Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
She was silent and then said, “I can’t decide what’s sadder, the fact that the bear would somehow recognize a Disney movie or character or that I think you actually believe the bullshit that’s coming out of your mouth. Bait, just say it. I’m bait, and you’re the runner.”
I gripped her by the shoulders. “Brother Bear could turn on me, too, you know.”
“Hated that movie,” she grumbled.
“So sad, right?” I agreed.
“And with the Northern Lights.” She sighed. “Never mind, we’re getting distracted because we’re nervous to face a bear that probably weighs more than your car.”
I nodded. “All true.”
“Okay.” She took three deep breaths. I ignored how it brought attention to her tight, black sweatshirt. “Okay,” she said again. “Here’s what we do. You sprint first and try not to get noticed. The minute you do, I’ll jump out of the car and redirect while you jump in and start the engine. Then I’ll jump in after you, and we can take off.”
“Foolproof,” I lied. “Totally foolproof. Plus, the bear already ate a ton of food. How hungry can he be for human flesh?”
A loud scraping echoed through the Jeep. Slowly, we both turned and gaped as the cute brown bear started scratching, raking its claws down the bark of the nearest tree.
Hazel gripped my hand and squeezed. “Be honest. Do you do coke?”
“What the hell, Hazel? No.”
“It’s a valid question.”
“How the hell is that a valid question?”
“Cocaine Bear!” she shouted. “The movie. Where these drug smugglers leave cocaine behind, and the bear goes on this binge, and—?“
“How the ever-loving shit did we go from Brother Bear to Cocaine Bear?”
“Life.” She made it sound like she had sage advice to follow. “I mean, he looks like he just went on a binge. He went from looking like a bear that would share porridge and dreams to one who would slit you from your toes all the way up to your spleen.”
“Graphic.”
“I tried to tame it down.”
“I can tell.”
She took a deep breath. “Okay, just go slow and then sprint.”
I frowned over at her. “In what universe do the words leaving your mouth sound like advice that makes sense?”
“Logic!” Both her fists smacked my chest. “You’ve got this. Valhalla.”
Okay, she was adorable. “You just said Valhalla like I was a Viking going out to war.”
She tucked her head against my chest, probably not realizing she was doing it, and laughed, then pulled back while I grabbed her by the wrists and tugged her closer against me. “It seemed like the most encouraging thing to say. Plus, Uhtred says it, and he’s never wrong.”
“Uhtred,” I said in my best accent. “Son of Uhtred.”
“He’s pretty.” She licked her lips and pressed her palms against my chest, sliding them up slowly. “Just saying.”
“Maybe I’ll be pretty, too, if I chant that when facing the bear.”
She swallowed, her eyes locking onto my mouth before pulling away. I didn’t want to lose her heat, so I didn’t let her move. Instead, I pressed her against the door, then placed my hands on either side of her. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, I thought this was part of screaming Valhalla. Never know when you’ll see me again, fair maiden. Better give me my kiss.”
“Better ask permission, Berserker.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. “Care to inspire me?”
“But you hate me.”
“Hate is such a strong word,” I confessed. “It’s easier to use hate to mask other emotions, don’t you think?”
Hazel let out a rough exhale, and her chest rose and fell hard and fast. “What do you mean?”
“You’re damaging to my soul, Hazel Titus,” I whispered against her neck. “Now, wish me luck before I go face a bear next to your shrine and our yellow tent.”
She giggled, and the movement caused her body to rise just enough that my mouth caught on her warm neck again. I breathed in her scent, counted her heartbeats, and then pulled away.
I’d never leave the Jeep if something started, and our parents would find us wondering how the hell we lost track of time, food, water, and sanity.
But that was Hazel.
She was damaging to my mental and physical health, and the longer we spent with each other, the more I realized that this was the reason I’d pushed her away so much to begin with. Because what if?
I hated that phrase.
What if I dated her?
What if she liked me back?
And what if I lost her?
It was the most immature and selfish thought, but I knew I couldn’t be that guy. The person who just jumped in headfirst and prayed it would be okay. I wasn’t that trusting of her or myself, not to mention the universe.
I sobered and pulled back.
“Um…” I scratched my head. “The minute the bear sees me and starts getting angry, just try to be a distraction. I’m only a few feet away.”