3. Maggie

CHAPTER THREE

maggie

I try to keep my composure as Graham unlocks the back of his car. But when I turn to put my bag in the trunk, I slam into Jack. He's filled out a lot since high school. He's no longer the scrawny kid he used to be, and he's got a bulk to him that makes me want to reach out and see if he has abs under his shirt.

But that would be weird, so I keep my hands to myself.

He grins at me. "Didn't realize you wanted to touch me so badly, Mags."

Ugh. Again with the nickname. He always was the king of nicknames, and I had the most. But is he seriously flirting? I scowl at him.

"Think we'll be hiking buddies?" He tosses his pack into the trunk next to mine. They look so cozy. But I do not want to be cozy with Jack in any way.

"I certainly hope not." His face falls for a half second at my words before he's smiling at me again. He can't be hurt. Not after what he did. But dang, his smile. It's a little half-smile, almost a smirk, and it's so familiar that it makes me want to lean in and talk to him for real. But no, I'm different now. Everything is different now. I'm not letting Jack into my head or heart ever again.

"Come on, it'll be fun." He leans in. "Want to be backseat buddies?"

I frown. Why is he still flirting with me? "Please stop calling me your buddy." I can be civil.

"You're right," he says and looks down at me. His dark-brown eyes haven't changed at all since I last saw him. I know I should look away, but I don't want to break eye contact first. It feels like some sort of challenge, even if it is only in my head. "Buddy implies that we're friends, that you're one of the guys. You're definitely not that."

I take a step back. "What? I know we're not friends." Is he trying to get under my skin? "If anything, we're enemies."

Jack has the audacity to look surprised.

"You are not my friend," I say. I rush around him and climb into the passenger seat. I'm running away like a child, but I don't care. The less time I can spend around Jack, the better. Graham is already in the driver's seat, waiting for us to stop acting like children. Jack climbs into the backseat a moment later. We start to drive and I think I'm in the clear until he leans up so his face is right next to mine.

His breath is warm against my skin as he whispers, "You want war, Williams? War is what you'll get."

War. Is this real life?

I'm still stewing over Jack's declaration and it's been almost two hours of a nearly silent car ride. Jack said he was tired and wanted to take a nap, and I haven't been all that chatty with Graham. I feel bad. I'm usually much more personable. But I'm not in the mood.

Jack Donovan tends to bring out the worst in me.

And now this. War. What exactly does that mean? What will it entail? Will he pull pranks on me like he did in high school? Putting Silly String in my locker, wrapping up my favorite seat in AP History with bubble wrap? Most of our pranks were harmless. He was everyone's favorite student, but he was also the class clown, and I was public enemy number one.

Well, sort of. Underneath all of the pranks, we were actually friends. He knew me better than anyone. Our pranks were just something silly and fun, a way to get through high school. And I could dish them out just like he could. Until his final prank, when he crossed the line. I push the thought out of my mind. I never think of that night, and I'm not about to start today.

We're adults now. I'm supposed to be figuring out what the heck I'm going to do next with my life. My stomach clenches with anxiety. Right. I need to figure out my life. I don't know how to figure out what I'm going to do next. To be completely honest, I'm not sure I even want to work in real estate anymore. But I'm not sure what else there is. I don't exactly have money to go back to school, and I have no other real skills. I should have listened when my parents encouraged me not to get an apartment that was so high above a reasonable price range. But I was making good money then, so it was fine.

Until it wasn't.

Basically, I'm screwed.

I take a deep breath as we drive through the main street of Estes Park, taking in all the cute shops and cafes on the corners.

"You ever been here before?" Graham asks, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.

"To Estes? I came up here one time with a few of my roommates when I was at CU. We went to the Stanley Hotel, but that's all. I've been wanting to hike Longs Peak ever since then. When my friend Fiona asked if I wanted to come, I kind of jumped on it."

I can feel Graham's eyes on me. "I know I don't really know you well, but you don't strike me as someone who does impulsive things."

I let out a shaky laugh and wring my fingers together. I get that a lot, actually. It's one of the reasons I ended things with my ex-fiancé almost nine months ago. He was too impulsive, and I'm just me. Boring old me who likes her plans and lists. "Not really, no."

"That's okay, hopefully the hike will be fun. I wanted to put together these groups so that people who haven't hiked up the mountain could do it with a small group, with someone who has hiked it before."

"So you've done the hike?" That makes me feel a lot better. At least someone will know where we're going. When I used to hike with Fiona, and sometimes even my roommate Sadie, we always were so careful to follow whatever maps we had and stick to the trail. It's always better to follow the rules and go where you're supposed to. But Fiona, while she always indulged me and my stickler map habits, wanted to go exploring. So it'll be good that someone who knows where we're going is with us. We won't get lost that way.

"Twice," Graham says. "Once just two weeks ago, actually."

"Oh, wow."

"Do you live near mountains?"

"No, I live in California. But my parents love camping and hiking, so I've been hiking my entire life."

"Is that how you know Jack? Do you two live in the same place in California?"

"Unfortunately," I grumble. Then realize my mistake. "Sorry, that was rude. Yes. We went to high school together. I haven't seen him since graduation." It's hard to believe that out of all the places in the world Jack could be right now, he's in the same car as I am, headed to the same hike, that his cousin just so happens to host. I wonder if Fiona has any idea. I mean, I doubt it, she wouldn't do that to me. But still. What are the chances?

"He's a good kid," Graham says, breaking up my thoughts.

"Mhm," is all I answer, because what am I supposed to say to that? He's the bane of my existence. Our pranks were all fun and games until the last one he pulled. I don't think he's a good "kid", or man, or anything good at all. If my head was screwed on correctly, I'd be thinking of ways I could get him back for what he did to me. But I can't seem to think clearly with him just a couple of feet away. His citrusy ocean scent fills the entire car, and all I seem to be able to think about is him.

I can't fall for him. No matter how good he smells or if those smells bring back primarily good memories. But I push those out of my head. I don't need Jack in my life again. I won't fall for him.

It can't happen.