the campground at Boulderfield. But based on our pace, I don't think we'll make it before the storm hits.

"Graham?" I finally get the courage to call out. "Have you noticed those clouds?"

"Yup," he replies, scanning the mountain beside us. "I've been looking for a place where we can take shelter from the storm."

"Good." I just wish I'd asked him about it when the clouds first appeared; maybe then I could have enjoyed the hike a little more and spent less time distracting myself from the clouds by thinking about Jack and how to get him back…or kiss him again. Both things that shouldn't be at the top of my priority list. I need to figure out my job situation; that should be my number one priority. But just like I predicted when I found out Jack was coming on this hike, he's a distraction. A big one.

The rain starts before we've found a good place for cover. "There's a small cave about a half-mile ahead," Graham shouts above the raging wind and the rain that's now pelting our faces.

"I'm like a freaking lightning rod," Fiona shouts. She's tall, taller even than Jack. Her concern might very well be valid, as I see a flash of lightning, but a laugh bursts out of me. "You think that's funny?" She whirls toward me, her dark hair plastered to her head, and I laugh harder.

"You look ridiculous."

"You look like you jumped into the swimming pool with all your clothes on," she says back, but she's got a smile on her face now. Good, maybe now we can both be less worried about the lightning.

"No one is going to be struck by lightning," Graham calls back from the front of our group.

The half-mile may as well be five thousand miles, because by the time we make it to the cave—which is more like a tiny nook carved out in the rock—nearly thirty minutes later, I can't feel my toes or my fingers. And I'm shaking, hard.

But no one got struck by lightning, so I guess that's a win.

I crawl into the tiny crevice first, since I'm the smallest, but we're all going to be smooshed together if we want to stay semi-dry. Not that it really matters now.

A warm body scoots in beside me. "This okay?" Jack asks. I'm surprised he'd ask at all, since generally, he's been doing things without permission—like using all of his old nicknames for me.

"Fi-ine," I say through another big shiver.

Fiona crawls in next to Jack, and Graham after that.

"I'm surprised the storm hasn't let up yet," Graham says. "Most summer storms are gone as quickly as they start. We'll wait here until it's over."

My teeth are chattering so hard, I can't even move to take my pack off.

Jack silently unzips his pack and pulls out one of the Mylar blankets we all have in our bags and wraps it over my legs. Then, he makes quick work of taking my pack off and placing it at our feet.

"Smart." Fiona pulls off her own pack and grabs her blanket. I try to reach for mine, but I'm too wet and cold.

I think this is how I die.

But Jack leans forward, finds my blanket and wraps it around our shoulders, tucking me into him. He's just as wet as I am, but warmth is oozing off of him and I fall against him as his arm tightens around me. "Let's get you warm, Magpie." His voice is so soft. So gentle that I lean into his warmth just a little bit more.

"Mhm," is all I manage in response. As his arm remains around my shoulder, he uses his other hand to grab mine and start to warm them up. I eventually stop shivering and we fall into a comfortable silence, watching the lightning and rain outside our tiny cave.

When I finally get warm, I don't pull away.

The rain finally lets up around five. We're all hungry and soggy, but we hike the last mile and a half to make it to Boulderfield.The campground has a tiny bathroom where I change out of my wet clothes and into the extra clothes from my pack, which are surprisingly still dry.

I instantly feel better as I carry my wet clothes and lay them out on a rock beside our camping space. Everyone is standing in a circle.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Tents got wet," Graham says. "But we have a tarp. It won't be great if it rains again, but I think we'll be okay sleeping under the stars tonight," Graham announces.

I look up at the sky, and it's full of stars, not a cloud to be seen. But to sleep without anything around us or above us?

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure," Fiona says as she links her arm with mine. "I can see how hard you're thinking about this. It'll be fine. I promise."

I nod, her words reassuring me.

I can do this. I can do hard things. I'm doing this crazy hard hike—with Jack in my hiking group, no less—and I will find a new job. I will.

"I just wish I could relax," I say quietly to Fiona as Graham and Jack start to pull out the freeze-dried meals that will become dinner. He pauses, pulling his phone out of his pocket. I can't see what he's doing from here, but a small smile appears on his face and I have to look away. I look at Fiona. "But I can't because I don't know what I'm going to do for work."

"Come sit with me." Fiona guides me to a log near our site and we sit. "What would you do if I told you that Starlight Springs needs a realtor?"

I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. "Do they really?" From what she's told me about her small town in the middle of the mountains, I can't imagine a realtor would be all that busy.

She nods. "The town is expanding—much to the dismay of about half of us—but it's been good for businesses and it's keeping our town alive. But all the realtors have to drive in several hours since there are no major towns near us."

"I don't know, Fee." Move my entire life to Colorado? That wasn't the plan. Not that I had a plan really, but I just assumed I'd find something in California. That a different agency would take me on while I figure out if that's still what I want to do.

"Think about it. The space I rent out for my yoga studio has an office upstairs that no one uses. I'd give you a great deal, and I'd recommend you to everyone."

"Doesn't everyone you know already have a place to live?" I ask.

She laughs. "I'll still tell everyone to use you as their realtor."

"You're a good friend." I drop my head on her shoulder. It feels so normal, even though it's been so many years since I last saw her. Since we last talked. But sometimes, with a good friend, no matter how long you've been apart, it always feels easy. That's how it is with all of my old roommates too, but I talk with them more than I've kept in touch with Fiona.

"Thanks for inviting me to do this." I watch Jack—it's like my eyes can't help themselves and they're drawn to him no matter where he is. He has a five o'clock shadow growing since he probably didn't shave this morning, and I kind of like it. I like this grown-up version of him. "And I'll think about coming to Starlight Springs."

"Would it help if I invited Mr. Put a Bunch of Rocks in Your Pack?" she asks. I shove her and she howls with laughter.

"Fiona."

"Maggie."

"You do not need to invite him to your small town. But you can help me decide what I'm going to do next to get him back for the rocks."

Her eyes gleam. "That, I can do."

Apparently, I underestimated her. I didn't think she'd ever want to help me prank someone; she's never seen that side of me because I keep it hidden. I think I do that a lot. I try to hide the real me from everyone because I don't want to be too much or for people to think I'm weird. But maybe I should embrace myself a little more and see where it takes me. At this point, I've literally got nothing to lose.