Playing Hooky with the Hottie - Maggie Dallen Page 0,23
“I didn’t realize I was hanging out with such a rebel.”
His wink was over the top, but still sexy as hell. “Stick with me, babe. I know how to show a girl a good time.”
He was totally kidding, obviously, but I still blurted out, “You really do.”
He laughed softly. “Enjoying your morning so far?”
I nodded. Even though a little part of me knew I’d pay the consequence later for having done something bad, at this particular moment it was hard to imagine being anywhere but here.
“Good.” He looked so pleased with himself, it was...sweet, actually. He didn’t look smug, just satisfied.
“I’m still a little nervous about what will happen if anyone finds out though,” I admitted.
He rolled onto his side so he was facing me, and it was with supreme effort that I kept my gaze locked on his and not on the tanned chest that was still glistening with water drops.
Goodness.
For a guy who didn’t play a sport, he was in good shape.
And for a girl who saw guys’ chests practically every single day of her life, I really should have been immune.
I was at swim practice. I barely even noticed Justin’s amazing body unless he was close enough to make me nervous.
But this was different. This wasn’t swim team, and I wasn’t focused on beating my time or pushing myself to the limit.
I was just here. And so was he.
“I think today is exactly what you need,” he said.
“What I need?” I repeated in disbelief.
He nodded. “Yeah. At some point you’ll learn that the world is not going to end if you take your hands off the wheel for a second. Your life is not going to implode if you mess up now and again or do something at less than a hundred and ten percent.”
His tone was so teacherly it had me sighing under my breath as I rolled onto my side too so we both were propped on one elbow on our towels, the lake a peaceful backdrop as we faced each other. “Do you have any idea how condescending that sounds?”
His lips curved up on one side. “Not condescending, just an observation.”
“You do a lot of observing,” I said, nodding toward his camera. “Don’t you ever want to be in the game?”
“What game?” he shot back, his grin growing, but I knew he knew what I meant.
“Do you ever take anything seriously?”
“Not if I can help it.”
“Then...what’s the point?” I asked, genuinely curious. I was surrounded by people who had dreams and ambitions. My siblings, my friends. Even Emma, who lived to laugh—she had dreams that she took seriously.
“What do you mean, what’s the point?” He was still smiling, but I caught a flicker of something else as he shifted so he was once more flat on his back staring up at the sky.
“If you’re not striving for something—a goal or a dream or a better life or—”
“Or a date to homecoming?” That teasing tone in his voice was just a little sharper than normal, and I hesitated.
“Fine. Yes. If you’re not going after what you want...what’s the point? Just...having fun?”
He was quiet for a second. “Haven’t you ever heard that the journey is the destination?”
I shrugged as I sat up straight. “But there is no journey if you’re not going anywhere. You’re just…floating.”
“Yeah, well…” He shifted and got to his feet. “I guess some of us just want to enjoy life. We don’t feel the need to try all the time, to make things happen.”
I frowned. The very thought of it made me ill at ease. “Sounds like giving up before you even begin.”
“Or it’s releasing control,” he said. “Letting go of the need to fight and compete all the time.”
“What are you….like, some kind of Zen monk or something?” I asked. My brows had pulled together in confusion, and he took one look at me and laughed.
“Or something,” he said.
Or something. He kept saying that, and I didn’t like it. It was a non-answer, and those irritated me.
I gave a little huff in response, but he was already walking away from me. He headed over to the car, and when he returned, he had a box full of goodies.
“Is that a…” I blinked up at him as he set it between us. “Is that a picnic?”
He shrugged. “We’ve got to eat, right?”
He started digging in, divvying up snacks and opening a bag of chips as I stared at him in shock. He’d packed a picnic lunch for us, and that, for some reason,